PSYCHOTOMIMETICS, CLINICAL AND THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS: HARMINE, WIN-2299 AND NALLINE

Harmine, Win-2299, and Nalline, when given in a single dose, produce mental effects in schizophrenic patients that are grossly similar to those caused by mescaline and LSD. Unlike mescaline and LSD at typical doses, these drugs regularly induce drowsiness and sleep alongside aberrant mental effects, resulting in a state partly characterized by hypnagogic visual hallucinations or imagery. Increased dosage suggests the basic effect is an acute toxic reaction. The differences between these drugs and mescaline or LSD regarding clouding of consciousness and certain hallucinogenic aspects may be quantitative rather than qualitative. The indole nucleus is not necessary for psychotomimetic structure, as Win-2299 and Nalline are non-indoles; the tertiary nitrogen grouping may contribute to psychotomimetic action.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Harmine, Win-2299, and Nalline in single dosage produce many new mental effects in schizophrenics grossly similar to those elicited by mescaline and LSD. Many of the same effects are reported in normals after harmine and Nalline (other workers). unlike mescaline and LSD at usual dosage levels, the present psychotomimetics regularly produce drowsiness and sleep along with the aberrant mental effects. The resultant state is partly that of "hypnagogic" visual hallucinations or imagery. The results with increased dosage suggest that the basic effect of these agents is to produce an acute toxic reaction type. The difference between them and mescaline or LSD with respect to clouding of consciousness and certain aspects of the hallucinogenic response may be quantitative rather than qualitative. The indole nucleus is not necessary in the structure of psychotomimetics since Win-2299 and Nalline are non-indoles. The tertiary nitrogen grouping may contribute to certain aspects of psychotomimetic action.