Scopolamine, also known as hyoscine, is a tropane alkaloid drug obtained from plants of the family Solanaceae (nightshades), such as henbane or jimson weed (Datura species). It is among the secondary metabolites of these plants. In pharmacology and toxicology, a route of administration is the path by which a drug, fluid, poison or other substance is brought into contact with the body 1. ... Chemical structure of tropane Tropane (C8H15N, 8-methyl-8-aza-bicyclo[3. ... Chemical structure of ephedrine, a phenethylamine alkaloid An alkaloid is, strictly speaking, a naturally occurring amine produced by a plant,[1] but amines produced by animals and fungi are also called alkaloids. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... “Nightshade” redirects here. ... Binomial name Hyoscyamus niger L. Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) is a plant of the family Solanaceae that originated in Eurasia. ... Species See text below Datura is a genus of 12-15 species of vespertine flowering plants belonging to the family Solanaceae. ... Secondary metabolites, also known as natural products, are those products (chemical compounds) of metabolism that are not essential for normal growth, development or reproduction of an organism. ...

The drug can be highly toxic and should be used in minute doses. As an example, in the treatment of motion sickness, the dose, gradually released from a transdermal patch, is only 0.33 milligram of scopolamine per day. An overdose can cause delirium, delusions, paralysis, stupor and death. This article is about the mental state and medical condition. ... A delusion is commonly defined as a fixed false belief and is used in everyday language to describe a belief that is either false, fanciful or derived from deception. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Etymology

Scopolamine is named after the plant genus Scopolia. The name "hyoscine" is from the scientific name for henbane, Hyoscyamus niger. For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Scopolia is a creeping perennial in the species carniolica, with light green leaves and reddish flowers. ... Binomial name Hyoscyamus niger L. Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) is a plant of the family Solanaceae that originated in Eurasia. ...

Physiology

Scopolamine acts as a competitive antagonist at specific muscarinic acetylcholine receptors ("M1" receptors); it is thus classified as an anticholinergic, or, more specifically, as an anti-muscarinic drug. (See the article on the parasympathetic nervous system for details of this physiology.) Amanita muscaria from which muscarine was isolated Acetylcholine - natural agonist of muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. ... An anticholinergic agent is a member of a class of pharmaceutical compounds which serve to reduce the effects mediated by acetylcholine in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. ... An anticholinergic agent is a member of a class of pharmaceutical compounds which serve to reduce the effects mediated by acetylcholine in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. ... Anatomy and Physiology of the A.N.S. In contrast to the voluntary nervous system, the involuntary or autonomic nervous system is responsible for homeostasis, maintaining a relatively constant internal environment by controlling such involuntary functions as digestion, respiration, and metabolism, and by modulating blood pressure. ...

Uses

Medical

In medicine scopolamine has 3 primary uses: treatment of nausea and motion sickness, treatment of intestinal cramping, and for ophthalmic purposes. Its use in the form of a transdermal patch to prevent post-operative nausea is perhaps its greatest current use in the US. The drug is less commonly used as a preanesthetic agent and uncommonly for some forms of Parkinsonism. The oral, ophthalmic and intravenous forms are usually scopolamine hydrobromide (for example in Donnatal). The transdermal patch for prevention of nausea and motion sickness employs scopolamine base. The drug is used in eye drops to induce mydriasis (pupillary dilation) and cycloplegia (paralysis of the eye focusing muscle), primarily in the treatment of eye disorders that benefit from its prolonged effect, e.g. uveitis, iritis, iridocyclitis, etc. It can be used as a depressant of the central nervous system, and was formerly used as a bedtime sleep aid (see below). Its use in general anesthesia is favored by some due to its amnesic effect. In otolaryngology it has been used to dry the upper airway (anti-sialogogue action) prior to instrumentation of the airway. For the chemical substances known as medicines, see medication. ... Parkinsonism (also known as Parkinsons syndrome, atypical Parkinsons, or secondary Parkinsons) is a neurological syndrome characterized by tremor, hypokinesia, rigidity, and postural instability. ... Hydrobromic Acid is a chemical compound, with the chemical formula HBr. ... Donnatal is a proprietary combination medication for the treatment of intestinal cramping due to various causes. ... A diagram showing the CNS: 1. ... Otolaryngology is the branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head & neck disorders. ...

