2-CB pills

What are 2C-B Pills?

2C-B pills are oral tablets containing the synthetic psychedelic compound 2C-B (4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine). The drug was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin in 1974 and gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly in the Netherlands where it was sold legally under the brand name “Nexus” in smartshops until it was internationally scheduled in 1995.

2C-B produces a complex pharmacological profile often described as a “bridge” between MDMA (empathogenic) and LSD (psychedelic), offering tactile enhancement, emotional openness, colorful visuals, and mild stimulant effects. Pills are the most common form of 2C-B in recreational settings, particularly in Europe and South America.

Chemical Identifiers

Property	Value
IUPAC Name	4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine
CAS Number	66142-81-2
Molecular Formula	C10H14BrNO2
Molecular Weight	260.13 g/mol
Pill forms	Pressed tablets, often with logos (e.g., “Nexus”, hearts, stars, geometric shapes)

Street Names

• Bees
• Nexus (original brand name)
• Venus
• 2C-B
• Bro-mo-spectrum
• Toonies
• Spectrum
• Blue Mystic

Pill Dosages & Potency (Educational Reference Only)

CRITICAL WARNING: 2C-B has a steep dose-response curve. Pills vary widely in actual content (5-25mg+). The difference between a mild experience and an overwhelming one can be just a few milligrams.

Dose Range (mg)	Effect Level	Typical Experience
2-5 mg	Threshold	Barely perceptible; mild mood lift
5-10 mg	Light	Mild mood lift, enhanced sensory perception, subtle visual changes, social lubrication
10-15 mg	Common (entry level)	Moderate visuals (color enhancement, patterns), clear-headed euphoria, tactile enhancement
15-20 mg	Common (standard)	Strong visuals (geometric patterns, tracers), significant euphoria, music enhancement, mild ego softening
20-25 mg	Strong	Intense visuals, time dilation, moderate ego dissolution, potential for challenging experiences
25-30+ mg	Heavy	Very intense, overwhelming for most users, significant confusion, ego dissolution, high risk of difficult experience (“bad trip”)

Common Pill Logos & Markings (Historical/Educational)

Pill Logo/Marking	Reported Dosage (approximate)	Notes
Nexus	10-20 mg	Original brand name; pills often imprinted with “NEXUS”
Hearts	8-15 mg	Small heart-shaped pills; common in Netherlands in 1990s
Stars	10-20 mg	Star-shaped or star-imprinted pills
Mushrooms	12-18 mg	Mushroom-shaped or imprinted

WARNING: Pill logos, colors, and shapes are NOT reliable indicators of content. Same logo can contain different drugs and different dosages across different batches. TEST YOUR PILLS.

Duration (Oral Administration)

Phase	Timing
Onset	45-75 minutes (can be up to 2 hours if taken with food)
Come-up	15-30 minutes (nausea common during this phase)
Peak	2-4 hours
Comedown	1-2 hours
Total duration	4-8 hours (depending on dose and individual metabolism)

Subjective Effects (Educational Description)

Physical Effects:

• Nausea (especially during come-up — common with oral administration)
• Increased heart rate and mild blood pressure elevation
• Pupil dilation (mydriasis)
• Mild to moderate body temperature increase
• Tactile enhancement (sensations feel more intense)
• Gastrointestinal discomfort (stomach cramps, gas)
• Muscle tension or jaw clenching (milder than MDMA)
• Decreased appetite

Psychological Effects:

• Visual effects: Brightening of colors, geometric patterns, trails, after-images, closed-eye visuals (less intense than LSD or DMT)
• Emotional effects: Euphoria, empathy, emotional openness (milder than MDMA)
• Cognitive effects: Enhanced appreciation of music and art, creative thinking, mild time distortion
• Empathogenic qualities: Increased sense of connection with others, reduced social anxiety
• Stimulant effects: Mild energy boost, talkativeness

Effects by Dose Range

Dose	Typical Experience
5-10 mg	Mild mood lift, enhanced sensory perception, subtle visual changes, social lubrication, minimal nausea
10-15 mg	Moderate visuals (color enhancement, patterns), clear-headed euphoria, tactile enhancement, good balance of psychedelic and empathogenic effects
15-20 mg	Strong visuals (geometric patterns, tracers), significant euphoria, music enhancement, mild ego softening, increased time dilation
20-25 mg	Intense visuals, time dilation, moderate ego dissolution, potential for challenging experiences, nausea more pronounced

