Cholingeric Drugs Classified as Hallucinogens

Question 1

what effects can these plants produce and what function does it probably serve for the plant?

Answer 1

• can produce delirium like state or used as a poison
• plants use it as a poison to protect themselves
• drugs acting as both agonists and antagonists on the cholinergic nervous system produce psychoactive effects

Question 2

cholinergic agonist hallucinogens

Answer 2

• stimulate muscarinic receptors producing greater than normal neural activity in this system

Question 3

Amanita muscaria (fly agaric mushroom)

Answer 3

• called the flying agaric mushroom bc of the practice of putting slices on Amanita in milk in order to attract and kill flies
• bright red cap with speckled white dots
• Vikings would consume Amanita before they went to raid a village and it produced a state of ‘agitated raving’ and feelings of invincibility - this led to Vikings being called “beserkers”
• it contains 2 psychoactive effects: ibotenic acid (metabolized into muscazone) and muscimole – these substances are largely unchanged when excreted in the urine and an active dose may be had by ingesting the urine of someone who had ingested the mushrooms
• initially, there is a period of good humour and light euphoric (detachment and unreality) it then progresses to feelings of increased power, agitated raving and other unpleasant physiological symptoms that could result in death

Question 4

Ibogaine

Answer 4

• plant found in Gabon in Central Africa and the hunters would chew the yellow roots of the plant and it would act as a stimulant so they would be able to endure long treks for food
• the main psychoactive compound is: ibotenic acid (later it was brought over to France and was used as an anti-fatigue drug)
• if enough pills are taken they could experience a type of mystical or meditative effects during which the user would experience repressed childhood memories being unlocked
• heroin addicts have used this drug while trying to quit but there is no sufficient evidence that it actually helps - been given Schedule I classificiation

Question 5

Cholinergic Antagonist Hallucinogens

Answer 5

• block muscarinic cholinergic receptors and in doing so produce a set of effects that justify their classification as deliriants and hallucinogens

Question 6

Atropa Belladonna

Answer 6

• alkaloid of Atropa belladonna (aka Deadly nightshade)
• member of the potato/tomato family
• reflects 2 historical uses of the plant: eldest of 3 Greek mythology and it was her duty to cut the thread of life at the time appointed for a person’s death
• Belladonna comes from an ancient use in which women would instil the juice of the nightshade berries in their eyes to cause pupil dilation (this was considered more beautiful)
• Atropine blocks cholinergic receptors
• low doses: may produce an initial increase in general arousal and with slightly higher doses the sedative effects kick in (upon wakening the person may have amnesia and may not know that the hallucinogens & dream were not real)
• high doses: more frightening images, and producing psychotic-like experiences
• the line between a pleasant experience and a lethal dose is very narrow: 2-5 berries is a lethal dose for adults and 1 leaf is a lethal dose too

Question 7

Datura Stramonium

Answer 7

• cholinergic antagonist: Atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine are found in this plant
• aka. jimsonweed, Jamestown weed or thorn apple
• Atropine and scopolamine produce a feeling of weightlessness and a sensation of flying ( women who claimed to be witches would rub this stuff on a stick sit on it and fly around - it would be absorbed by the vaginal membranes and they would feel like they were flying)
• Datura is still used in cigarettes in places like the Far East and India - it produces feelings like intoxication and it was used in Canada and the US to treat asthma bc it dilates the bronchus
• low doses: produces drowsiness and a dream-like state of euphoria (also producing amnesia)
• higher doses: Datura is capable of producing more unpleasant hallucinations, delirium and mental confusion
• today this plant is cultivated for decoration (hence Devil’s trumpet)
• all parts of the plant contain atropine and scopolamine
• 10-20 seeds is a moderate dose but 50+ is a lethal dose

Question 8

Mandragora officinarum

Answer 8

• “potent male”
• the plant contains atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine
• rumour has it that the plant would grow when a hanged man’s semen fell to the ground
• the plant is named for the appearance of the root (looking like a human)
• rumour also has that the plant shrieks when it’s uprooted
• mandrake is also used as an aphrodisiac
• low doses: it acts as a depressant and sedative-hypnotic drug
• higher doses: produces hallucinogens, delirium and all the other effects of a cholinergic antagonistic