The common side effects are related to the anticholinergic effect on parasympathetic postsynaptic receptors: dry mouth, throat and nasal passages, thirst, blurred vision and sensitivity to light, constipation, difficulty urinating and tachycardia. Other effects include flushing and fever, as well as excitement, restlessness, hallucinations, or delirium, especially with higher doses. These side effects are commonly observed with oral or parenteral uses of the drug and generally not with topical ophthalmic use. An extreme adverse reaction to ultra-high doses of drugs and other preparations containing scopolamine is temporary blindness which can last up to 72 hours ^{[citation needed]}. Anatomy and Physiology of the A.N.S. In contrast to the voluntary nervous system, the involuntary or autonomic nervous system is responsible for homeostasis, maintaining a relatively constant internal environment by controlling such involuntary functions as digestion, respiration, and metabolism, and by modulating blood pressure. ... This article is about the mental state and medical condition. ...

Sometimes side effects of scopolamine can be mistaken for symptoms of cancer because of the nausea and anisocoria associated with brain tumors.^[1] However, scopolamine induced anisocoria clears up usually within 3 days. Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ... Anisocoria is a condition characterized by an unequal size of the pupils. ... Anisocoria is a condition characterized by an unequal size of the pupils. ...

When combined with morphine, it produces amnesia and a tranquilized state known as twilight sleep. Although originally used in obstetrics, it is now considered dangerous for that purpose for both mother and baby. Morphine (INN) (IPA: ) is a highly potent opiate analgesic drug and is the principal active agent in opium and the prototypical opiate. ... For other uses, see Amnesia (disambiguation). ... Twilight sleep is an amnesic condition characterized by insensibility to pain without loss of consciousness, induced by an injection of morphine and scopolamine, especially to relieve the pain of childbirth. ... Obstetrics (from the Latin obstare, to stand by) is the surgical specialty dealing with the care of a woman and her offspring during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (the period shortly after birth). ...

Scopolamine was one of the active ingredients in Asthmador, an over the counter smoking preparation marketed in the 1950's and 60's claiming to combat asthma and bronchitis. Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi (medium-size airways) in the lungs. ...

Scopolamine was an ingredient used in some over-the-counter sleep aids prior to November 1990 in the United States, when the FDA forced several hundred ingredients allegedly not known to be effective off the market. Scopolamine shared a small segment of this market with diphenhydramine, phenyltoloxamine, pyrilamine, doxylamine and other first generation antihistamines, many of which are still used for this purpose in drugs like Sominex, Tylenol PM, NyQuil and so on. Diphenhydramine hydrochloride (trade name Benadryl, as produced by J&J, or Dimedrol outside the U.S. & Canada. ... Phenyltoloxamine is an antihistamine with sedative and analgesic effects. ... Mepyramine (INN, also known as pyrilamine) [1] is a first generation antihistamine, targeting the H1 receptor. ... This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers, and should be edited to rectify this. ... An antihistamine is a drug which serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions, through action at the histamine receptor. ... Tylenol PM is the trademark for a mixture of paracetamol (acetaminophen) and diphenhydramine, distributed by Johnson & Johnson. ... NyQuil LiquiCaps NyQuil, produced by the Vicks company, is the brand name of a family of cold medicine designed to help relieve many symptoms of the common cold. ...

In October 2006 researchers at the US National Institute of Mental Health found that scopolamine reduced symptoms of depression within a few days, and the improvement lasted for at least a week after switching to a placebo.^[2] The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is one of 27 components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the United States federal governments principal biomedical and behavioral research agency. ... In everyday language depression refers to any downturn in mood, which may be relatively transitory and perhaps due to something trivial. ... For other uses, see Placebo (disambiguation). ...

Due to its effectiveness against sea-sickness it has become commonly used by scuba divers. However, this has led to the discovery of another side effect^{[citation needed]}. In deep water, below 50–60 feet, some divers have reported pain in the eyes, but the pain subsides quickly if the diver ascends to a depth of 40 feet or less. Mydriatics can precipitate an attack of glaucoma in susceptible patients, so the medication should be used with extra caution among divers who intend to go below 50 feet. Seasickness can be hazardous for scuba divers Seasickness is a feeling of nausea and, in extreme cases, vertigo experienced after spending time on a craft on water. ... A scuba diver in usual sport diving gear SCUBA is an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. ... Adverse effect, in medicine, is an abnormal, harmful, undesired and/or unintended side-effect, although not necessarily unexpected, which is obtained as the result of a therapy or other medical intervention, such as drug/chemotherapy, physical therapy, surgery, medical procedure, use of a medical device, etc. ... “Hurting” redirects here. ... This article refers to the sight organ. ...

