ISSN:
1432-2072
Keywords:
Lycergic Acid Diethylamide
;
Psilocybine
;
Psychological Interview
;
Psychometrics
;
Toxic Psychoses
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The alkaloids of the third magic mexican drug “Ololiuqui” — chemically closely related to LSD 25 — were studied in normal subjects in a laboratorysituation. A standardized method (developed and applied before in testing other psychotomimetic drugs) included the following procedure: A short interview taken every 45 min was registered on sound-movie and then analyzed for changes in expression and motor behaviour. A battery of psychometric tests also given every 45th minute was studied for trend-changes over time. Finally, symptoms reported by the subjects were divided into 8 categories, reflecting a spectrum going from autonomic side-effects to psychotic symptoms and alteration of consciousness. The results indicate that the effect of the two major compounds, d-lysergicacid-amide and d-iso-lysergic-acid-amide, determine the effect of the total alkaloids of Ololiuqui. With d-lysergic-acid-amide the clinical picture was one of intoxication with strong autonomic side-effects; with d-iso-lysergic-acid-amide euphoria synesthesia and altered time experience were observed. In small doses the response to total-alkaloids resembled that of d-iso-lysergic-acid-amide; in higher doses it resembled that of d-lysergic-acid-amide, i.e. a heavy intoxication with reduced consciousness and autonomic side-effects. Overall, there was little difference between the total alkaloids and the compounds of Ololiuqui. Psychometric tests taken at each 45-min-phase also reflected the progressive intoxication: the performance in each of the five tests measuring the ability to concentrate was increasingly reduced, as compared to placebo-subjects, during the time of observation. This is in contrast to observations on Psilocybin: here the psychometric results were worst after the first 45-min-phase, whereas changes in expression and motor behaviour were greatest in the last of the phases, i.e. after 2–3 hours. Not only are there no phase-dependent alterations with qualitative modification of the effects in Ololiuqui as compared with Psilocybin; in addition there was little evidence of typical alteration in consciousness and hallucinations as typically seen with psychotomimetic drugs like LSD 25 and Psilocybin. In conclusion, Ololiuqui tested in normal subjects in a standard laboratorysituation lacks the characterictics of the typical psychotomimetic drugs. It resembles more drugs like scopolamine and ibogalin, inducing a toxic-psychosis.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00401617
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