MUSCIMOL - WHAT IS IT ?

Muscimol is a substance produced in mushrooms such as fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) and Amanita pantherina and is one of the main psychoactive substances. Its legal and not analysable

The dosage of muscimol is usually not precise, because it is most often taken by consuming mushrooms or mushroom preserves, where its dose is one big unknown. The psychoactive dose of muscimol is between 8 and 15 mg

CHEMICAL STRUCTURE AND BIOLOGICAL ACTION

Muscimol is an alkaloid with a chemical structure similar to GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which is a key neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for inhibiting neuronal activity

Mechanism of action: Muscimol acts as an agonist of GABA receptors, meaning it binds to these receptors and mimics the effects of GABA. GABA is responsible for reducing the excitability of the nervous system, which leads to a calming, relaxing effect and reduced anxiety. As a result, muscimol induces a feeling of deep relaxation, and it can also induce changes in perception and psychedelic experiences

EFFECTS OF MUSCIMOL

The effects of muscimol depend on the dose and the individual reaction of the body. Here are the main effects it can have:

  • Relaxation and calming: Thanks to its action on GABA receptors, muscimol causes a calming effect, reducing stress and anxiety
  • Perceptual alterations: In higher doses, muscimol can induce visual hallucinations, changes in the perception of space and time, and a feeling of „detachment” from reality
  • Drowsiness: Due to its sedative effects, muscimol can induce drowsiness and even put the user into dream-like sleep states (known as oneirogenicity).
  • Low risk of addiction: Muscimol, unlike other psychoactive substances, does not tend to become physically or psychologically dependent, which makes it interesting in the context of research on alternative psychoactive substances
  • The effects of muscimol begin about an hour after ingestion, peak after 3 hours, and last for 10 to 24 hours. Experiences related to its effects include euphoria, a state of mind similar to lucid dreaming, the experience of leaving the body, and synesthesia. Negative effects include mild to moderate nausea, stomach discomfort, increased salivation, and convulsions or muscle tremors. In high doses, you may feel a strong dissociation or delirium

TERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS AND RESEARCH

Although muscimol is not widely used in conventional medicine, its unique effects on the nervous system are of interest to scientists:

  • Treatment of anxiety and depression: Thanks to its sedative properties, muscimol can potentially be used in the treatment of anxiety, stress and insomnia
  • Research potential: Muscimol is being studied for use in research on the neurobiology of sleep, psychoses, as well as in the context of the treatment of addiction to other psychoactive substances

SAFETY AND TOXYCITY

The mean lethal dose (LD50) of muscimol in mouse studies is 3.8 mg/kg administered subcutaneously (SC) and 2.5 mg/kg administered intramuscularly (i.p.). For rats, the LD50 is 4.5 mg/kg administered intravenously (i.v.) and 45 mg/kg administered orally.

Human death due to muscimol is rare, mainly affecting young children, the elderly, or those with serious, chronic illnesses.

DIFFERENCEES BETWEEN MUSCIMOL AND PSYLOCIBIN

Muscimol is often confused with psilocybin because the two compounds are associated with mushrooms with psychoactive properties, but they differ in many ways:

  • Mechanism of action: Psilocybin works primarily through serotonin (5-HT2A) receptors, producing strong psychedelic effects, while muscimol affects GABA receptors, resulting in more sedative and relaxing effects.
  • Origin: Psilocybin is found in mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe, and muscimol is found in fly agarics.
  • Effects: Psilocybin usually induces intense hallucinations and mystical experiences, while muscimol has a more oneirogenic effect, influencing dreams and sleepiness.
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