Other Uses

Scopolamine, in common with the large percentage of anticholinergics which cross the blood-brain barrier such as diphenhydramine, dicyclomine, trihexyphenidyl and related drugs, is said to produce euphoria at and around therapeutic doses as well as to potentiate this and other effects of morphine, methadone, hydromorphone, oxycodone and other opioids. It is therefore occasionally seen as a recreational drug. The use of medical scopolamine (most often in the form of tablets) for euphoria is uncommon but does exist and can be seen in conjunction with opioid use. The euphoria is the result of changes in dopamine and acetylcholine levels and ratios ^{[citation needed]} and appears to be related to some part of the chemical structure of the drug ^{[citation needed]} and other factors known or unknown -- even closely related drugs like atropine and hyoscyamine do not produce euphoria whilst the others listed above certainly appear to ^{[citation needed]}. Diphenhydramine hydrochloride (trade name Benadryl, as produced by J&J, or Dimedrol outside the U.S. & Canada. ... Dicyclomine is an anticholinergic that blocks muscarinic receptors. ... // Introduction Trihexyphenidyl is an antiparkinson agent of the antimuscarinic class of agents and is chemically a tertiary amine. ... Morphine (INN) (IPA: ) is a highly potent opiate analgesic drug and is the principal active agent in opium and the prototypical opiate. ... Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and in the treatment of narcotic addiction. ... Hydromorphone is a drug developed in Germany in the 1920s and introduced to the mass market beginning in 1926. ... Not to be confused with oxytocin. ...

Another separate group of users prefer dangerously high doses, especially in the form of datura or belladonna preparations, for the deliriant and hallucinogenic effects. The hallucinations produced by scopolamine, in common with other potent anticholinergics, are especially real-seeming and create a perception of a new world filled with frenzied, violent energy. The difference in realism of hallucinations caused by anticholinergics such as scopolamine and other hallucinogens such as the phenethylamines or dissociatives like PCP is quite large. Additionally, an overdose of scopolamine can quite often be fatal, unlike other more commonly used hallucinogens. For these reasons, naturally occurring anticholinergics are rarely used for recreational purposes. Species See text below Datura is a genus of 12-15 species of vespertine flowering plants belonging to the family Solanaceae. ... For information on the erotic actress Belladonna see: Belladonna. ... An anticholinergic agent is a member of a class of pharmaceutical compounds which serve to reduce the effects mediated by acetylcholine in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. ... Hallucinogenic drugs or hallucinogens are drugs that can alter sensory perceptions, elicit alternate states of consciousness, or cause hallucinations. ... Phenethylamine is an alkaloid and monoamine. ...

The use of scopolamine as a truth drug was investigated by various intelligence agencies, including the CIA, during the 1950s. see: Project MKULTRA. It was found that, due to the hallucinogenic side effects of the drug, the truth was prone to distortion, and the project was subsequently abandoned ^{[citation needed]}. Nazi doctor Josef Mengele experimented on scopolamine as an interrogation drug ^{[citation needed]}. // A truth drug (or truth serum) is a drug used for the purposes of obtaining accurate information from an unwilling subject, most often by a police, intelligence, or military organization on a prisoner. ... An intelligence agency is a governmental organization devoted to gathering of information by means of espionage (spying), communication interception, cryptoanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public sources. ... The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ... The 1950s decade refers to the years 1950 to 1959 inclusive. ... “MKULTRA” redirects here. ... Hallucinogenic drugs or hallucinogens are drugs that can alter sensory perceptions, elicit alternate states of consciousness, or cause hallucinations. ... Josef Mengele (March 16, 1911– February 7, 1979), was a German SS officer and a [mock] physician in the German Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. ...

In Colombia a plant admixture containing scopolamine called Burundanga has been used shamanically for decades. In recent years the criminal use of scopolamine has become an epidemic. Approximately fifty percent of emergency room admissions for poisoning in Bogotá have been attributed to scopolamine ^{[citation needed]}. A shaman doctor of Kyzyl. ... In epidemiology, an epidemic (from [[Latin language] epi- upon + demos people) is a disease that appears as new cases in a given human population, during a given period, at a rate that substantially exceeds what is expected, based on recent experience (the number of new cases in the population during... Motto: Bogotá, 2600 metros más cerca de las estrellas Bogotá, 2600 meters closer to the stars Localities (localidades) of Bogotá Country Department Foundation August 6, 1538 Government  - Mayor Luis Eduardo Garzón, PDA Area  - City 1,587 km²  (612. ...

Also in Caracas, Venezuela, crime related to burundanga techniques has multiplied in the last years. Targets are easily approached and just with physical contact they administer the drug to the victim. Reports of techniques of administration include wafting the powder to the victim with a puff of air, drugged chewing gum, or even craftily dropping the powder into the collar of a shirt or the front of a woman's low-cut dress ^{[citation needed]}. Nickname: La Sultana del Avila (English:The Avilas Sultan) La Sucursal del paraiso Motto: Ave María Santísima, sin pecado concebida, en el primer instante de su ser natural. ...

