[Solved] Telepathine

Telepathine is harmine, a β-carboline found in plants such as Banisteriopsis caapi. The name “telepathine” is historical and refers to early interpretations of ayahuasca effects, not to proven telepathy. Pharmacologically, harmine is mainly relevant as a reversible MAO-A inhibitor. Harmine has also been described under older names such as banisterine, telepathine and yageine.

With DMT, harmine is mainly “good for” making oral activity possible. DMT is normally broken down quickly by MAO-A, which means it is barely active when taken orally. Harmine and harmaline inhibit MAO-A, allowing DMT to remain available for longer and making the experience much longer and different, as in ayahuasca. The RIVM describes harmine and harmaline as reversible, selective MAO-A inhibitors, while tetrahydroharmine mainly inhibits serotonin reuptake and has little or no MAO-A inhibition.

With psilocybin and psilocin, harmine is less “needed”, because psilocybin is already orally active and is converted in the body into psilocin. Psilocin is extensively metabolized, mainly through glucuronidation, with additional contributions from other pathways including MAO-A. This means harmine could theoretically influence psilocin breakdown to some extent, but the effect is probably less fundamental than with DMT.

What it may add

Harmine may possibly intensify, prolong or make a tryptamine experience more bodily. With DMT, this is clearer, because MAO-A inhibition makes oral activity possible. With psilocybin or psilocin, it is more of a potentiating layer, often called “psilohuasca”, but there is much less clinical evidence for this.

It may make the experience more intense, emotional, nauseating and less predictable.

Harmine itself is also pharmacologically active. In a phase 1 study with pure oral harmine, harmine is discussed as a β-carboline from plants such as Peganum harmala and ayahuasca-like preparations, with research into safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. That does not mean combinations with psychedelic tryptamines are automatically safe, but it does mean that harmine is not merely a “supporting compound”.

Safety

The main warning is that harmine can interact with other substances because of MAO-A inhibition. Combinations with serotonergic or stimulant substances are especially risky, such as SSRIs, SNRIs, MDMA, amphetamines, tramadol, dextromethorphan, linezolid and some other medications.

In short: with DMT, telepathine/harmine makes oral DMT possible and prolongs the experience. With psilocybin or psilocin, it is not necessary, but it may possibly intensify or change the experience. The downside is more unpredictability and more interaction risk, mainly because of MAO-A inhibition.