Caution

In New Zealand, NBOMe is sometimes sold as LSD. NBOMe can have more dangerous and unpleasant effects than other hallucinogenic drugs. Drug checking recently found 25B-NBOH, which is related to NBOMes and may have similar effects and risks. 

Key things to know

Like LSD, NBOMes are usually sold as blotting paper (tabs), pills, liquid or powder. You can’t tell the difference just by looking at them

What to expect

Usually swallowed. Taking less can reduce chance of overdose, as can waiting an hour for effects to kick in

Safer using

Be aware that different types of NBOMe have different strengths and are different to LSD.

Drug differences

Use drug checking services to make sure you know what you have. You can also test them yourself with reagent tests.

Drug checking info

How does NBOMe make you feel?

NBOMe drugs can make you feel like you have taken LSD, but the effects take longer to kick in. You might experience hallucinations, distortions of reality, euphoria, strong empathy or love, panic or nausea. The effects of NBOMe drugs can last 4–10 hours depending on your body. Overdose is common with these drugs as it can be very hard to get the dose right.

Remember, a low dose for one person can be a high dose for another as people’s bodies process drugs differently. 

A Reddit user talks about one of their first experiences with NBOMe:

“These tabs were unevenly dosed, some were correct and some were so strong that you would black out and feel like you disconnected from your body and come back all confused.”

Pleasant effects

Unpleasant effects

Changes in senses and perception

Euphoria

Hallucinations

Increased sense of touch

Relaxed and calm

Irritable and agitated

Confused

Disoriented

Anxious

Paranoid

Hallucinations

Increased heartrate

Sweating

Nauseous

Pleasant effects

Unpleasant effects

Increased euphoria

Increased relaxation, feeling ‘out of it’

Intense changes in senses and perception

Aggressive

Disturbing hallucinations

Intensely sweaty or very hot or very cold

Increasingly confused

Insomnia

Memory loss

Increasingly nauseous

Vomiting

Feeling panicked or having panic attacks

Increasingly anxious

Increasingly paranoid

Tremors

Pleasant effects

Unpleasant effects

 

High fever

Being unable to speak

Severely paranoid

Severely anxious

Severe rapid heartrate

Severe tremors

Unable to control your body movements

Suicidal thoughts or attempting suicide

Difficulty breathing

Seizures

Losing consciousness

Becoming very aggressive or acting violently

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How can you be safer when using NBOMe?

While NBOMe drugs can look similar to LSD, they have very different effects. They can also affect everyone differently at different doses. It is always a good idea to think about the things you can do to be safer when using NBOMe. 

If you are taking orally, wait an hour before re-dosing. 
NBOMe drugs are usually taken orally as tabs on colourful blotting paper and placed under the tongue to dissolve. Taking NBOMe orally delivers it more slowly to the body, which means you may not feel the effects right away. Wait at least 1 hour before re-dosing as taking more of the drug too soon can increase your chance of overdose. The effects of NBOMe drugs are unpredictable, so it can be good to take a smaller amount and wait and see how you feel before you use more.

Consider taking a lower dose if you are snorting or shelving NBOMe. 
Some people also take NBOMe by snorting or taking it rectally (called ‘boofing’ or ‘shelving’). Snorting, or using NBOMe drugs rectally can cause damage to the sensitive issue in those areas. These methods also release the drugs into your bloodstream faster, which can increase the chance of overdose. Consider starting with a lower dose when using these ways. 

Remember, NBOMe is not the same as LSD! 
Keep in mind that NBOMe is not the same as LSD and is not a substitute for LSD either. NBOMe can have very different effects and a higher chance of overdose or an unpleasant experience. If you are not sure whether you have NBOMe or LSD you can take this to a drug checking clinic or use Ehrlich's reagent at home. 

Know your dose- NBOMe drugs are all dosed differently. 
There are many different types of NBOMe drugs, and it is helpful to know which one you have when choosing how much to take. Visit tripsit and search NBOMe for information on dosing the different NBOMe drugs. If your NBOMe is on blotter paper, drug checking clinics and Ehrlich's reagent won't be able to tell you which type you have. If you aren't sure which NBOMe drug you have, it is a good idea to assume you have one of the more potent NBOMe drugs such as 25E-NBOMe. 

For more information on how to be safer when using drugs and alcohol, see Safer using

To order self-help workbooks and other free resources for safer use, see Resources

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What happens if you overdose on NBOMe?

There have been many hospitalizations and deaths from taking too much NBOMe.

Like LSD, you can also experience a bad trip on NBOMe drugs. However, unlike LSD, the effects of NBOMe are more unpredictable. The difference between a regular trip and an overdose with NBOMe can be a matter of micrograms.

You might feel dizzy, nauseous, anxious, agitated or angry. You might experience insomnia, low mood and diarrhoea. 

Try:

  • Focus on breathing – try taking slow, deep breaths.
  • If you are able, call and talk to somebody you trust and ask them to help keep you calm.
  • Do not take more NBOMe, caffeine, alcohol or other drugs, as these can make you feel worse.
  • Move to somewhere quiet – try to sit or lie down and do something relaxing.
  • Drink water to stay hydrated.

If you have fever, vomiting, increased heartrate, paranoia, personality changes, panic attacks, intense restlessness or changes in breathing, call a doctor or Healthline (0800 611 116). You won't get in trouble if you tell them you've used drugs.

Psychosis, unconsciousness, high fever, chest pain, severely irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing, acting violently, having seizures, being unable to move one side of your face or body or attempting suicide are medical emergencies. Call 111.

If you experience unexpected or concerning effects from NBOMes you can notify High Alert to help keep others safe.

