Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Aspects of Peyote and Mescaline: Clinical and Forensic Repercussions
Current Molecular Pharmacology October 15, 2018 Ricardo Jorge Dinis‐oliveira, Carolina Lança Pereira, Diana Dias Da Silva 101 citations
Mescaline, a hallucinogenic agent found in the Peyote cactus, has poorly understood psychoactive mechanisms despite being one of the oldest known such substances. Its effects are primarily due to interaction with serotonergic 5-HT2A-C receptors, producing euphoria, hallucinations, depersonalization, and psychoses similar to LSD and psilocybin, alongside sympathomimetic signs. The drug is mainly metabolized into trimethoxyphenylacetic acid, with several minor metabolites reported. Most intoxications are mild and unlikely to produce life-threatening symptoms; addiction and dependence are practically absent, supporting contemporary interest in therapeutic potential.