Desoxy (psychedelic)
Desoxy, or DESOXY, also known as 4-desoxymescaline or as 4-methyl-3,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, is a psychedelic drug of the phenethylamine and scaline families related to mescaline. It is the analogue of mescaline in which the methoxy group at the 4 position has been replaced with a methyl group, hence an oxygen has been removed and the name "desoxy". The drug was first described in the scientific literature by F. Benington and colleagues in 1960. Subsequently, it was described in greater detail by Alexander Shulgin in his 1991 book PiHKAL and other publications.
Use and effects
A typical dose is within the range of 40 to 120mg orally and lasts 6 to 8hours. The effects of DESOXY vary significantly from mescaline, despite their chemical similarity. Its effects included closed-eye imagery but no open-eye visuals.
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
DESOXY acts as a serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonist.
Legal status
Canada
Desoxy is not a controlled substance in Canada as of 2025.
In 1970 the Controlled Substances Act placed mescaline into Schedule I in the United States. It is similarly controlled in other nations. Depending on whether or not it is intended for human consumption, 4-desoxymescaline could be considered an analogue of mescaline, under the Federal Analogue Act and similar bills in other countries, making it illegal to manufacture, buy, possess, or distribute without a DEA or related license. DESOXY is also an isomer of 2C-D which makes it a schedule 1 drug in the United States.