Anyone who has read Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas or has been around a bunch of psycho druggies is probably familliar with the mythical drug known as Adrenachrome. A substance supposedly made from human adrenal gland.
Obviously this would have to be a rare drug even if it were a real substance. I have met people who have claimed to have ingested it, but then I meet people who are full of it all the time. The only reason I don’t dismisse the existence of such a substance offhand is that the story is so persistant and in many ways they all have similar descriptions.
The main reason i disbelieve the existence of such a substance is that is it supposed to be based on the adrenal gland itself. Now to my understanding the method of transferrence of your glandular system is simply not compatible with the method of ingestion with adrenochrome. Adrenaline is released directly into the blood stream wheras the drug is ingested orally. To me this just does not mesh unless there is some chemichal alteration of the conveyance mechanism of the basic chemichals but I am no biochemist so I’m just going on what I know and what I think I know.
What I’m looking for is any coroboration or direct contrary evidence of the existence of such a substance. I have donce searches on it and come up with not much if anything conclusive in both directions. I hope someone here can help me sort this out.
I believe you probably mean adrenochrome. It is a red pigment formed when epinepherine (a/k/a Adrenaline) is oxidized. It’s chemical formula is C[sub]9[/sub]H[sub]9[/sub]NO[sub]3[/sub]. According to my old copy of the Merck Index, it has been used experimentally to produce psychic effects. It doesn’t say whether the administration was oral or not.
Here’s some of the MSDS for adrenochrome. Sorry for the large post - I could link to it, due to the way it is presented on the web. You can buy it from Sigma (www.sigma.com) for $21 per 25 mg.
M A T E R I A L S A F E T Y D A T A S H E E T
SECTION 1. - - - - - - - - - CHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION- - - - - - - - - -
CATALOG #: A5752
NAME: ADRENOCHROME FREE BASE
SECTION 2. - - - - - COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS - - - - - -
CAS #: 54-06-8
MF: C9H9NO3
EC NO: 200-192-8
SYNONYMS
ADRAXONE * ADRENOCHROME * 2,3-DIHYDRO-3-HYDROXY-1-METHYL-1H-INDOLE-5,
6-DIONE * 3-HYDROXY-1-METHYL-5,6-INDOLINEDIONE * 1H-INDOLE-5,6-DIONE,
2,3-DIHYDRO-3-HYDROXY-1-METHYL- (9CI) * USAF UCTL-7 *
SECTION 3. - - - - - - - - - - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION - - - - - - - - -
LABEL PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
CAUTION:
AVOID CONTACT AND INHALATION.
TARGET ORGAN(S):
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
BLOOD
SECTION 4. - - - - - - - - - - FIRST-AID MEASURES- - - - - - - - - - -
IN CASE OF CONTACT, IMMEDIATELY FLUSH EYES WITH COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF
WATER FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES.
IN CASE OF CONTACT, IMMEDIATELY WASH SKIN WITH SOAP AND COPIOUS
AMOUNTS OF WATER.
IF INHALED, REMOVE TO FRESH AIR. IF NOT BREATHING GIVE ARTIFICIAL
RESPIRATION. IF BREATHING IS DIFFICULT, GIVE OXYGEN.
IF SWALLOWED, WASH OUT MOUTH WITH WATER PROVIDED PERSON IS CONSCIOUS.
CALL A PHYSICIAN.
WASH CONTAMINATED CLOTHING BEFORE REUSE.
SECTION 5. - - - - - - - - - FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES - - - - - - - - - -
EXTINGUISHING MEDIA
WATER SPRAY.
CARBON DIOXIDE, DRY CHEMICAL POWDER OR APPROPRIATE FOAM.
SPECIAL FIREFIGHTING PROCEDURES
WEAR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING TO
PREVENT CONTACT WITH SKIN AND EYES.
UNUSUAL FIRE AND EXPLOSIONS HAZARDS
EMITS TOXIC FUMES UNDER FIRE CONDITIONS.
SECTION 6. - - - - - - - - ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES- - - - - - - - -
WEAR RESPIRATOR, CHEMICAL SAFETY GOGGLES, RUBBER BOOTS AND HEAVY
RUBBER GLOVES.
SWEEP UP, PLACE IN A BAG AND HOLD FOR WASTE DISPOSAL.
AVOID RAISING DUST.
VENTILATE AREA AND WASH SPILL SITE AFTER MATERIAL PICKUP IS COMPLETE.
SECTION 7. - - - - - - - - - - HANDLING AND STORAGE- - - - - - - - - - -
REFER TO SECTION 8.
SECTION 8. - - - - - - EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION- - - - - -
CHEMICAL SAFETY GOGGLES.
COMPATIBLE CHEMICAL-RESISTANT GLOVES.
NIOSH/MSHA-APPROVED RESPIRATOR.
SAFETY SHOWER AND EYE BATH.
MECHANICAL EXHAUST REQUIRED.
AVOID INHALATION.
AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES, SKIN AND CLOTHING.
AVOID PROLONGED OR REPEATED EXPOSURE.
WASH THOROUGHLY AFTER HANDLING.
KEEP TIGHTLY CLOSED.
STORE IN A COOL DRY PLACE.
SECTION 9. - - - - - - - PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES - - - - - - -
APPEARANCE AND ODOR
SOLID.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
MELTING POINT: 115 TO 120'C (DECOMPOSES)
SOLUBILITY:
WATER -SOLUBLE ETHANOL -SOLUBLE
ETHER -INSOLUBLE
BENZENE -INSOLUBLE
SECTION 10. - - - - - - - - -STABILITY AND REACTIVITY - - - - - - - - -
STABILITY
STABLE.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
STRONG OXIDIZING AGENTS
HAZARDOUS COMBUSTION OR DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS
TOXIC FUMES OF:
CARBON MONOXIDE, CARBON DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION
WILL NOT OCCUR.