Victims of this crime are often admitted to a hospital in police custody, under the assumption that the patient is experiencing a psychotic episode. A telltale sign is a fever accompanied by a lack of sweat.

Scopolamine is used criminally as a date rape drug and as an aid to robbery, the most common act being the clandestine drugging of a victim's drink. It is preferred because it induces retrograde amnesia, or an inability to recall events prior to its administration or during the time of intoxication. Retrograde amnesia is a form of amnesia where someone will be unable to recall events that occurred before the onset of amnesia. ...

Scopolamine is being investigated for its possible usefulness alone or in conjunction with other drugs in assisting people in breaking the nicotine habit. The mechanism by which it mitigates withdrawal symptoms appears to be at least partially different from that of clonidine meaning that the two drugs can be used together without duplicating or cancelling out the effects of each other. Clonidine is a direct-acting adrenergic agonist prescribed historically as an anti-hypertensive agent. ...

Scopolamine (hyoscine) causes memory impairments to a similar degree as diazepam.^[3] Diazepam (IPA: ), first marketed as Valium by Hoffmann-La Roche, is a drug which is a benzodiazepine derivative. ...

Popular culture

• (1957) In popular culture, scopolamine has achieved a moderate level of notoriety via its mention in the film I Was a Teenage Werewolf, where Dr. Alfred Brandon uses it as part of his endeavor to regress the titular character to his "primitive roots."

• (1961) Scopolamine is featured in the World War II action classic The Guns of Navarone as a Schutzstaffel truth serum.

• (1968) Scopolamine is featured in the World War II action classic Where Eagles Dare as a Schutzstaffel truth serum.

• (1968) In Carlos Castaneda's series of books The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge, the Datura plant is the favored shamanic, revelatory drug of the titular character. The book explores, in depth, Castaneda's experiences under the influence of the drug, as well as the rites surrounding its use and preparation.

• (1979) Scopolamine is also mentioned several times in Robert Ludlum's Matarese Dynasty, a fictional spy novel in which the drug is known for its uses as a truth serum.

• (1990) Scopolamine is mentioned by the villain Cain as one of the cutting agents of the drug Nuke in Robocop 2

• (1990s) The X-Files Red Museum shows Scopolamine as a suspect agent in usage for kidnappings.

• (2007) On April 10, 2007, one character in the TV show House, M.D. is shown wearing a scopolamine patch.

• (2007) VBS.tv correspondent Ryan Duffy traveled to Colombia and shot an in depth 9-episode piece on Scopolamine, its effects, people who've used it, and people who've been attacked with it. The series is titled "Colombian Devil's Breath", after the street name in Colombia for the drug.

I Was a Teenage Werewolf is a 1957 horror film starring Michael Landon as a troubled teenager and Whit Bissell as the primary adult. ... The Guns of Navarone is a 1957 novel about World War II by British thriller writer Alistair MacLean that was made into a film in 1961. ... “SS” redirects here. ... Where Eagles Dare is a 1968 film directed by Brian G. Hutton and starring Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, and Mary Ure. ... “SS” redirects here. ... Carlos Castaneda (December 25, 1925/31? – April 27, 1998) was a Peruvian- or Brazilian-born American author. ... Species See text below Datura is a genus of 12-15 species of vespertine flowering plants belonging to the family Solanaceae. ... Robert Ludlum (May 25, 1927 New York City â€“ March 12, 2001 Naples, Florida) was an American author of 29 thriller novels, and was educated at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. ... The Matarese Circle (1979) is a novel by Robert Ludlum. ... RoboCop 2 is a science fiction film, released in 1990 and set in the near future in a dystopian metropolitan Detroit, Michigan. ... Red Museum was the tenth episode of the second season of The X-Files science-fiction television series created by Chris Carter. ... House, also known as House, M.D., is a critically-acclaimed American medical drama television series created by David Shore and executive produced by Shore and film director Bryan Singer. ...

References

1. ^ Elias M, Abouleish E (1997). "Scopolamine patch can be confusing to the patient and anesthesiologist: a case report". Anesthesiology 86 (3): 743-4. PMID 9066342. 
2. ^ Furey, ML; Drevets, WC (October 2006). "Antidepressant efficacy of the antimuscarinic drug scopolamine: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial". Archives of General Psychiatry, vol 63, p 1121 63: 1121. 
3. ^ Jones DM; Jones ME, Lewis MJ, Spriggs TL. (May 1979). "Drugs and human memory: effects of low doses of nitrazepam and hyoscine on retention.". Br J Clin Pharmacol. 7 (5): 479-83. PMID 475944. 

External links

• The Erowid Scopolamine Vault
• How Stuff Works - Scopolamine transdermal patch
• Scopolamine Transdermal Patch Information:
• VICE TV reporting on the use in Colombia