Health & Safety Risks

Acute Risks:

• Anxiety and panic: 2C-B can cause significant anxiety during come-up, especially at higher doses (15mg+)
• Overstimulation: Uncomfortable physical tension, racing thoughts, agitation
• Nausea/vomiting: Common during come-up, particularly with oral administration and higher doses
• Hypertensive crisis: Rare at typical doses (5-20mg), but risk exists for individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions
• Seizures: Extremely rare, but reported with very high doses (30mg+) or in susceptible individuals
• Psychosis: Can trigger acute psychosis in predisposed individuals (personal or family history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)

Long-term Risks:

• HPPD (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder): Rare but possible with frequent use — persistent visual disturbances (trails, visual snow, halos) long after use
• Persistent psychosis: Extremely rare, primarily in individuals with underlying vulnerability
• Urinary retention: Some users report difficulty urinating during the experience

Drug Interactions

Drug Class	Interaction	Risk Level
MAOIs	Dangerous potentiation, hypertensive crisis, serotonin syndrome	High
SSRIs/SNRIs	Diminished effects; theoretical serotonin syndrome risk	Moderate
Lithium	Increased risk of seizures and psychosis	High
MDMA	Additive effects, increased cardiovascular strain, potential for overstimulation	Moderate
Alcohol	Increased nausea, impaired judgment, dulled psychedelic effects	Low to Moderate
Cannabis	Can intensify effects, increase anxiety, and prolong duration	Moderate

Contraindications: Personal or family history of psychosis/schizophrenia, uncontrolled hypertension, severe cardiovascular disease, seizure disorders, pregnancy/breastfeeding.

Tolerance & Dependence

• Tolerance: Builds rapidly after a single use (like other psychedelics). Cross-tolerance with LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, and other 2C compounds. Tolerance returns to baseline after 7-14 days.
• Physical dependence: None — no withdrawal syndrome.
• Psychological dependence: Low — not considered addictive. Not associated with compulsive redosing behavior.

Legal Status

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History & Cultural Context

2C-B was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin in 1974. In the 1980s and early 1990s, it was sold legally as a “legal alternative” to MDMA in smartshops in the Netherlands under the brand name “Nexus.” Pills were often imprinted with the word “NEXUS” or various logos (hearts, stars, mushrooms). Following its international scheduling in 1995, it disappeared from legal markets but continued to be produced illicitly.

In recent years, 2C-B has seen a resurgence in popularity in club and festival scenes, particularly in Europe (Spain, Portugal, Netherlands) and parts of South America (Brazil, Argentina). It is often sold as powder or pressed pills, with typical pill strengths ranging from 8-20mg.

2C-B is sometimes sold as a substitute for MDMA (“Molly”) or LSD (“acid”), leading to unintentional ingestion and unexpected experiences.

Adulterants & Misrepresentation (Critical Warning)

Jurisdiction	Classification	Notes
United States (federal)	Schedule I	Illegal for possession, sale, distribution (since 1995)
United Kingdom	Class A	Up to 7 years imprisonment for possession
Canada	Schedule III	Illegal (analogue of controlled phenethylamines)
Germany	BtMG Anlage I	Illegal (no medical use)
Netherlands	Opium Law (List I)	Illegal (banned in 1997 after being legally sold as “Nexus”)

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Pill Testing & Reagent Results (Educational)

Substance Sold As 2C-B	Risk
NBOMe compounds (25I-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe)	Fatal at milligram doses; bitter/metallic taste vs. 2C-B which is not bitter; overdoses have caused deaths
DOx compounds (DOB, DOC, DOI)	Very long duration (16-24+ hours), higher risk of hypertensive crisis, vasoconstriction
Other 2C compounds (2C-I, 2C-E, 2C-P)	Different potency and duration; some (2C-P) are more potent and longer-lasting
MDMA	Different effects (stronger empathy, less visual); longer duration; different risks (hyponatremia, neurotoxicity)

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IMPORTANT: Reagent testing cannot confirm exact dosage or purity. It only indicates the presence of a substance class. Do not consume without confirmation.

