Mescaline hallucinogens

The effects of hallucinogens on the 5-HT syndrome have been extensively studied to date, every hallucinogen examined has been reported to produce the syndrome. This list includes LSD and related indolealkylamine [DMT, 5-MeODMT, diethyltryptamine (DET)] hallucinogens (39,53,56,67,108,152,155, 159,162,166,176,180,185,198), as well as phenethylamine (DOM, mescaline) hallucinogens (135,159,198). 

Mescal button Lophophora wllllamsil 1 Mescaline hallucinogen (see p 247)... 

Mescaline a hallucinogenic amine obtained from the peyote cactus has been synthesized in two steps from 3 4 5 trimethoxybenzyl bromide The first step is nucleophilic substitution by sodium cyanide The second step is a lithium aluminum hydnde reduction What is the structure of mescaline" ... 

Crude preparations of mescaline (61) from peyote were first reported by the Spanish as they learned of its use from the natives of Mexico during the Spanish invasion of that country in the sixteenth century. The colorful history (44) of mescaline has drawn attention to its use as a hallucinogen and even today it is in use among natives of North and South America. Although in connection with dmg abuse complaints, mescaline is considered dangerous, it has been reported (45) that it is not a narcotic nor is it habituating. It was also suggested that its sacramental use in the Native American Church of the United States be permitted since it appears to provoke only visual hallucination while the subject retains clear consciousness and awareness. 

The term psychedelic literally means mind manifesting and was applied to hallucinogens like LSD or mescaline to emphasize the intensification of awareness and sensory perception that is associated with these drugs. 

The phenylalkylamine hallucinogens show a close structural resemblance to the catecholamines, noradrenahne and dopamine. The prototype structure is found in mescaline, a naturally occurring substance. Modification of the mescaline molecule has led to synthetic amphetamine derivatives with hallucinogenic action. 

The active drug and metabolites can be detected from the urine by thin-layer chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography, or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. However, assays are available only at specialized centers. Treatment of acute intoxication with mescaline is virtually identical to the treatment outlined for LSD intoxication. DOM-induced vasospasm responds well to intra-arterial tolazohne or sodium nitroprusside. Major life-threatening complications of hallucinogenic amphetamine derivatives include hyperthermia, hypertension, convulsions, cardiovascular collapse, and self-inflicted trauma. 

Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) has a hallucinogenic potency about five times that of mescaline and three times that of MDA. Because of its high toxicity, it caused fatal intoxications shortly after it became available on the street in the early 1970s (Cimbura 1974). Some of the fatalities were apparently due to the fact that the substance was sold to users as MDA because of the higher potency of PMA, severe intoxication (i.e., hypertensive crisis, seizures, death) occurred. 

MDA had unique psychoactive properties that were different from hallucinogens such as LSD or mescaline. While MDA in high doses appears to be hallucinogenic or psychotomimetic, it seems not to have been used for this effect, but rather for its effects on mood production of a sense of decreased anxiety and enhanced self-awareness. Even early reports described the desire of MDA users to be with and talk to other people (Jackson and Reed 1970). MDA is also the only substituted amphetamine that received serious clinical study as an adjunct to psychotherapy (Yensen et al. 1976). 

It is elear from these results that, in MDMA- or MBDB-trained rats, complete generalization of the training cue to the typical hallucinogenic drugs LSD, DOM, and mescaline does not occur. Furthermore, transfer of the training stimulus does not oecur to MDMA or MBDB in animals trained to diseriminate LSD from saline (Nichols et al. 1986). Although MDMA has been shown to substitute for mescaline (Callahan and Appel 1987). 

Recent controversy about the recreational abuse and potential therapeutic use of designer drugs has focused attention on MDA (methylenedioxyampheta-mine HCl) and structurally related phenylisopropylamine compounds, including MDMA istructural analogs of the psychomotor stimulant amphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline, and produce stimulant and/or hallucinogenic effects (Shulgin 1978). 

Mescaline A catecholamine hallucinogen, obtained from the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii). 

Altura, B. T., and Altura, B. M. (1981) Phencyclidine, lysergic acid diethyl amide and mescaline Cerebral artery spasms and hallucinogenic activity. Science, 2 1051-1052. 

In this chapter, we have reviewed the effects of indolealkylamine and phen-ylalkylamine hallucinogens on respondent (classical or Pavlovian) and operant (instrumental) behavior. Both the classically conditioned NMR and bar pressing or licking that is simultaneously reinforced with food or water and suppressed by punishment appear to be particularly sensitive to low doses of LSD- or mescaline-like agents. To date, however, neither of these behaviors has provided substantial amounts of information regarding specific, underlying neuronal mechanisms. 

The natural prototype for the phenylalkylamines is mescaline (Structure 1), isolated from the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii) by Heffter in 1896 (100) and subsequently obtained synthetically by Spath in 1919 (218). Used for many centuries in the form of peyote by Indians in Mexico and the American Southwest (3), it is often referred to as one of the classic hallucinogens, along with psilocybin, psilocin, and LSD. Little structure-activity work was directed toward mescaline or its congeners until 1955, when Peretz et al. (174) reported that a-methyl mescaline (TMA) (8), which represented a hybrid of the structure... 

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