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The magic of drugs: How does Scopolamine change how your brain works?
Scopolamine, also known as Hyoscine or "Devil's Breath", is a naturally or synthetically produced alkaloid that belongs to the class of anticholinergic drugs and is used to treat motion sickness and post-operative nausea and vomiting. As a medicine, scopolamine can be given by injection, by mouth, or through a transdermal patch. This drug has a variety of applications in medicine, and its action against cholinesterase is effective in blocking some of the effects of acetylcholine within the nervous system.
Scopolamine was first recorded in 1881 and used for anesthesia since 1900.
Medical purposes
Scopolamine has a variety of formal uses in modern medicine, primarily in low-dose, isolated form to treat the following conditions:
- Nausea and vomiting after surgery
- Motion sickness, including seasickness, is common in divers (often used as a transdermal patch behind the ear)
- Stomach cramps
- Kidney or bile duct spasm
- Adjunct gastrointestinal radiology and endoscopy
- Irritable Bowel Disorder
- For excessive salivation caused by clozapine
- Colic
- Ocular inflammation
Common side effects of scopolamine include drowsiness, blurred vision, dilated pupils, and dry mouth.
Side effects and overdose
Although scopolamine is beneficial for medical purposes, its side effects should not be underestimated. Some uncommon side effects include:
- Dry mouth
- Anhidrosis (reduced ability to sweat)
- Rapid heartbeat or arrhythmia
- Urticaria
More rare side effects may include hallucinations, anxiety, confusion, and seizures. Physostigmine can be used as an antidote to relieve symptoms of central nervous system depression in patients with large overdoses.
Physiology: Mechanism of Action
The pharmacological effects of scopolamine are mainly achieved through competitive antagonism of peripheral and central choline receptors. Its effects on the brain can significantly alter perception and cognitive function, particularly on the M1 receptor. M1 receptors are mainly located in the central nervous system and are related to cognitive function and attention.
Historical background
Scopolamine dates back to ancient times and is derived from scopolamine-containing plants that were used in both worlds for a variety of purposes. Scopolamine was formally isolated in 1880 by German scientist Albert Ladenburg and subsequently used for anesthesia in the 1900s.
Society and Culture
In some cultures, scopolamine is used as a psychotropic drug, and its psychedelic or consciousness-altering effects make it even a tool of spirituality and witchcraft in some societies. It is described in movies and literature as a "truth serum", making it a powerful weapon in various scams.
In Colombia, scopolamine is used to commit crimes such as robbery and sexual assault.
Research and future directions
Scopolamine is also currently used as a research tool to investigate memory encoding and cognitive deficits. Although considerable research has focused on its medical applications, its psychedelic effects and other antimuscarin-like psychotropic drugs are still under-researched.
The history, medical uses, and mysterious psychological effects of scopolamine make us wonder: In the future, will we be able to explore safer ways to harness this drug’s properties?
