Deliriant

The delirium produced, particularly by anticholinergics is characterized by stupor, agitation, confusion, confabulation, dysphoria, akathisia, realistic visual hallucinations or illusions (as opposed to the pseudohallucinations experienced on other classes of hallucinogens) and regression to "phantom" behaviors such as disrobing and plucking.[4] The hallucinations themselves tend to often be described by users as disturbing, unpleasant or dark in their nature.[5] Additional commonly reported behaviors and experiences by users include holding full conversations with imagined people as well as being unable to recognize one's own reflection in a mirror.[6]

The effects of anticholinergic drugs have been likened to delirious fevers, sleepwalking, a fugue state or a psychotic episode (particularly in that the subject has minimal control over their actions and often has little to no recollection of the experience). This is a notable departure from the effects of serotonergic psychedelics. Some antihistamines may also act as deliriants.

Naturally-occurring anticholinergic deliriants are found in plant species such as Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade), various Brugmansia species (Angel's Trumpets), Datura stramonium (Jimson weed), Hyoscyamus niger (henbane), and Mandragora officinarum (mandrake) in the form of tropane alkaloids (notably scopolamine, atropine, and hyoscyamine). Other, lesser known sources of scopolamine and related tropanes include plants such as Scopolia carniolica (endemic to Europe), Latua (endemic to southern Chile), Solandra (endemic to Mexico) and Duboisia myoporoides, which is endemic to Australia and contains both scopolamine and nicotine.[7][8][9]

Synthetic compounds such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) are also deliriants. Nutmeg (although purportedly not as strong or as unpleasant feeling as diphenhydramine or scopolamine) is also considered a deliriant due to its propensity to cause anticholinergic-like symptoms when taken in large doses.[10] These effects are caused by the compounds myristicin and elemicin which are found in nutmeg's essential oil and can last up to several days in their effects similarly to the aforementioned tropane alkaloids found in datura.[11][12] Additionally, the mushroom referred to as fly agaric and its active principles ibotenic acid and muscimol may also be considered deliriants, although fly agaric is probably more accurately described as a hypnotic.[13][14] In rare cases, incredibly toxic plants from the Aconitum (wolfsbane) genus have also been used as 'deliriants' by certain groups practicing in European witchcraft, the left-hand path and asceticism due to the unpleasant but supposedly notable alteration in consciousness which is often a side effect of wolfsbane poisoning. Plants of the aconitum genus contain the toxin aconitine and in the case of Aconitum ferox; an extremely toxic alkaloid called pseudaconitine which is, in rare cases, taken as an ordeal poison and entheogen on the Indian subcontinent by ascetic groups such as the Aghori where it is often mixed with other psychoactive plants or poisons such as datura and cannabis. Chances of death are considered very high when taking A. ferox and its use is restricted to only the most experienced adepts of their particular school of Shivaism.[15][16][17]

Despite the fully legal status of several common deliriant plants and OTC medicines, deliriants are largely unpopular as recreational drugs due to the severe dysphoria, uncomfortable and generally damaging cognitive and physical effects as well as the sometimes unpleasant nature of the hallucinations produced.[18]

User reports of recreational deliriant usage on the drug resource website Erowid generally indicate a firm unwillingness to repeat the experience.[19] In addition to their potentially dangerous mental effects (accidents during deliriant experiences are common)[20] some tropane alkaloids; such as those found in plants of the Datura genus are poisonous and can cause death due to tachycardia-induced heart failure, hypoventilation and hyperthermia even in small doses.[21] Anticholinergics have also been shown to increase the risk of developing dementia with long-term use even at therapeutic doses, therefore they are presumed to carry an even greater risk when used at hallucinogenic dosages.[22][23] Scopolamine in particular has been implemented in scientific models used to study the cholinergic hypothesis for Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias.[24]

Deliriants such as henbane, mandrake, Jimson weed and fly agaric are featured in many stories in European mythology.

Tropane-containing nightshades have played an integral role in Old World folklore and European witchcraft.[25][26][27] Henbane in particular is reputed as having been used in Greco-Roman magic during ancient times as well as being associated with black magic and maleficium during the Late Middle Ages.[28] During this period in medieval Europe, the Central European species Scopolia carniolica was also used as an admixture in love potions.[29] The belladonna plant genus, Atropa is named after the Greek Fate, Atropos, who cut the thread of life.[30] Mandrake (the root of Mandragora officinarum ) is mentioned twice in the Bible,[31] and was also frequently mentioned as a typical ingredient in flying ointment recipes since at least as far back as the Early Modern Period.[32]

• Media related to Deliriants at Wikimedia Commons
• The Uses of Delirium: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Datura-like Drugs Des Tramacchi's lecture in Entheogenesis Australis 2007 symposium.