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2C-T-4
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-isopropylthiophenethylamine
T-4
2C-T-4 is a synthetic psychedelic of the substituted phenethylamine and 2C-x families.1 First described by Alexander Shulgin and colleagues in 19912 and later detailed in his book PiHKAL,3 it is an orally administered research chemical. Compared to more commonly encountered members of the 2C-T-x series such as 2C-T-2 and 2C-T-7, it is distinguished by a notably longer onset and duration of effects.3
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.
Threshold~5 mg
Light5-10 mg
Moderate10-15 mg
Strong15-20 mg
Heavy20+ mg
Individual sensitivity to 2C-T-4 varies substantially, with some users reporting highly intense effects at doses as low as 12 mg. The onset of effects may be gradual, potentially requiring up to two hours to reach full intensity.
Duration
Onset30-120 minutes
After Effects4-8 hours
Total10-18 hours
Subjective Effects
2C-T-4 produces a long, gradually unfolding psychedelic experience with an onset that can stretch over three hours, followed by a decline as gradual and gentle as the climb. The character of the experience is dominated by mental clarity, insight, and a calm, benign emotional tone, with visual effects that are relatively modest for the intensity of the state. At a dose of 12 mg it has been documented as capable of producing a full 'plus-four' peak experience, and residual stimulation can persist into the night, interfering with sleep. Higher doses can introduce a mentally difficult period during the come-up, and some experiences shift toward dark, dysphoric territory.
Physical
The body load is generally comfortable, with less of the pushy body-energy that makes related compounds difficult for some, though residual chemical push can cause tiredness and sleeplessness at the end of the experience. Persistent cold extremities and an uncertain stomach when moving around have been reported, along with slowness and a need for napping the following day.
Stimulation
Cognitive
The headspace is notably rational, good-humored, and lucid, with growing clarity of thought and impressive insights; users remain capable of phone calls and other everyday tasks at moderate doses. This calm can give way to difficulty at higher doses, including feeling locked into illogical patterns of thought or a darkening of mood that resists reasoning away.
Emotional
Enhancements
Visual
Visual effects are mild relative to the depth of the mental state; some experiences feature no particular visuals at all, while others include brilliant color trails.
Enhancements
Auditory
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
In a receptor and transporter panel using cells expressing human targets, 2C-T-4 showed a predominantly serotonergic profile, including potent partial agonism at 5-HT2A and partial agonism at 5-HT2B, together with binding at 5-HT2C, 5-HT1A and adrenergic receptors.4 The same study found no potent interaction with monoamine transporters and interaction with rodent, but not human, TAAR1. These are in-vitro findings and do not by themselves establish human receptor occupancy, clinical potency or safety.
Pharmacokinetics
Human pharmacokinetics and metabolism have not been established for 2C-T-4 in the reviewed sources. An enzyme study found MAO-A and MAO-B involvement for several other 2C compounds, including 2C-T-2 and 2C-T-7, but did not test 2C-T-4; applying that result to 2C-T-4 remains an unverified class inference.5
Metabolitesnone documented yet
Dangerous
Highest riskThese combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.
Unsafe
AvoidThere is considerable risk of physical harm when taking these combinations, they should be avoided where possible.
Caution
Use cautionThese combinations are not usually physically harmful, but may produce undesirable effects, such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. Extreme use may cause physical health issues. Synergistic effects may be unpredictable. Care should be taken when choosing to use this combination.
Tolerance
Tolerance not written up yet
Harm Potential
Toxicity
Lethal Dosage
No lethal-dose or LD50 data were identified. MAOIs may potentiate 2C drugs and may result in overdose and serious toxicity; combining with MAOIs may create a medical emergency.
Gastrointestinal
A qualitative report described an unsettled stomach while moving around.6
Peripheral and sleep-related effects
Reports describe persistent cold feet, strong stimulation near bedtime, tiredness, reduced sleep, and next-day slowing with need for a nap.
History & Culture
2C-T-4 was first documented in the scientific literature by Alexander Shulgin and his colleagues in a 1991 journal article.2 Later that same year, Shulgin provided a more comprehensive account of the compound in his book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known…
Legality
By Country
United StatesIllegalSchedule I (DEA code 7532)
21 CFR § 1308.11(d)(43)24
2C-T-4 is listed as a Schedule I hallucinogenic substance under 21 CFR § 1308.11(d)(43).
