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What is DMAD?
Q: I received a "Legal High" product from an internet vendor in pill form, supposed to have similar affects as MDMA. The ingredient label listed DMAD as part of it's makeup. I have been unsuccessful in finding any information on DMAD. Can you provide any?

A: I have never heard of a psychoactive drug named DMAD, and I could not find such a thing with a web search. However, there is a popular nutritional supplement called DMAE, and I suspect that what you have contains this and that the label is wrong. DMAE stands for 2-dimethyl-amino-ethanol, and is chemically related to choline. It is used as a "smart drug" to improve thinking ability and increase alertness. In theory, it works similarly to choline - by being converted to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the body. However, the evidence that this actually happens is questionable, and it is quite likely that this chemical is nothing more than new age snake oil.



Most of these "legal high" products sold in head shops, online, and in magazines such as High Times are nothing more than blends of herbs and vitamins packaged in gimmicky ways. Some of the herbs commonly used in these products are actually effective - such as kava, valerian, ephedra and ginseng. Unfortunately, these products generally use very small quantities of these plants, often the wrong parts of the plants, and generally very low quality cheap material. If you wish to explore plants like ginseng or valerian, buy some high quality pure plant material from a reputable supplier. These "legal highs" are nothing more than scams. Just look at the one you got - they couldn't even get the name of the ingredient right! These companies are simply out to make money on people who don't know better.



There is a chemical called Dimethyl hexanedioate or Dimethyl Adipate which is abbreviated DMAD. This chemical is an ingredient in paints, varnishes, and lacquers and should hopefully not be in the product you purchased.

Asked By : Rex
Answered By : murple
Published Date : 1 / 7 / 2001
Last Edited Date : 1 / 9 / 2001
Question ID : 1797

Categories: [ Nootropics ] [ Legal Highs ]



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