Mescaline

This review presents opposing views on whether drug-induced model psychoses, such as those from mescaline, are useful for studying schizophrenia, without stating a conclusion.

review

Lifetime use of psychedelics, including mescaline, was not associated with increased rates of any mental health outcomes and in some cases was associated with lower rates.

cross-sectional survey Sample size: 130152

This review reports that several effects of hallucinogens, including mescaline, involve agonist activity at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor.

review

LSD acutely produced heightened mood and psychosis-like symptoms, yet two weeks later increased optimism and trait openness without changes in delusional thinking.

within-subjects controlled trial Sample size: 20

Lifetime use of psychedelics, including mescaline, was not significantly associated with increased likelihood of past-year mental health problems, including serious psychological distress, suicidal thoughts or attempts, depression, or anxiety.

observational cohort Sample size: 135095

This paper proposes that a hypothetical 'M substance' with properties between mescaline and adrenaline may be an aetiological agent in schizophrenia.

theoretical or philosophical paper

Potencies of hallucinogens, including mescaline, in the mouse head-twitch response paradigm strongly correlate with their reported hallucinogenic potencies in humans and with drug discrimination ED50 values in rats.

experimental study with dose-response experiments

This review summarizes evidence that hallucinogenic compounds, including LSD and psilocybin, show therapeutic potential for psychiatric disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

review

DMT does not induce tolerance to its psychological effects, and pindolol pre-treatment increases psychological responses to DMT.

dose-response study, tolerance study, pre-treatment study

Ayahuasca used in religious ceremonies has a safety margin comparable to codeine, mescaline, or methadone, with minimal dependence potential and risk of sustained psychological disturbance.

systematic review

A single dose of LSD in a safe setting produced subjectively meaningful and long-lasting positive effects on well-being and attitudes, with no negative effects reported.

observational cohort Sample size: 16

Regular peyote use in a religious setting was not associated with psychological or cognitive deficits, while past alcohol dependence was.

observational cohort Sample size: 176

Mescaline produced an acute psychotic state with a hyperfrontal brain pattern emphasizing the right hemisphere, questioning hypofrontality as an explanation for schizophrenic symptomatology.

observational cohort Sample size: 12

Oral doses of cannabis produce mental disturbances similar to those caused by mescaline and lysergic acid, which resemble schizophrenia symptoms and may serve as a research tool for studying psychoses.

clinical study

An enzyme localized in rabbit lung N-methylates serotonin and tryptamine to produce psychotomimetic metabolites and also acts on several phenylethylamine derivatives, including mescaline.

experimental study

Low doses of psilocybin produce perceptible pharmacological effects without significant perceptual alterations, cognitive impairment, or increased anxiety.

Phase 1, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose study Sample size: 56

This review discusses the botany, chemistry, medicinal qualities, ecology, and religious practices surrounding peyote, and notes alarming scarcity and conservation efforts.

review

This review states that mescaline is the only phenethylamine classic psychedelic, with the lowest 5-HT2A affinity, requiring the highest doses, and that no adequate RCT exists as of 2026.

transdisciplinary scientific review

This paper proposes that the cultivated psychoactive mushroom and peyote represent distinct cases of access reorganization, requiring comparative analysis of legal and cultural frameworks.

theoretical or philosophical paper

This review concludes that psychedelics can exacerbate pre-existing psychotic illness and may trigger psychosis in vulnerable individuals, but phenomenological and mechanistic distinctions suggest potential therapeutic applications for carefully selected symptoms in stable patients.

narrative review

This paper proposes that natural hallucinogens, including mescaline, evolved primarily as ecological agents and that human psychoactivity is an evolutionary by-product of their action on conserved neural targets.

theoretical or philosophical paper

Mescaline or peyote use was associated with lower opioid use disorder severity, whereas use of LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, or DMT was associated with higher severity, with effects differing by level of mental health impairment.

cross-sectional survey with structural equation modeling Sample size: 45133

This paper proposes that novel structural hybrids of mescaline with PCP analogs should be synthesized to investigate potential antagonistic activity at central PCP receptors, but no experimental data are reported.

theoretical or philosophical paper

Mescaline produces cerebellar-selective BOLD suppression and global resting-state hyperconnectivity, abolishes reward-related BOLD responses, and shows frequency-dependent effects on acoustic startle, distinguishing it from LSD and psilocybin.

pharmacological and resting-state fMRI in awake rats

This review summarizes mescaline and its analogues' basic information, pharmacological and toxicological properties, and detection methods, noting a gradual increase in abuse.

review