ChinaIllegal2C-T-4 is expressly listed as item 10 of China's non-medical controlled narcotic and psychotropic substances directory: 2,5-dimethoxy-4-isopropylthio-phenethylamine (Chinese: 2,5-二甲氧基-4-异丙基硫基苯乙胺; English: 4-Isopropylthio-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine; CAS 207740-25-8; abbreviation 2C-T-4). It is a non-medical controlled substance, not a medical Category I or Category II psychotropic medicine.
Non-medical Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Directory (2025), item 10; Regulation on the Control of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (current consolidated text, Articles 3, 4 and 82); Non-medical Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Measures (2015); Drug Control Law; Criminal Law Articles 347, 348 and 357; Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025), Articles 84 and 85.891011121314151617
The legacy row is supported and normalized to canonicalStatus prohibited. The current legal designation is the non-medical controlled narcotic/psychotropic category: 2C-T-4 remains item 10 in the 2025 directory as reproduced by an official Shenzhen Public Security Bureau page current to 2026-07-01, and the 2026 additions notice does not displace that entry. The current regulation permits non-medical controlled substances only for regulated experimental research and otherwise prohibits production, operation, use, storage and transport; the Drug Control Law separately prohibits unlawful production, sale, transport, storage, provision, possession, use and smuggling. Criminal exposure is conduct- and quantity-dependent under Articles 347 and 348, while the current Public Security Administration Punishments Law supplies administrative detention/fine ranges for small-quantity possession, use and related conduct. The inspected Supreme People's Court interpretation contains no 2C-T-4-specific quantity threshold, so none is inferred. Regulation Article 82's 50,000-100,000 yuan administrative fine is specifically for non-criminal illicit-channel leakage by regulated entities and is not presented as a universal personal-possession penalty.
GermanyIllegal (analog/blanket ban)2-Phenethylamin derivative
2C-T-4 falls within the NpSG group for compounds derived from 2-phenethylamine: its phenyl ring bears methoxy and methylsulfanyl substituents permitted by the group definition. Section 3 prohibits trading, placing on the market, manufacturing, importing, acquiring, possessing, and administering covered substances, subject to the statute's stated exceptions.
SwedenIllegalhälsofarlig vara
Förordning (1999:58) om förbud mot vissa hälsofarliga varor22
2C-T-4 is expressly listed as a health-hazardous good in the appendix to Förordning (1999:58) om förbud mot vissa hälsofarliga varor. Section 2 of that regulation provides that goods in the appendix are health-hazardous goods under lagen (1999:42) om förbud mot vissa hälsofarliga varor.
CanadaSchedule III (CDSA)
Designated as a controlled substance under Schedule III of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act effective October 31, 2016.7 Possession, trafficking, and production carry criminal penalties.
DenmarkIllegal
Danish Regulation on Euphoriant Substances (BEK 405/2026)18
The current Danish regulation’s List B entry supports controlled status and the medical/scientific-use limitation.
NorwayIllegal2C-T-4
Forskrift om narkotika (narkotikaforskriften), Narkotikalisten21
Norway’s Narkotikalisten expressly lists 2C-T-4 under the chemical name 2,5-dimetoksy-4-isopropyltiofenetylamin. The substance is therefore a named narcotic under the narcotics regulation, rather than being classified solely through an analogue provision.
UkraineIllegal (analog/blanket ban)Table I · List 2
Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 770 (List of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors)23
Ukraine’s official controlled-substance list places 2C-T-2 and 2C-T-7 in List I, Schedule No. 2, for especially dangerous psychotropic substances whose circulation is prohibited. The list’s note also includes homologs of listed narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances where such homologs can exist, unless separately excluded. 2C-T-4 is treated as a homolog of listed 2C-T-2 under that provision.
