The Use of Hyoscyamine as a Hallucinogen and Intoxicant

An 18-year-old man with staggering gait, dilated pupils, a temperature of 100.2, and a pulse of 100, who was grossly confused, disoriented to time, place, and person, and who appeared to be hallucinating, was admitted to the hospital. These signs and symptoms were absent 24 hours later, at which time he gave a history of the periodic ingestion of Asthmador for the sensations derived therefrom. He stated that several of his acquaintances also used Asthmador for such purposes. Asthmador is a nonprescription mixture of belladonna and stramonium (hyoscyamine is the active agent in both) that is meant to be burned and the smoke inhaled to relieve bronchial asthma.

The use of vegetable material containing hyoscyamine is of interest as similar preparations have been used as intoxicants and for mystic and religious purposes in many cultures and periods of the history of Western culture. The patient's clinical picture, that of hyoscyamine intoxication, is difficult to diagnose if not suspected.