Compound Monograph
Mescaline
Mescaline is the classic psychedelic phenethylamine of peyote and San Pedro cacti.
Classification
Mescaline is a phenethylamine alkaloid, part of the alkaloids class. Nitrogen-containing, often bitter and physiologically potent compounds — the group behind many of the strongest plant medicines and poisons.
Where Does It Come From? (3)
Mescaline is a naturally occurring phenethylamine alkaloid, found in Peyote, San Pedro and Peruvian torch. It is well tolerated orally (low toxicity) and psychedelic.
Research & Evidence
Mescaline is a naturally occurring phenethylamine and one of the oldest known psychedelics, the principal active compound of peyote and the San Pedro group of cacti. Like other classical psychedelics it acts as an agonist at serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, producing rich visual imagery, altered mood and changes in thought and perception over a long duration. It has a deep history of ceremonial use among Indigenous peoples of the Americas, particularly in connection with peyote, and was central to early scientific and literary explorations of psychedelics.
Toxicity & Safety
Physiological toxicity is low, but mescaline commonly causes nausea and vomiting early in the experience, and the psychological effects can be overwhelming or frightening for unprepared users. As a serotonergic psychedelic it should not be combined with serotonergic drugs such as MAO inhibitors or SSRIs, and it is generally contraindicated for people with a personal or family history of psychosis. It is a Schedule I substance in the United States, although peyote use is protected in specific religious contexts.
Dosage
Research and naturalistic reports describe a common oral range of roughly 200 to 400 mg of mescaline. These figures describe doses studied in research and reported by users, and are not a recommendation.