Adrenochrome is an oxidation product of adrenaline. Adrenochrome semicarbazone, also known as carbazochrome, is used as a medicinal drug to reduce capillary bleeding. Neither compound is a hallucinogenic drug, contrary to common belief.

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 abandoned.

Chemistry

An adrenochrome solution would likely be synthesized by a process involving suspension of adrenochrome 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.

Recreational drug

Adrenochrome semicarbazone is often mentioned as a recreational drug. However, it is not a psychedelic hallucinogenic drug and its psychoactive effects are described as very mild or have been questioned at all.

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). As such, it is purported to be very exotic, and very intense: "the first wave felt like a combination of mescalin 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.

Other

Adrenochrome is also a song by The Sisters of Mercy, released on their 1992 album Some Girls Wander By Mistake.

External links

• Erowid adrenochrome vault