What is 2C-B?
2C-B is a synthetically produced psychedelic substance. It is related to mescaline, which occurs naturally in certain cacti. 2C-B has properties of both stimulants and hallucinogens – the high is often described as halfway between the effects of MDMA and LSD.
2C-B is sold in pill form or, more rarely, as a white, crystalline powder. The pills look similar to ecstasy (different colors and designs/shapes), but are usually much smaller and thinner. Some of them are embossed with ‘2CB’. As with ecstasy, it is often impossible to be sure of the exact dose of a pill. Some pills are labeled with an amount – but this cannot be trusted. Only drug checking can provide clarity.
The type of intoxication and the risks associated with 2C-B are highly dependent on the dose:
- Small amounts stimulate you and put you in a good mood (comparable to ecstasy), while also enhancing your perception in a psychedelic way.
- As the dose increases, the feeling of being on a psychedelic ‘trip’ becomes predominant (comparable to LSD or shrooms). Such trips are influenced by your mindset and the setting you are in. Unforeseen, challenging experiences are possible.
Please note: This information does not apply to pink-coloured powders called ‘Tusi’. Although this nickname is originally derived from 2C-B, drug checking data reveals that ‘Tusi’ (also: ‘Pink Cocaine’) usually does not contain 2C-B at all, but a highly variable mixture of various other substances, most commonly MDMA and ketamine.
How do you take 2C-B?
2C-B is taken orally (in pill form) or nasally (snorted). The same dose can have different effects depending e.g. on your bodily condition, gender, mindset and stomach contents.
When swallowed on an empty stomach, the effect sets in after approx. 20–40 minutes. However, depending on your stomach contents and other factors, it may take longer. To avoid overdosing, you should wait at least 2 hours for the effect to kick in before you consider topping up. Peak effects are usually reached after 90–120 minutes. Overall, the effect lasts around 4–8 hours, fading in waves towards the end of the trip. Mild after-effects may be felt for 2–4 hours afterwards.
When consumed nasally, i.e. snorted, the effect is faster and stronger. Hence, it’s important to take smaller doses when insufflating. A common nasal dose is between 2–15 mg. Snorting 2C-B is reported to cause a highly unpleasant burning sensation.
How does 2C-B feel?
The effects of 2C-B are described by users as a combination of the effects of LSD and MDMA. 2C-B has hallucinogenic effects: Sensory perceptions are heightened and altered. 2C-B can also have an aphrodisiac effect, i.e. increase the sex drive. The hallucinogenic effect may be perceived as challenging, as the boundaries between reality and hallucination may become blurred.
Psychological effects may include:
- Intensified sensory perceptions: Expanded field of vision, perception of more details at once, lights seem brighter, sound seems more spatial, touch feels more intense, your sense of taste is enhanced, increased appreciation of beauty
- Things that happen seem more striking, meaningful and emotionally moving
- Good mood, carefreeness
- Sexual stimulation
- At higher doses: Visual hallucinations, e.g. shifting colours, pulsating shapes, wafting patterns, trails behind moving objects, crooked geometry,…
- Hallucinations with closed eyes, e.g. colourful shapes and patterns
- Increased sense of humor
- Compassion, sense of community, solidarity
- Greater self-awareness, introspection, reflectiveness
- More intense body feeling
- Increased self confidence
Bodily effects may include:
- Alertness and energy
- Decreased sense of hunger
- Dilated pupils
- Increased pulse
- Increased blood pressure
Small differences in dosage can greatly influence the effect. Your current state is also relevant: How much have you eaten? Are you healthy? What’s your mood? If your set (= your physical and mental state) or setting (= the environment around you) is not right, this may negatively impact your trip.
At low doses, you may fluctuate between feeling high and sober several times over the course of the trip.
Side effects and long-term impact
Physical side effects
The most common side effect of oral 2C-B use is a temporarily upset stomach at the beginning of the trip, which may also cause general anxiety. It occurs particularly on a full stomach and at higher doses, but usually passes after a few minutes. You can greatly reduce the risk by fasting for at least 3-4 hours before taking 2C-B. Consuming ginger is also said to help.
Stomach irritation may manifest as nausea and/or the urge to go to the bathroom. If you feel slightly unwell, consciously switch your attention to something else (e.g. a conversation) instead of immediately following your bodily impulses or focussing your thoughts on them. However, if they don’t pass soon and you actually have to vomit, it’s not as bad as you may think: Most people immediately feel better and the remainder of their trip isn’t necessarily diminished by this experience.
Further physical side effects:
- Impaired concentration and reaction time
- Digestive issues, cramps, flatulence, diarrhoea
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Involuntary erections
- Burning sensation in the nose (when snorting)
- Intensification of any pre-existing physical pain
Psychological side effects
What is perceived by some as a psychological side effect may be a desired effect for others. Effects such as hallucinations and the psychedelic “body load” may potentially be perceived as overwhelming
and trigger anxiety. Your individual usual psychological characteristics and habits may become more pronounced. Especially at higher doses, there is a risk of ‘losing yourself’ in certain thought patterns.
As 2C-B intensifies your perception, you may experience an unpleasant sensory overload, especially in hectic environments or large crowds. Messy or dirty environments can also disturb you more than usual.
Especially at higher doses, unpleasant or threatening hallucinations may occur (e.g. insects, ‘shadow creatures’,…) as well as paranoid perceptions (e.g. suspicion that others are talking negatively about you or have ill intent). Faces may appear distorted like in caricatures.
A good 2C-B trip, on the other hand, can make you optimistic and more willing to take risks. This can lead to reckless decisions.
It can be difficult to operate mobile phones and other technical devices during a trip. Avoid participating in traffic – that’s dangerous and illegal.