SECTION 11. - - - - - - - - - TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION - - - - - - - -
ACUTE EFFECTS
MAY BE HARMFUL BY INHALATION, INGESTION, OR SKIN ABSORPTION.
MAY CAUSE EYE IRRITATION.
MAY CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION.
MATERIAL MAY BE IRRITATING TO MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND UPPER
RESPIRATORY TRACT.
TARGET ORGAN(S):
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
BLOOD
TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, THE CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL, AND
TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES HAVE NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED.
RTECS #: NM1925000
5,6-INDOLINEDIONE, 3-HYDROXY-1-METHYL-
TOXICITY DATA
IPR-RAT LD50:150 MG/KG AIPTAK 106,90,1956
IPR-MUS LD50:100 MG/KG NTIS** AD277-689
IVN-MUS LD50:128 MG/KG AIPTAK 106,90,1956
ONLY SELECTED REGISTRY OF TOXIC EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES
(RTECS) DATA IS PRESENTED HERE. SEE ACTUAL ENTRY IN RTECS FOR
COMPLETE INFORMATION.
SECTION 12. - - - - - - - - - ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION - - - - - - - - - -
DATA NOT YET AVAILABLE.
SECTION 13. - - - - - - - - - DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS - - - - - - - - -
DISSOLVE OR MIX THE MATERIAL WITH A COMBUSTIBLE SOLVENT AND BURN IN A
CHEMICAL INCINERATOR EQUIPPED WITH AN AFTERBURNER AND SCRUBBER.
OBSERVE ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
I think my question must be confusing so as per your suggestion I’ll try to rephrase it.
In the book Fear An loathing In Las Vegas Hunter S and his attourney Lazlo do a duge that Lazlo referrs to as AdrenOchrome and states that it is derived from the human adrenal gland. The experience that Thompson describes is akin to PCP or a speed/acid binge.
My question is this: Is there a narcotic made from the human adrenal gland, what the real name of it is does not really matter to me. Are the effects of this narcotic similar to the descriptions given in the book. Or is this a U/L. As I did state before the description of the drugs origins just didn’t mesh with the manner of ingestion.
Zen, I do not know the book and, as you understand, cannot comment on it.
As far as “adrenochrome”.
Virtually all adrenal hormones (a dozen or so), are manufactured and are available by prescription. They might be synthetized or of animal origin, not of human, of course. They are FDA approved drugs and are used for treatment. AFAIK, none has “narcotic”
effect (look up), even as side-action. A classic narcotic prototypic drug, morpine, is medicinally used for pain amelioration. In large prolonged doses it may have secondary (undesirebale and unitended) effects, similar to its street cousin, heroine. This untoward effect would not be tolerated in common cold headache medication, but we are talking grave, often terminal conditions when primary pain-killing action is crucial while side effects may be neglected and/or dealt with.
As far as the book, it does not sound like a documentary; do not take every described event as real life.
The degree to which THAT is an understatement boggles the mind.
I think the OP was being somewhat careless in his use of the term “narcotic”. Other posters have established that adrenochrome is an actual substance, an oxidation product of adrenaline. Perhaps the sort of synopsis the OP is looking for is this:
It appears to require injection - Thompson was probably off base on having Duke ingest it. Other sources suggest it chemically induces Schizophrenia, and it does not sound like a particularly pleasant recreational drug. The above quote comes from the following link, which appears to be background info on real drugs by somebody constructing a role-playing game. Judging by his entries on other, more familiar drugs, he appears to have done reasonable research, and synopsized it well:
Actually my only source for descriptions of adrenochrome is not from Thompson, just the most prominent as we have a lot of Dr.Gonzo readers on this board.
Other cites of reference to adrenochrome and it’s effects include Aldous Huxley in The Doors of Perceptions says this:
*
“… Then came the discovery that adrenochrome, which is a product of the decomposition of adrenalin, can produce many of the symptoms observed in mescalin intoxication. But adrenochrome probably occurs spontaneously in the human body. In other words, each one of us may be capable of manufacturing a chemical, minute doses of which are known to cause Profound changes in consciousness. …” *
Also one should note that Huxley coined many names for drugs or used incorrect name intentionally. His coinage of the name “soma” for example never became a popular name for hashish but because of his influence the chemichal described above by other people may be adrenochrome and yet still may not be the adrenochrome of Huxley’s writings.
Other cites on the substance make note that adrenochrome is 3-hydroxy-1-methyl-5,6-indoline-dione – made by the
oxidation of epinephrine (andrenalin).
In the book ‘Legal Highs’ (Adam Gottlieb) I found this monograph concerning Adrenochrome Semicarbazone:
*Usage: 100 mg is thoroughly dissolved in just enough alcohol, melted fat (butter), or vegetable oil and ingested. Because of its poor solubility in water these must be used to aid absorption.
Effects: Physical stimulation, feeling of well-being, slight reduction of thought processes.
Contraindications: None noted. Act as a systemic hemostatic preventing capilary bleeding during injury. Adrenochrome causes chemicaly induced schizo- phrenia. Its semicarbazone does not…*
Now as you can see while Hunter and Aldous seem to describe similar reactions, the latter exerpt describes a much more mild reaction unless one carefully noted the final paragraph. Could the description if an induced state of schitzoid mentality correlate with a mescaline vibe previously mentioned? I don’t know. I have never tried mescaline and I am only manic not schitzo.
Anyhow it looks like nobody reading this has direct contact with the chem or at least not with the chem described by Hunter.S which I was inquiring about. Maybe I’ll order some epinephrine and oxidize it and get back to you all on monday.