Ibotenic Acid/Muscimol
 

 Amanita muscaria, A. pantherina, A. gemmata contain ibotenic acid which when ingested is converted by the human body to muscimole, which is passed out in urine.  The effects of this mushroom vary greatly from person to person.  The mystery behind the toxin’s effects is due in large part to the following two factors: (1) individuals have different metabolisms, and (2) concentration of the toxin varies from mushroom to mushroom.  To complicate matters further, not all of the toxins contained within A. muscaria, A. pantherina, and A. gemmata have been identified (Arora, 894).

 

A host of symptoms that include the following usually appear sometime between 30 minutes and 2 hours after ingestion: vomiting, nausea, confusion, mild euphoria, loss of muscular coordination, profuse sweating, chills, visual distortions, and belief that one has greater strength.  In addition to the aforementioned symptoms some individuals experience hallucinations, delusions, and convulsions (Arora, 894).

 

Supportive measures such as reassuring the victim that the effects will pass with time are typically the only types of treatment offered in cases of muscimol poisoning (Arora, 895).

 

Works Cited

 

Arora, David.  Mushrooms Demystified.  2nd ed.  Berkley, Ten Speed Press, 1986.