After effects and longterm effects
After a 2C-B trip, it can be difficult to fall asleep for several hours. Apart from this, however, most users report that they experience little to no comedown in the days following a trip.
There is no clear data on long-term effects. Similarly to other psychedelic substances, presumably latent (hidden) psychoses may be triggered, which can lead to permanent impairment of mental well-being.
In rare cases, 2C-B can also trigger permanent psychedelic perceptual changes (HPPD, Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder).
Overdose
Due to the hallucinogenic, psychedelic character of 2C-B, a trip can quickly become challenging. Hallucinations, dissociation and intensified body sensations can be very demanding and may cause anxiety.
If you have little experience with 2C-B, it makes sense to consider the setting in which you are using it ahead of time: Are you familiar with the surroundings? Do you have people with you that you trust? Where might you get support in the event of a challenging trip?
Drug combinations
Caution: Using multiple substances at the same time puts extra strain on your body and mind. Certain effects may be intensified, weakened or delayed by the interactions. The risk of overdose or side effects becomes unpredictable.
When making spontaneous decisions to take additional drugs during a 2C-B trip, bear in mind that the substance can make you carefree and optimistic to the point of recklessness.
- 2C-B + alcohol: This mixture can lead to increased nausea, abdominal cramps and vomiting or depressive moods, but also to unexpected euphoric experiences.
- 2C-B + MAO inhibitors: The 2C-B breaks down more slowly, which can make the effect feel stronger. There is a high risk of overdose. In extreme cases, life-threatening serotonin syndrome can occur.
- 2C-B + cannabis: Both substances reinforce each other’s psychedelic effects. The mixture can intensify hallucinations and increase the likelihood of paranoid or self-critical thoughts. Challenging trips become more likely.
- 2C-B + ketamine: Ketamine enhances the sensory effects of the 2C-B trip (e.g. more intense colours). However, some users find the dissociation and confusion triggered by ketamine unsettling during a psychedelic trip.
- 2C-B + Ecstasy/MDMA: Use of 2C-B after MDMA (approx. 4 h): The trip and any sexual stimuli are experienced more intensely. However, simultaneous use is described by some users as unpleasant.
- 2C-B + Tramadol: Increased risk of seizures.
Addiction risk and withdrawal
There is no long-term research on 2C-B. Generally speaking, the risk of addiction to psychedelics is considered to be low.
Safer Use
- While 2C-B is a comparatively low-risk variant, only use psychedelics when you are in good physical and mental health and in a safe and suitable environment. Have people around you who you trust and who would be willing to help you in the event of a problem. Make sure you have a place to retreat to in case of sensory overload.
- Drug checking can tell you what’s really in your pill or powder. You can look up previous test results for pills with the same design and colour using the KnowDrugs app or at drugchecking.berlin (in German). Beware: Pills with the same design can also contain different doses!
- Watch your dosage. It is better to take too little at first rather than too much. A smaller amount is sufficient for nasal use, as it has a stronger effect. Note that powdered 2C-B causes a strong burning sensation. We advise against crushing and snorting 2C-B pills, as they contain fillers that clog the nose.
- Use your own utensils. Sharing sniffers/straws can cause injuries to the nasal mucosa, which can lead to the transmission of hepatitis C. Herpes can also be transmitted in this way.
- Let others know what you have taken so that they know in case something happens.
Dealing with “bad trips”
- Your attention is highly directable on psychedelics, even if it doesn’t always feel that way in the moment: Whatever you’re focusing on will occupy you intensely and appear particularly important.
- If something produces negative feelings or thoughts, explicitly distract yourself. For example, turn on your favourite music, look at the stars or talk to good friends. Trying to ‘fight’ the trip itself, on the other hand, could make the situation worse.
- If you are planning to take a higher dose, the presence of a sober and experienced ‘trip sitter’ is ideal.
Safer Sex
- Taking 2C-B can make you more willing to cross boundaries and forgo safer sex, which increases the risk of hepatitis C, HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.
- Sexual interaction involving 2C-B requires mutual consent and trust. Under the influence of 2C-B, acts can occur that would not take place if the person were sober. It is therefore important to agree in advance which sexual practices are desired by all participants and which are not.
- Sex under the influence of 2C-B should only be experienced together if the effects of the substance are known and the individual limits have been clearly defined in advance.
- Make sure you have safer sex utensils to hand before you get intimate.
- Don’t consume so much that you are no longer able to recognise potential defence signals from your partner.
- Only sleep with people who can communicate boundaries and consent! If a person is so drunk that they can’t communicate anymore, they also can no longer give consent. Under no circumstances may sexual acts be (further) performed on them. This is true even if mutual intentions were previously discussed while conscious. It may be a criminal offense (§ 177 (2) StGB).
- Pay attention to your body! If you notice any abnormalities, you should consult a doctor. Get tested for sexually transmitted infections at least once a year and check your hepatitis A/B vaccination status.
Interactions with HIV-treatment
Little is currently known about the risks and interactions of 2C-B and HIV drugs.
Take drugs and HIV medication at different times. This might decrease the chance of side-effects. Drugs may increase and prolong the effects of substances. Therefore, tend to take lower doses of drugs when taking medication.
The night often gets long – take enough medication with you and stick to your intake times. Talk to your doctor about the interactions of your HIV medication with intoxicants.
You can find information on interactions between substances and HIV medication at hiv-drogen.de
Counseling
Would you like to talk to somebody about your substance use? Do you have questions or are you looking for support? Do you want to share or reflect on any experiences? Do you feel that you might be using too much? Are you worried about friends or acquaintances and would like advice or tips on how to handle the situation? Counseling centers in Berlin are there for you!
24/7 counseling hotline by Drogennotdienst Berlin: 030 19237