Addiction Drug Use Hallucinogens Effects and Risks of Taking Methoxetamine By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 29, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print MATJAZ SLANIC / Getty Images Methoxetamine or MXE has stimulant and dissociative effects, with the stimulant effects predominating at lower doses, and the dissociative effects at higher doses. Users of lower doses of the drug—up to 20 milligrams—report feeling calm, with an increase in energy, euphoria, and disconnection from problems and concerns. These feelings can continue as an "afterglow" for one to two hours after the main effects of the drug wear off. Common Effects of Taking MXE At higher doses (40-50mg), the effects are different and much more intense—and more similar to related drugs, ketamine, and PCP. These include feelings of intense intoxication, auditory and visual hallucinations, and a feeling of disconnection from your body. It also causes severe ataxia, which makes you uncoordinated and can cause difficulty walking or even moving. Nystagmus has also been reported. Depending on the set and setting and your personal reaction to the drug, you can experience an altered state of consciousness that can range from a dreamlike state to a terrifying bad trip experience of heightened, intense anxiety, that can go on for several hours. When taking methoxetamine, a state of dissociation, sometimes referred to by users as an m-hole parallel to the k-hole experience on ketamine, can make you feel oblivious to yourself and the world around you. MXE Risks Very little objective information is available about MXE—most is anecdotal, posted on internet forums by users, or reported by emergency physicians who have dealt with acute cases. These individual reports give an idea of what someone says about their personal experience with the drug, but this would not necessarily predict other users' experiences. The lack of credible research evidence on MXE makes it a risky substance to take both in the short term and the long term. In the short term, if you suffer from acute complications of the drug, the doctors who try to help you in the emergency room will likely not be well-versed in what you have taken, or how to best treat it. Information is not yet available on the long-term effects of MXE, so we don't currently know how taking MXE might affect your future mental or physical health, your fertility, or the health of your baby if you are pregnant or breastfeeding when you take it. Anecdotal reports from users indicate that tolerance builds up quickly and that the drug has a high potential for addiction. Some users report taking high doses several times a day in an effort to maintain the positive effects on their initial low doses. This is often coupled with emotional difficulties and associated social problems. As there is very little information available, many addiction counselors and medical staff may not have even heard of the drug, let alone know about the effects. This may make forming a therapeutic relationship and effective addiction treatment for this drug particularly challenging. Taking MXE in Combination With Other Drugs Marijuana appears to intensify MXE in a negative way, causing severe disorientation and distress, slurred speech and difficulty communicating. When mixed with stimulants, a case of fatal hyperthermia has been reported. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 0 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Anon. A user's report from taking Methoxetamine (MXE). Irish Needle Exchange Forum. Posted 10th September 2012. Corazza O, Schifano F, Simonato P, et al. Phenomenon of new drugs on the Internet: the case of ketamine derivative methoxetamine: new drugs on the internet. Hum Psychopharmacol Clin Exp. 2012;27(2):145-149. doi:10.1002/hup.1242 Hofer KE, Grager B, Müller DM, et al. Ketamine-like effects after recreational use of methoxetamine. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 2012;60(1):97-99. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2011.11.018 Wood DM, Davies S, Puchnarewicz M, Johnston A, Dargan PI. Acute toxicity associated with the recreational use of the ketamine derivative methoxetamine. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2012;68(5):853-856.doi:10.1007/s00228-011-1199-9 Get Treatment for Addiction Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.