2C-B vs. MDMA and Other Club Drugs

2C-B is the street name for the chemical compound 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine. It is a synthetic psychedelic drug that is illegally sold for recreational use, producing mild psychedelic effects and euphoria with a stimulant effect that increases the user’s heart rate and blood pressure. Use is most comparable to the effects that other serotonin-acting drugs like MDMA can produce.

Some other common street names associated with 2C-B are:

• 2CB, 2-CE, 2-CI or 2-CT.
• Nexus.
• 7-Up, Seventh Heaven (or 7th Heaven), T-7 or Lucky 7.
• Cloud 9.
• MTF.
• Cee-Beetie.
• Tripstacy.
• BDMPEA.
• Venus.
• Bees3.
• Blue Mystic.
• Bromo.
• Toonies.
• Performax.
• Spectrum.
• Synergy.
• 2’s.
• Erox.
• Zenith.
• Utopia.
• Beautiful.

This drug may be taken orally, as a small pill, or in a powder form that can be snorted. Rarely, it can be swallowed in liquid form or smoked as well. It can be painful to snort, producing a severe and long-lasting burning sensation. The pills come in all sizes and colors, including pink, red, purple, off-white with speckles, or in colored capsules.

This drug can alter a person’s thinking, sense of time, and emotions. Because of its stimulant effects and the euphoria it produces, it is most commonly found in clubs, bars, and places with a party atmosphere.

The Effects of 2C-B Compared to MDMA

Psychological Effects

The psychological effects of 2C-B can cause you to feel energized and alert, with higher sensitivity and awareness of colors, sounds, smells, and touch. You may also notice:

• Happy feelings.
• Hallucinations or visual distortions.
• Feeling “in touch” with your emotions and your body.
• Feeling affectionate to the people around you.
• Relaxation at low doses.
• Hearing things that aren’t there.
• “Unreal” feelings and sensations.
• Intense or uncomfortable feelings.
• Awareness of one’s own body.
• Fear or anxiety.
• Increase in giggling and laughing.
• Synesthesia (experiencing one sense through another, like “seeing” sounds).
• Losing balance.
• Confidence.
• Insomnia.
• Anxiety and panic.
• Fear, hallucinations, and morbid delusions with high doses.

Some physical effects of taking 2C-B are dry mouth, increased heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, headaches, dehydration, delirium, muscle tension, dizziness, and sexual arousal. It’s not possible to know the exact you’re taking when you ingest street drugs, so the user’s experience can vary wildly each time. The set (or state of mind) and setting (the person’s surroundings) will also affect the experience.

In comparison, the psychological effects of the recreational drug MDMA are similar, with euphoric feelings of well-being, without the psychedelic component. MDMA is also commonly known as ecstasy, EMD, Mandy, pills, pingers, bikkies, flippers, M&M, eckies, Molly, or Xtc, and can come as a pill, powder, or crystal. This drug causes users to feel:

• Euphoric.
• Energized and alert.
• Confident.
• Heightened senses.
• Empathetic.
• Socially accepted and connected to others.
• Uninhibited.
• Chatty.

Physically, you may have enlarged pupils, a reduced appetite, a rapid heartbeat, a raised body temperature, and muscle aches and pains. You may also clench your jaw, sweat excessively, grind your teeth, or drink more water than usual.

Duration

In general, it takes 20 to 90 minutes to take effect (or longer on a full stomach), with the high plateauing for 2-3 hours before a gradual 2+ hour comedown, with aftereffects lasting 2-4 hours but some people report their experience lasting over 12 hours. 

MDMA’s effects are similar in duration, with effects starting within 20 minutes to an hour, and a plateaued high lasting 3-4 hours. The “comedown” from MDMA is prolonged, taking anywhere from 24 hours to a few days, depending on how much was used and how long it was used for. It can usually be detected in a urine test for up to 4 days after taking it and may cause you to feel “low” or “down” for a few days due to serotonin depletion.

Intensity of Effects

2C-B’s intensity depends on how much you’ve taken, your body size, the strength of the drug, and whether you’ve used other substances. It may also depend on factors like your physical and mental health, the environment you’re in, and whether you’ve taken the drug before. 