References
Source Pages
Citations
- 2C-T-4 was first described in the [[scientific literature]] by [[Alexander Shulgin]] and colleagues in 1991.<ref name="Shulgin_1991" /> Shortly after this, Shulgin described 2C-T-1. (n.d.). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-013-0295-x1
- Letters to the Editor [Re: Stolaroff (1990) - Central Nervous System (CNS) Activity of Two New Psychoactive Compounds]. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 23(1), 95–96 (January 1991). https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.1991.1047258312
- Shulgin A. (1991). PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story. Transform Press.1234
- Dino Luethi, Daniel Trachsel, Marius C Hoener, & Matthias E Liechti. (May 2018). Monoamine receptor interaction profiles of 4-thio-substituted phenethylamines (2C-T drugs). Neuropharmacology, 134(Pt A), 141–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.07.0121
- Denis S Theobald, & Hans H Maurer. (January 2007). Identification of monoamine oxidase and cytochrome P450 isoenzymes involved in the deamination of phenethylamine-derived designer drugs (2C-series). Biochem Pharmacol, 73(2), 287–297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2006.09.0221
- Alexander Shulgin. (2017). The Shulgin Lab Books: Pharmacology Notes B (1986). Erowid. https://erowid.org/library/books_online/shulgin_labbooks/shulgin_pharmacology_notebookb_searchable.pdf1
- Order Amending Schedule III to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (2C-phenethylamines). Canada Gazette (4 May 2016). https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2016/2016-05-04/html/sor-dors73-eng.html1
- China controlled-drug directory (updated July 2026), Shenzhen Public Security Bureau. ga.sz.gov.cn (n.d.). https://ga.sz.gov.cn/SZJDZX/SZBMFW/content/post_12898420.html1
- Three departments jointly issue latest Non-medical Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Directory. btgaj.xjbt.gov.cn (n.d.). https://btgaj.xjbt.gov.cn/c/2025-07-28/8428464.shtml1
- Hong Kong Trade and Industry Department Trade and Industry Circular reproducing China's 2025 non-medical controlled-substance directory. tid.gov.hk (n.d.). https://www.tid.gov.hk/en/tradecircular/files/2025/ci6582025a.pdf1
- Regulation on the Control of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, current consolidated text. xzfg.moj.gov.cn (n.d.). https://xzfg.moj.gov.cn/front/law/detail?LawID=17441
- State Council Decision No. 797 amending and repealing administrative regulations. mee.gov.cn (n.d.). https://www.mee.gov.cn/zcwj/gwywj/202412/t20241216_1098631.shtml1
- Non-medical Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Measures, Panjin Public Security Bureau. gaj.panjin.gov.cn (n.d.). https://gaj.panjin.gov.cn/2015_10/08_00/content-235605.html1
- Drug Control Law of the People's Republic of China. beijing.gov.cn (n.d.). https://www.beijing.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengcefagui/qtwj/201104/t20110427_780651.html1
- Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (as amended by Criminal Law Amendment XI). jtgl.beijing.gov.cn (n.d.). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index.html1
- Supreme People's Court Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Drug Crime Cases. court.gov.cn (n.d.). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/19122.html1
- Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 version), Beijing Public Security Bureau. gaj.beijing.gov.cn (n.d.). https://gaj.beijing.gov.cn/wsgs/2024zcwj/zcfg/202506/t20250630_4134266.html1
- BEK nr 405 af 26/03/2026 om euforiserende stoffer. retsinformation.dk (n.d.). https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2026/405/pdf1
- Neue-psychoaktive-Stoffe-Gesetz (NpSG), Anlage. gesetze-im-internet.de (n.d.). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/npsg/BJNR261510016.html1
- Neue-psychoaktive-Stoffe-Gesetz (NpSG), Anlage. gesetze-im-internet.de (n.d.). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/npsg/__3.html1
- Forskrift om narkotika (narkotikaforskriften), Narkotikalisten. lovdata.no (n.d.). https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2013-02-14-199/KAPITTEL_11
- Förordning (1999:58) om förbud mot vissa hälsofarliga varor. riksdagen.se (n.d.). https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/forordning-199958-om-forbud-mot-vissa_sfs-1999-58/1
- Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 770 (List of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors). zakon.rada.gov.ua (n.d.). https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/770-2000-%D0%BF#Text1
- 21 CFR § 1308.11(d)(43). govinfo.gov (n.d.). https://www.govinfo.gov/link/cfr/21/1308?link-type=pdf§ionnum=11&year=mostrecent1
Further Reading
ACMD. '2C-Phenethylamines: A Review of the Evidence' (UK Home Office, 2014)
EMCDDA Europol Early-Warning System: 2C-T-4 Reports (case series 2012–2019)
PubChem: Compound Summary for CID 135359 (2C-T-4)
Wagmann et al. 'Interactions of phenethylamine-derived psychoactive substances of the 2C-series with human monoamine oxidases' - Drug Testing and Analysis (2019)
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Reviewed, edited, and approved by subject-matter expert Lyrea.
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