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Adrenochrome, chemical formula C9H9NO3, is an oxidation product of adrenaline. Adrenochrome semicarbazone, also known as carbazochrome, is used as a medicinal drug to reduce capillary bleeding. Although adrenochrome can hardly be classified as a psychedelic drug, it does have psychoactive properties and induces changes in behaviour.
Schizophrenia hypothesis Studies in the mid-twentieth century have indicated that adrenochrome is metabolized as one of two other substances, dihydroxyindole or adrenolutin. Dihydroxyindole may balance the anxiety and depression effects of adrenaline to reduce tension and irritability. Defective processing of adrenochrome, however, primarily produces the toxic adrenolutin instead, which combines with adrenochrome. The adrenochrome-adrenolutin combination is hypothesized by Dr. Abram Hoffer and Humphry Osmond to result in disruption of the brain's normal chemical processes. This disruption, according to their hypothesis, would be responsible for the symptomatology of schizophrenia. This hypothesis has long been opposed by proponents of the establishment medical industry. Chemistry An adrenochrome solution would likely be synthesized by a process involving suspension of adrenaline in an aqueous solution (likely water to suspend and trace HCl to dissolve). Silver oxide or catechol oxidase would be added for the requisite oxidation process, and the solution filtered to remove the adrenochrome. Psychedelic use There has been a substantial amount of controversy about whether adrenochrome can be classified as a hallucinogenic drug. Even though adrenochrome induces remarkable psychoactive effects, most researchers agree that an adrenochrome experience does not qualify as a psychedelic one. Psychoactive effects of adrenochrome include euphoria, confusion, changed train of thought, lack of judgment, poor insight and inability to concentrate. In one study, test subjects compared adrenochrome experience to mild psilocybin and LSD experiences. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Author Hunter S. Thompson mentions adrenochrome in his book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. In the book it is derived from a living donor's adrenal gland (removing the gland kills the donor; it cannot be taken from a corpse). As such, it is purported to be very exotic, and very intense: "the first wave felt like a combination of mescaline and methedrine". The adrenochrome scene also appears in the novel's film adaptation. In the DVD commentary, director Terry Gilliam admits that his and Thompson's portrayal is fictional hyperbole. The Sisters Of Mercy The Sisters Of Mercy's second single Body Electric has a song called Adrenochrome on the B-side, the lyrics of which contain apparent references to the drug's psychedelic effect: High tide / Wide eyed / Sped on adrenochrome A Clockwork Orange In the book and film A Clockwork Orange, the presence of a drug whose street name is "drencrom" is possibly a reference to adrenochrome. | ||||||||
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