Diethyltryptamine (DET), or N,N-diethyltryptamine, is a synthetic tryptamine closely related to DMT. The two methyl groups on DMT’s terminal nitrogen are replaced by ethyl groups in DET. The compound was investigated in human research during the 1960s, and studies examined both its psychological effects and its metabolism. Modern information is still relatively limited compared with the literature on DMT or LSD.
Chemistry and early research
DET is N,N-diethyl-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethanamine. It has an unsubstituted indole ring and two ethyl groups attached to the terminal nitrogen. The additional carbon atoms distinguish it from DMT and influence how the compound is handled by metabolic enzymes.
One of the early human investigations, published in 1966, examined the psychological effects and metabolism of DET in healthy volunteers and psychiatric patients. The researchers measured changes in psychological state alongside urinary metabolic products, including hydroxylated derivatives (Szara and colleagues, Psychological Effects and Metabolism of DET in Man, 1966).
Pharmacology
Like other simple psychedelic tryptamines, DET is understood to act through serotonergic signalling, although its receptor profile is less completely characterised than that of DMT. Reviews describe serotonin-receptor agonism as a likely part of its mechanism. The N,N-diethyl substitution also changes its susceptibility to monoamine oxidase compared with DMT, contributing to differences in its metabolic behaviour (Tittarelli and colleagues, Recreational Use, Analysis and Toxicity of Tryptamines, 2015).
Reported effects
Historical descriptions of DET include changes in visual perception, altered sensory processing and hallucinatory experiences. Some reports also mention tremor and pronounced changes in movement or coordination. These observations come from older human research and descriptive reports, rather than modern controlled trials using current clinical standards.
DET cannot be assumed to be pharmacologically identical to DMT. The two compounds share the tryptamine core, but their terminal nitrogen substituents affect metabolism and may influence the overall time course and character of the response.
Metabolism
One metabolic pathway identified in early research is hydroxylation at the 6-position of the indole ring. The 1966 study examined this pathway in relation to individual differences in DET metabolism. Later reviews have summarised the importance of oxidative metabolism for simple tryptamines and the role of monoamine oxidase in their clearance.
Clinical evidence and limitations
Historical human research on DET is limited, but there is no modern clinical evidence establishing a complete safety profile. Its acute toxic range, dependence potential and long-term effects are not well defined. The older studies also predate current standards for clinical-trial design, adverse-event monitoring and analytical confirmation.
Related tryptamines
DET is related to DMT, DiPT, DPT and EPT. Its N,N-diethyl side chain distinguishes it from the dimethyl, diisopropyl, dipropyl and mixed ethyl-propyl analogues.