2C-B can produce effects similar to LSD or MDMA, meaning you may have a very intense experience, especially if the environment you’re in causes you to feel negative emotions, which can produce a “bad trip.” The effects have been anecdotally reported as being easier to manage than with other psychedelic drugs.

Like 2C-B, MDMA’s intensity depends on the strength and amount of drug you’ve consumed, as well as the location, who you’re with, and your mental state before using the drug. It also depends on your unique brain chemistry and your physical health. 

Risks and Safety: 2C-B vs. MDMA and Other Synthetics

If you take a low dose of 2C-B, you may alternate between feeling nothing and feeling engaged and aware of the effects. Hallucinations tend to come and go and cause strange visuals, even when their eyes are closed. Higher doses may cause a person to lose their balance, experience perceptual problems, and have difficulty concentrating or communicating. 

Those with mental health issues are at higher risk when taking psychedelic drugs. 2C-B has been known to cause panic attacks, confusion, agitation, delirium, and psychosis, especially at high doses. Other risks associated with 2C-B are:

• Experiencing headaches, nausea and vomiting.
• Heart and circulatory issues due to high blood pressure and rapid heartbeat.
• Jitters or body tremors and muscle spasms.
• Mild to intense diarrhea, gas, and nausea.
• Frightening hallucinations and mental distress.
• Severe headaches during the comedown.
• Low mood, anxiety, and lethargy have been reported after use.
• Hyperthermia (overheating).

MDMA affects each person differently, and along with euphoric, connected feelings can cause the body to overheat and dangerously raise a person’s blood pressure. At high doses, it can also cause hallucinations, floating sensations, irrational behavior, paranoia, aggression, or convulsions. 

MDMA use has also been connected to:

• Kidney, liver, and heart problems.
• Dangerous seizures.
• Asthma attacks.
• Severe dehydration.
• Memory problems.
• The development of depression and anxiety.

Some people have died from drinking too much water after using this drug, as it stops urine production and messes with the electrolyte levels in the body.

Any illegal drug also comes with the added risk of not knowing what your drug has been cut with. Baby powder, cattle dewormer, boric acid, and laundry detergent have all been found as cutting agents in drugs, as have fentanyl, bath salts, ketamine, caffeine, and methamphetamine. 

Legal Status and Availability of 2C-B and MDMA

Under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in the US, 2C-B is considered an illicit, synthetic, Schedule I hallucinogen. This means it has a high potential for abuse, and there is no accepted safety for use under medical supervision. This has been a permanent law in the US since July 2, 1995. 

Although MDMA has limited approval for medical uses in some countries, including Canada and Australia, in the US, as of 2017, it has no legally accepted uses, and it is also considered a Schedule 1 Drug under the Controlled Substances Act even though it has been used in conjunction with psychotherapy in the past. 

Schedule 1 substances are treated with the strictest regulations, meaning trafficking, possession, or use of these drugs is illegal and may result in criminal prosecution. 

Treatment for 2C-B and MDMA Abuse

If you have been using 2C-B or MDMA and it is adversely affecting your life in any way, you may want to look into detox and rehab options. While these drugs are not known for causing physical dependence like other drugs do, tolerance is known to build, which can cause psychological dependence and withdrawal symptoms like agitation, cravings, restless sleep, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and depression. 

A rehab center that offers medical detox services and comprehensive dual diagnosis care will be your best option, as you will have full medical support with a combination of evidence-based therapies and treatments that will help you stop using drugs for good. At Resurgence Behavioral Health, we create unique programs that treat the underlying causes of substance abuse while providing the tools you need to stay away from drugs in integrated stress reduction and relapse prevention programming focused on expert tips for preventing a relapse.

Prevention and Education on Club Drugs

Many helpful websites offer realistic information about psychedelic and club drugs, but the best way to prevent a loved one from using these substances is honest, open communication. It is never too early to open the discussion about drugs, as the majority of people who use illegal substances started in their teens. Talk to them, pay attention, and provide informative and true information to dispel any myths they may have heard. 

For more information about drug addiction treatment and club drug detox, please call Resurgence today at 855-458-0050 or contact us online. We are here to support you, and our experts are available now to answer any questions you have.

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

Research | Editorial