Most of the proof is anecdotal, which is typical for DMT, but there seems to be a real danger of developing long-term auditory hallucinations even from one trip. Whenever someone brings it up, the replies are full of nonsense about “vibrating at a higher frequency” or it being a “holy sound.” Tinnitus is a serious condition that can ruin your life. I’m confused why it’s rarely discussed as a legitimate risk of using DMT.
18 Likes
I think the potential harms of psychedelics are downplayed. HPPD, visual snow, lasting mental health problems, psychosis, and tinnitus. Not everyone is wired to handle such intense trips without some lingering consequences.
I don’t remember seeing any data that proves DMT causes chronic tinnitus. People might have hallucinations that sound like ringing, but DMT can’t physically hurt the ears because there are no actual sound waves hitting the eardrum or affecting the cochlea. Edit: The OP updated the post to mention long-term hallucinations instead of ear damage, so my original point is less applicable. I’m also not as well-versed in this as I am in visual neuroscience, so I wasn’t thinking about tinnitus caused by neurological factors beyond the ear. Tinnitus itself isn’t well understood even without drugs, so this is quite interesting.
I’ve dealt with tinnitus for as long as I can remember. One time, DMT made it much worse for about a month, but it eventually went back to normal.
I’ve been wondering if listening to music or a background track makes DMT safer. Maybe it prevents the brain from misfiring and creating that ringing sound. It might be harder to have auditory hallucinations if you’re already processing real sound. I’ve only ever tripped while listening to something, usually just some relaxed ambient music. My mother has a severe case of tinnitus and it has really damaged her mental health. It’s a nightmare. I actually got her EarProMax to help her manage it. It’s just brutal.
Man, thank you for this post. I used DMT twice two years ago and I’ve had a constant ringing sound ever since. It’s frustrating, though I often manage to ignore it even though it’s always there. I’m glad to read this; at least I know I’m not the only person who’s gone through this.
Are auditory hallucinations and tinnitus actually the same thing?
Totally agree. But I don’t think it’s limited to DMT, though. My experience came from using LSD and weed constantly without giving my brain a break.
I’ve noticed “the sound” during trips and for a few days after, but never permanently. What is that noise anyway? Is it just tinnitus? I’ve had experiences on shrooms where the sound felt like it was playing with me. On DMT, that sound is the first thing I hear—starting as a hiss and turning into a loud vibration as the trip begins. In my DMT experiences, the sound is part of the trip itself, changing frequency and affecting the visuals. Why is that sound so common and notable to so many people?
I wasn’t even aware of this risk. Thanks for the information.
As a tinnitus sufferer who has used a lot of DMT over the years, I find this post a bit concerning. First, I’ve watched my tinnitus closely during six years of use, and it’s never made it worse—in fact, it’s sometimes helped quiet it down. Second, it’s not called a “real risk” because there isn’t enough scientific evidence. Unverified anecdotes, which usually lack detail, should be treated with skepticism. We don’t actually know if psychedelics cause it, and the existing studies are pretty weak. They don’t look at hearing tests or history of loud noise exposure. How do we know the tinnitus wasn’t already there? Maybe the user just noticed something they usually ignore. Think about it: we often trip in quiet places, which is the perfect time to notice a high-pitched ring. Or people trip at loud raves where the volume hits 120db—which ruins your hearing in seconds. Do people even use ear protection? Your ears are doomed without it. You can have tinnitus and not know it because the brain is so good at filtering noise. While some people don’t respect psychedelics, we also ignore everyday hazards that cause health issues. Once you realize how loud 84db is, you see how many things in your own home can cause permanent damage.