THE ANTIDOTAL ACTION OF SODIUM SUCCINATE IN THE MESCALINE PSYCHOSIS
American Journal of Psychiatry – October 01, 1957
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Sodium succinate demonstrated a clear antidotal effect against mescaline-induced psychosis in all 12 subjects tested. However, the impact varied significantly among individuals and was largely temporary, with minimal reduction in the overall duration of mescaline's effects. The prevailing theory suggests that succinate aids brain tissue oxidation when other substrates, like glucose and lactate, are impaired by mescaline. These findings highlight potential avenues for understanding neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and the biochemical interactions involved in psychosis management.
Abstract
1. Sodium succinate was found to have a definite antidotal effect on the mescaline psychosis in each of 12 subjects. 2. The effect varied greatly in different subjects. Moreover, the effect was rather transient and there was little shortening of the total duration of mescaline effect. 3. The most plausible hypothesis of the succinate effect is that succinate provides a substrate for oxidation in the brain tissues when the oxidation of other substrates, e.g., glucose, lactate and pyruvate has been depressed by the mescaline.