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2C-B, MDMA and psilocybin: what a 24-person comparison found
2026-10-19 ยท 1 min read
How does 2C-B compare with MDMA and psilocybin under controlled conditions? A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology on 28 April 2026 tested the substances in the same 24 healthy volunteers.
What was compared
The randomized, double-blind crossover study included placebo, three doses of 2C-B, 125 mg of MDMA and 25 mg of psilocybin. Researchers recorded subjective experiences, cardiovascular responses, adverse effects and blood measurements. This was an acute drug-effects study, rather than a brain-imaging or treatment trial.
At 30 mg, 2C-B produced psychedelic-type experiences and increased emotional empathy on the study's measures. Its average reported effect duration was 4.9 hours, compared with 4.8 hours for MDMA and 6.1 hours for psilocybin.
How to read the differences
MDMA produced the greatest cardiovascular stimulation at the doses tested. Psilocybin produced more reported distress than the other active conditions.
Those comparisons do not establish that 2C-B is generally safer, needs less monitoring, or treats depression or PTSD. Dose, participant selection and setting all matter. The authors specifically note that effects and safety may differ in patients or recreational settings.
The useful contribution is a direct comparison that can inform future research, rather than a ranking of which drug someone should take.
Source: Denis Arikci and colleagues, the original controlled study. This plain-language summary describes research available under CC BY 4.0.
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