Methallylescaline
Methallylescaline, also known as 4-methylallyloxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, is a psychedelic drug of the phenethylamine and scaline families related to mescaline. It is taken orally.
The drug acts as a serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonist, including of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. It is closely structurally related to mescaline and to other scalines like escaline and allylescaline.
Methallylescaline was first described by Alexander Shulgin in his 1991 book PiHKAL. It was encountered as a novel designer drug by 2013.
Use and effects
In his book PiHKAL, Alexander Shulgin lists the dose range of methallylescaline as 40 to 65mg and its duration as 12 to 16hours. As such, its dose range is relatively narrow. Moreover, the drug has been reported to have an unusually steep dose–response curve, such that a small increase in dose can result in an unexpectedly large increase in effects. Methallylescaline has about 6times the potency of mescaline, which has a much higher listed dose range of 200 to 400mg. Its onset is within 1hour and peak effects occur within 2hours.Shulgin has described methallylescaline as a "mixed bag" in terms of experience reports. Its effects have been reported to include closed-eye visuals, "visual theater", open-eye visuals including visual distortions, visual depth and movement effects, kaleidoscopic neon colors, watercolors, fantasy, mental imagery, feelings of unreality, easy childhood memory recall, self-connectedness, eroticism, initial discomfort, overload, feeling overwhelmed, shades of possible amnesia, loss of contact, extreme restlessness, trouble sleeping, and enhanced dreams. It was also reported to produce quite strong body effects, diuretic effects, and slightly reduced heart rate. Some found it unpleasant and said that they would not repeat the experience, whereas others were impressed by it, found it enjoyable, and called it "beautiful". Many expressed that the dose they tried was too strong for them and that a lower dose would be better. Methallylescaline has been described as having relatively more visual imagery than other scalines like cyclopropylmescaline and allylescaline.
Others have noted that methallylescaline has strong visual effects, as well as prominent nausea, vomiting, and body load, including feeling "overstimulated. The drug is frequently compared to mescaline.
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
Methallylescaline acts as a potent agonist of the serotonin 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C receptors, among other actions. It was inactive serotonin 5-HT2B receptor agonist in one study, but was a potent agonist in another study. The comprehensive receptor interactions of methallylescaline have been studied.The drug produces the head-twitch response, a behavioral proxy of psychedelic effects, in rodents. Surprisingly, the HTR induced by methallylescaline was blocked by the selective serotonin 5-HT2C receptor antagonist SB-242084 but not by the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist ketanserin.
In addition to its psychedelic-like effects, methallylescaline produces hyperlocomotion, conditioned place preference, and modest self-administration in rodents, among other effects.
Methallylescaline, along with BOD and DOI, has been reported to produce serotonergic neurotoxicity in rodents at high doses given repeatedly. Other psychedelics have also been found to produce neurotoxicity in preclinical research.