Editing Mescaline (section)

==Effects==
{{See also|Psychedelic experience}}

Mescaline induces a [[Psychedelic experience|psychedelic state]] comparable to those produced by [[LSD]] and [[psilocybin]], but with unique characteristics.<ref name="Bender_2022" /> Subjective effects may include altered thinking processes, an altered sense of time and self-awareness, and closed- and open-eye visual phenomena.<ref name="Kovacic_2009">{{cite journal |vauthors=Kovacic P, Somanathan R |date=1 January 2009 |title=Novel, unifying mechanism for mescaline in the central nervous system: electrochemistry, catechol redox metabolite, receptor, cell signaling and structure activity relationships |journal=Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity |volume=2 |issue=4 |pages=181–190 |doi=10.4161/oxim.2.4.9380 |pmc=2763256 |pmid=20716904}}</ref>

Prominence of color is distinctive, appearing brilliant and intense. Recurring visual patterns observed during the mescaline experience include stripes, checkerboards, angular spikes, multicolor dots, and very simple [[fractals]] that turn very complex. The English writer [[Aldous Huxley]] described these self-transforming amorphous shapes as like animated stained glass illuminated from light coming through the eyelids in his autobiographical book ''[[The Doors of Perception]]'' (1954). Like LSD, mescaline induces distortions of form and [[Kaleidoscope|kaleidoscopic]] experiences but they manifest more clearly with [[Closed-eye hallucination|eyes closed]] and under low lighting conditions.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Pharmacology and Abuse of Cocaine, Amphetamines, Ecstasy and Related Designer Drugs: A Comprehensive Review on their Mode of Action, Treatment of Abuse and Intoxication |vauthors=Freye E |collaboration=Joseph V. Levy |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |year=2009 |isbn=978-90-481-2447-3 |pages=227}}</ref>

[[Heinrich Klüver]] coined the term "cobweb figure" in the 1920s to describe one of the four [[form constant]] geometric visual hallucinations experienced in the early stage of a mescaline trip: "Colored threads running together in a revolving center, the whole similar to a cobweb". The other three are the chessboard design, tunnel, and spiral. Klüver wrote that "many 'atypical' visions are upon close inspection nothing but variations of these form-constants."<ref>{{Cite book |title=A Dictionary of Hallucations |publisher=Springer |year=2010 |location=Oradell, NJ. |pages=102}}</ref>
 
As with LSD, [[synesthesia]] can occur especially with the help of music.<ref name="Diaz">{{Cite book |title=How Drugs Influence Behavior |vauthors=Diaz J |publisher=Prentice Hall |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-02-328764-0 |location=Englewood Cliffs}}</ref> An unusual but unique characteristic of mescaline use is the "geometrization" of three-dimensional objects. The object can appear flattened and distorted, similar to the presentation of a [[Cubism|Cubist]] painting.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Drugs of Abuse |vauthors=Giannini AJ, Slaby AE |publisher=Medical Economics Books |year=1989 |isbn=978-0-87489-499-8 |location=Oradell, NJ. |pages=207–239}}</ref>

Mescaline elicits a pattern of sympathetic arousal, with the [[peripheral nervous system]] being a major target for this substance.<ref name="Diaz" />

According to a research project in the Netherlands, ceremonial San Pedro use seems to be characterized by relatively strong spiritual experiences, and low incidence of challenging experiences.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Bohn A, Kiggen MH, Uthaug MV, van Oorsouw KI, Ramaekers JG, van Schie HT |date=2022-12-05 |title=Altered States of Consciousness During Ceremonial San Pedro Use |journal=The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion |language=en |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=309–331 |doi=10.1080/10508619.2022.2139502 |issn=1050-8619 |doi-access=free |hdl-access=free |hdl=2066/285968}}</ref>

===Onset and duration===
The [[onset of action|onset]] of the effects of mescaline given [[oral administration|orally]] is 0.5 to 0.9{{nbsp}}hours on average with a range of 0.1 to 2.7{{nbsp}}hours.<ref name="HolzeSinghLiechti2024" /><ref name="KlaiberSchmidBecker2024" /><ref name="VamvakopoulouNarineCampbell2023" /><ref name="Dinis-OliveiraPereiradaSilva2019" /> Its effects peak after 1.9 to 4.0{{nbsp}}hours with a range of 0.5 to 8.0{{nbsp}}hours.<ref name="HolzeSinghLiechti2024" /><ref name="HolzeLiechtiMüller2024">{{cite journal | vauthors = Holze F, Liechti ME, Müller F | title = Pharmacological Properties of Psychedelics with a Special Focus on Potential Harms | journal = Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences | series = Curr Top Behav Neurosci | volume = | issue = | pages = | date = July 2024 | pmid = 39080236 | doi = 10.1007/7854_2024_510 | url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382715259}}</ref><ref name="LeyHolzeArikci2023" /><ref name="KlaiberSchmidBecker2024" />

The [[duration of action|duration]] of mescaline appears to be [[dose dependence|dose-dependent]], varying from 6.4{{nbsp}}hours on average (range 3.0–10{{nbsp}}hours) at a dose of 100{{nbsp}}mg, 9.7 to 11{{nbsp}}hours on average (range 5.6–22{{nbsp}}hours) at moderate doses of 300 to 500{{nbsp}}mg, and 14{{nbsp}}hours on average (range 7.2–22{{nbsp}}hours) at a dose of 800{{nbsp}}mg.<ref name="HolzeSinghLiechti2024" /><ref name="KlaiberSchmidBecker2024" />