A Reddit user talks about a bad trip they had when taking NBOMe with a friend:

“We waited about 2 hours for a come up and that’s when it hit. We felt sick, unsure if we were hungry or on the verge of puking everywhere. The visuals were cool but not insane, everything looked as if it had life and was breathing, and buildings were bouncing about. I also had no perception of angles and everything felt curved around a point. We then went inside and chilled in her bed, played [videogames] and start shaking uncontrollably. We couldn’t tell if we were too hot or too cold, so we removed the blanket. That’s when we both felt like we were truly gonna kick the bucket.”

What do NBOMe comedowns feel like, and how can you feel better?

As NBOMe drugs are quite new, there is little research about them. We rely mainly on user experiences to understand what the comedown from these drugs might feel like. As NBOMe is unpredictable, it can be hard to know how unpleasant the comedown will feel. Generally, the higher the dose of NBOMe, the more unpleasant effects you will experience in the comedown.

If you're coming down from NBOMe, you may feel tired, anxious, irritable, low or paranoid, or just not like your usual self. You might have difficulty concentrating, have memory loss or have disturbing dreams. Physically, you could have nausea, cravings, headaches or stomach-aches. You could sweat or feel very hot or very cold.

You can try...

  • Get plenty of rest and sleep.
  • Remember to eat and drink plenty of water.
  • Get moving to release feel-good brain chemicals.
  • Reach out and talk with friends and whānau for support.
  • Relax and do things that you enjoy to take your mind off not feeling well.
  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol and other drugs.
  • Practise mindfulness and deep breathing, and try writing down your thoughts and feelings.

If any of these symptoms intensify or don't go away then call a doctor or Healthline 0800 611 116. They can talk you through the next steps.

If  your symptoms worsen or you are with somebody who: 

  • Experiences severe memory loss
  • Experiences severe delusions
  • Becomes severely emotionally distressed
  • Becomes unresponsive
  • Loses consciousness
  • Has a seizure
  • Experiences psychosis
  • Has suicidal thoughts

Call 111. These are signs that something more serious is going on. You or the people around you should act quickly.

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What are the long-term effects of NBOMe? 

NBOMe can have many effects if used long term. Regular use has the biggest impact on mental health, which can cause psychosis, paranoia, anxiety, depression, memory loss, personality changes, hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) and many more.

As NBOMe drugs are new, there is very little research on them. However, it is suggested that they could also cause kidney problems, brain bleeds and damage, high white blood cell count, weak muscles and movement problems.

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How do you manage withdrawal from NBOMe?

See the 'Making changes' page for more information on how to Manage withdrawal from drugs and alcohol.

NBOMe drugs are new, unpredictable and not well understood. Like many psychoactive substances, if they are used regularly, they can have dangerous and unpredictable withdrawal effects. Withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on how long NBOMe has been taken, the size of the dose and what type of NBOMe was used.

You might:

  • Feel tired or dizzy
  • Have headaches
  • Experience numbness in your body
  • Feel jittery or agitated
  • Feel anxious
  • Have constipation, diarrhoea or nausea
  • Feel sweaty or very hot or very cold
  • Have insomnia

You can try:

  • Follow a tapering plan from a health professional to reduce your dose slowly.
  • Consider counselling or support groups if feelings of anxiety or depression is getting worse.
  • Lean on a support network of friends, family and professionals.
  • Stick to a routine – waking up, eating well, keeping active and rewarding yourself with things that bring you joy.
  • Practise mindfulness by writing down your feelings, doing breathing exercises or meditating.


If you get
sensations of ‘electric shock’, have ongoing blurred vision, migraines, vomiting, rapid weight loss, worsening mental health, paranoia, tremors or hallucinations, call a doctor or Healthline (0800 611 116).

Severe heart palpitations, chest pains, high fever, difficulty breathing, weakness or numbness on one side of your body, psychosis, seizures or losing consciousness may need urgent medical care. Call 111.

For more information on getting support for drug and alcohol use, see Finding support.

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How can NBOMe affect your daily activities?

Even at low doses, NBOMe drugs can affect your everyday activities. At a single low dose, NBOMe effects can last around 4–10 hours. However, as we don’t know very much about NBOMe, at higher doses or longer use, the effects could last much longer.

NBOMe drugs can make you lose touch with reality, hallucinate or become confused and agitated, so it is unsafe to drive or operate heavy machinery. It can make it hard to do tasks that require precision or coordinated movement. NBOMe can cause major changes in perception and personality, which can make interacting with others difficult.

If you have taken a lower dose of NBOMe once, the residual effects should only last a few days after use. However, higher doses or longer use can mean some longer-term effects can last up to 13 days.

Will NBOMe show up on a drug test?

NBOMe can be tested for in hair, urine, saliva or blood. However, testing of NBOMe can be unreliable and may not be tested for in routine drug tests. Generally, it is thought that it can be found for 7 days in urine or blood, for 2–3 days in saliva and up to 90 days in hair. Whether or not it shows up on a test might be impacted by how much NBOMe you have taken, how long you have taken it for, which NBOMe drug you have taken and its purity.

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Is NBOMe illegal?

In New Zealand, the NBOMe drugs 25B-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe, 25I-NBOMe are Class B controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs act. Other NBOMe drugs are analogues of the Class B drugs above, so they are Class C controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs act. This means that having NBOMe drugs in your possession, buying them, selling them or manufacturing them is against the law.

You can also get in trouble with the law if you are found to be impaired by NBOMe while driving.

To find out more about the law around legal and controlled drugs, including NBOMe, see Drugs and the law.

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