Mescaline psychotomimetic effects

Both 19 and 20 were found to have CNS activity, the enJo-isomer 19 being more potent than the exo-isomer in mimicking the action of mescaline, suggesting mescaline may exert its psychotomimetic effects through an antiperiplanar conformation [23],... 

Many of the substances which are known to have psychotomimetic effects in man, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and certain tryptamine derivatives, contain an indole moiety. Mescaline, however, does not contain such a moiety despite its psychotomimetic activity, but it has been suggested by various authors that the side chain of the mescaline molecule might fold back towards the benzene ring to resemble the indole nucleus of LSD and thereby impart psychotomimetic activity. 

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). 

The three drugs, LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin are commonly called hallucinogens because of their ability to alter consciousness such that the individual senses things that are not present. They induce, often in an unpredictable way, perceptual symptoms, including shape and color distortion. Psychosis-like manifestations (depersonalization, hallucinations, distorted time perception) have led some to classify these drugs as psychotomimetics. They also produce somatic symptoms (dizziness, nausea, paresthesias, and blurred vision). Some users have reported intense reexperiencing of perceptual effects (flashbacks) up to several years after the last drug exposure. 

In the literature then available about what we now call psychedelic drugs, the term most commonly used to describe the effects was psychotomimetic (meaning psychosis-mimicking). Yet it is evident from Huxley s description in The Doors of Perception that when he tried mescaline sulfate he was not going through some kind of "imitation psychosis. Huxley believed he had experienced something akin to mystical experience. He was considered an authority on the subject, being the author of one of the classics in this field, The Perennial Philosophy. 

These three mescaline analogs (table I) have been assayed in normal subjects by procedures previously outlined (Shulgin et al. 1969). Both of the alkoxy homologs are effective as psychotomimetics at dosages of 60 mg. orally, with clear threshold effects being noted in some subjects at levels as low as 10 mg. These bases differ from mescaline in that the onset of action occurs sooner (within the first hour) and there is no nausea noted, but otherwise the time course and much of the qualitative content of the intoxication are similar to those of mescaline. The sulfur compound thio-mescaline (3) is also of unexpectedly high potency and is an effective psychotomimetic in man at oral doses of 30 mg. The... 

In this first part of the investigation, we looked at the effect of a group of sympathomimetic psychotomimetic drugs (Bebbington and Brimblecombe, 1969), mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and amphetamine on locomotor activity, a parameter known to be subject to a marked 24-h rhythm. 

An attempt has been made here to investigate extensively the behavioural changes produced in rats by DOM and DOET, and to compare these changes with those produced by LSD and mescaline as examples of known psychotomimetics and with (+ )-amphetamine to which they are also closely related. A series of closely related compounds, substituted phenylaminobutanes have also been examined for behavioural effects. These differ basically from DOM and DOET only in side chain length. 

Aghajanian, G.K, etaL 1970. lsd and mescaline Comparison of effects on single units in the mid-brain raphe In Efron, D.H, (Ed.) Psychotomimetic [jtc] Drugs. Raven Press, New Kirk. pp. 165-176. Oral discussion [W Dement, E, Domino, G. Lehrer, D.X. Freedman, B.R. Holm-stedt, S.H. Snyder and L. Stein]. 

The phenomena of tolerance and cross-tolerance among psychotomimetic agents were Intensively studied. A cross-tolerance was observed between LSD and tryptamine or mescaline, °" but not between LSD or mescaline and amphetamine or LSD and DMT.Interoceptive effects Induced by mescaline, psilocybin and LSD were poorly differentiated by the rat. 

C. Phenvlalkvlamine Types. - The human pharmacology of mescaline, its congeners and phenylisopropylamine analogs was reviewed. 203 x comprehensive study on the acute toxlcitles of mescaline and its derivatives revealed that the dog was more sensitive than the rhesus monkey to the toxic effects of these conq>ounds. 20A Rats failed to differentiate 2,3,4-trimethoxyphenylethylamine, a non-psychotomimetic analog of mescaline, from mescaline Itself. 5... 

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