Harm Reduction Information (Educational Only)

Reagent	2C-B Reaction	What to Watch For
Marquis	Yellow → Green	Distinguishes from MDMA (purple-black) and amphetamine (orange)
Mecke	No reaction or pale green	Helps rule out NBOMes (green-blue)
Froehde	Yellow → Pale green	Confirms 2C-B presence
Ehrlich	No reaction	Negative confirms not LSD or tryptamine

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Emergency Situations

When to call 911:

• Prolonged seizure (>2 minutes)
• Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness
• Severe hypertension (signs: severe headache, vision changes, confusion, chest pain)
• Severe agitation or aggression (danger to self or others)
• Hyperthermia (dangerously high body temperature)
• Chest pain or difficulty breathing
• Signs of stroke (facial droop, arm weakness, speech difficulty)
• Suicidal ideation or self-harm behavior during the experience

What to tell emergency responders:

• “Someone took 2C-B pills (or unknown psychedelic pills)”
• Approximate dose (e.g., “one pill”) and time since ingestion
• Any other substances (alcohol, cannabis, medications)
• Observed symptoms (seizure, unconsciousness, chest pain, etc.)

Emergency Resources:

Recommendation	Rationale
Test your pills with reagents	Identify adulterants (NBOMes, DOx, other 2C compounds). Marquis (yellow→green) is key for 2C-B vs. MDMA (purple-black).
Start with half a pill (or less)	Pill potency varies (5-25mg+). Half-pill reduces risk of overdose/unpleasant experience.
Do not redose within 2-3 hours	Delayed onset (45-75 minutes) leads to premature redosing and unintentional high-dose experiences.
Eat lightly 3-4 hours before	Reduces nausea during come-up; heavy meals delay and reduce absorption unpredictably.
Have a sober trip sitter	User may experience confusion or anxiety; someone should be present to call for help if needed.
Use in safe, calm environment	Familiar, comfortable setting reduces anxiety and risk of accidents (crowded clubs/festivals increase risk).
Avoid if personal/family history of psychosis or bipolar disorder	Risk of triggering long-term psychosis or manic episode. Have a lower threshold for anxiety/panic.
Do not mix with MAOIs, alcohol, or stimulants	MAOIs: dangerous potentiation. Alcohol: increased nausea, poor judgment. Stimulants: cardiovascular strain.

Resource	Contact	Purpose
911 / Emergency	911	Life-threatening emergency
Poison Control (US)	1-800-222-1222	Overdose guidance, unknown substance identification
Fireside Project (psychedelic support)	6-2FIRESIDE (623-473-7433)	Bad trip support, integration, non-emergency

Educational Summary

2C-B pills are oral tablets containing the synthetic psychedelic 2C-B (4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine). Effects last 4-8 hours with onset of 45-75 minutes. Common doses range from 5-25mg (10-15mg is typical starting dose). 2C-B produces a unique combination of stimulant, empathogenic (MDMA-like), and hallucinogenic (LSD-like) effects.

Safety: 2C-B has a steep dose-response curve — 5-10mg can be the difference between a mild and overwhelming experience. Pill potency varies significantly (5-25mg+). Always test pills with reagents (Marquis yellow→green) to rule out NBOMes (fatal) and other adulterants. Start with half a pill. Do not redose within 2-3 hours due to delayed onset (45-75 minutes). Avoid if personal/family history of psychosis.

Legal status: Schedule I/Class A controlled substance in most jurisdictions. Illegal to possess, sell, or distribute. No approved medical use.

Key dangers: NBOMe adulteration (fatal at milligram doses), unpredictable pill dosages, anxiety/panic attacks, HPPD (rare), psychosis (in predisposed individuals).

Note: This information is for educational and awareness purposes only. 2C-B is a Schedule I/Class A controlled substance with no accepted medical use. It is illegal to possess, sell, or distribute. Nothing here is medical advice or an endorsement of use. If you or someone you know is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. If you need help for substance use, contact SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357.