2C-B
Synthetic psychedelic phenethylamine. Known for visual effects and empathogenic properties. Sometimes called 'the gentle psychedelic.'
Important information
This information is for educational purposes only. Always research thoroughly, test your substances, understand legal implications, and consult healthcare professionals. Never use substances alone or in unsafe environments.
Dosage information
2C-B · Oral · non-clinical reference ranges
Tier labels reproduce reported amount and intensity terminology; they do not indicate safety or a recommendation.
| Tier | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold | 5 milligrams | |
| Light | 10 to 15 milligrams | |
| Common | 15 to 25 milligrams | |
| Strong | 25 to 40 milligrams | |
| Heavy | Reported lower bound: 40 milligrams; no upper bound is established. |
Dosage ranges are reference values from published literature, not recommendations. Potency varies by source, body weight, and individual sensitivity — harm-reduction practice starts well below the ranges listed.
Limitations: Figures are transcribed from a reference compilation, not measured in a controlled study; the potency of any given material is unknown until tested.
Evidence: Review or reference work
Before any number: set, setting, purity, dose · LD50 · microdosing
On this page: known interactions · harm reduction
Duration
4-8 hours total | Onset: 30-60 minutes
Total: 4-8 hours oral.
Insufflated: 2-4 hours. Faster onset but very painful. Not recommended.
Known interactions
Caution 2C-B + MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly)
Known as 'Nexus flipping.' 2C-B taken after MDMA can extend and modify the experience. Both are serotonergic.
Risks: Increased serotonergic effects · Hyperthermia · Dehydration · Overwhelming experience
Mechanism: 2C-B is a 5-HT2 agonist; MDMA releases serotonin. Sequential use is less risky than simultaneous, but still increases serotonergic load.
What reduces the risk
- If combining, take 2C-B as MDMA wears off (3-4 hours in)
- Reduce doses of both
- Stay hydrated and cool
- Experienced users only
Sources: TripSit Interaction Chart · PsychonautWiki: 2C-B Combinations
Caution 2C-B + Alcohol (Ethanol)
Alcohol dulls 2C-B's psychedelic effects while increasing nausea and impairment. Not recommended.
Risks: Increased nausea · Impaired judgment · Dehydration · Reduced psychedelic effects
Mechanism: Alcohol's GABA-mediated sedation counteracts some psychedelic effects while adding nausea and cognitive impairment.
What reduces the risk
- Avoid combining
- Alcohol dulls the experience while adding risks
- Stay hydrated
Sources: TripSit Interaction Chart · PsychonautWiki: 2C-B Interactions
Absence of a listed interaction never implies safety. Check any combination in the app's 23×23 interaction matrix.
Harm reduction
- Test your substance
- Dose carefully (steep dose-response curve)
- Safe setting
- Avoid if cardiovascular issues
- Don't mix with stimulants
Risks & side effects
- Nausea
- Challenging experiences at high doses
- Vasoconstriction
- Adulterants in powder form
Effects
- Visual effects
- Enhanced tactile sensations
- Euphoria
- Empathy
- Manageable headspace
- Body high
Legal status
Schedule I/II in most countries. Illegal to possess.
Pharmacology
5-HT2 receptor agonist with dose-dependent effects.
Therapeutic research
- Limited formal clinical research due to Schedule I status
- Sasha Shulgin originally explored it as a therapeutic adjunct in couples therapy sessions
- Anecdotal reports of therapeutic use in underground psychotherapy settings, particularly for relationship issues
- Some researchers advocate for studying 2C-B as a 'gentler' psychedelic for therapy-naive patients
- No current clinical trials, though interest grows as psychedelic research expands
Clinical studies 3
Caudevilla-Gálligo et al. 2012 J Psychopharmacology. Survey of 2C-B users (n=98) documenting patterns of use, subjective effects, and market presence in Spain.
Páleníček et al. 2013 Psychopharmacology. Preclinical study characterizing 2C-B pharmacology, serotonin release, and EEG changes compared to other psychedelics.
2020 Annals of Emergency Medicine. Clinical case series examining 2C-B toxicity presentations and outcomes in analytically confirmed cases.
Sources 1
History & culture
2C-B was first synthesized by Alexander 'Sasha' Shulgin in 1974 and documented in his landmark book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known And Loved, 1991). Shulgin rated it highly in his personal scale for its manageable headspace and visual beauty. It was briefly sold legally in the US and Europe in the 1980s–90s under names like 'Nexus' and 'Erox,' often marketed as an aphrodisiac in sex shops. It became Schedule I in the US in 1995 and was added to the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances in 2001. 2C-B remains one of the most popular research chemicals in the phenethylamine family.
Natural origins
2C-B is entirely synthetic — it does not occur in nature. It belongs to the 2C family of phenethylamines, all designed and synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. The phenethylamine backbone, however, is shared with natural compounds: mescaline (from cacti) is the closest natural relative. The '2C' designation refers to the two carbon atoms between the amino group and the phenyl ring. Shulgin synthesized dozens of 2C variants (2C-E, 2C-I, 2C-T-7, etc.), each with distinct pharmacological profiles.
Molecular family: Phenethylamines
Phenethylamines are a diverse family of compounds based on the 2-phenylethylamine structure. This backbone is shared with the neurotransmitter dopamine and many stimulants. Psychedelic phenethylamines feature ring substitutions (especially methoxy and amino groups) that modify their effects. This family includes both stimulating and sensory-enhancing compounds. Key characteristics: - Phenyl ring attached to short chain - Often methylated or amino-substituted - Include mescaline (from cacti) and synthetic variations - 2C family (2C-B, 2C-I, 2C-E) are synthetic explorations - Generally shorter-acting than tryptamines The 2C series represents a systematic exploration of how structural modifications affect consciousness. Substitution patterns on the benzene ring dramatically alter pharmacology—a testament to how small molecular changes produce vastly different experiences.
Structurally related to Dopamine, Tyramine
