Escaline
Escaline is a synthetic psychedelic of the substituted phenethylamine class and the 4-ethoxy analog of mescaline1. First synthesized by Benington et al. in 1954, its psychoactive effects were later characterized by Alexander Shulgin in PiHKAL. Escaline is distinguished from mescaline by a notably faster onset and an absence of nausea, while otherwise sharing a similar time course1 and qualitative character. It remains a relatively obscure research chemical.
Contents
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Duration
Subjective Effects
Effects vary widely by individual, dose, and context.
Physical
Cognitive
Visual
Hallucinatory States
Auditory
Reagent Testing
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Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
Escaline acts as a partial agonist at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor, with agonist activity approximately 5 to 8 times greater than that of mescaline. It produces the head-twitch response in rodents, a behavioral proxy for psychedelic-like activity, and partially substitutes for LSD in rodent drug discrimination tests.2
Pharmacokinetics
Dangerous
Highest riskThese combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.
Tolerance
All psychedelics
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
Extremely LowEscaline is not habit-forming and the desire to use it can actually decrease with use. It is most often self-regulating.
Psychosis Risk
Delusions are listed among the possible cognitive effects, as is typical for psychedelics. The specific psychosis risk from escaline use has not been studied.
History & Culture
Escaline was first described in the scientific literature by George S. Grace in 1934. It was subsequently synthesized and reported by F. Benington and colleagues in 1954. The compound was later re-examined in the laboratory of David E. Nichols, who prepared a series of mescaline analogues including…
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Legality
By Country
References
Source Pages
Bluelight: The Big & Dandy Escaline Thread
Erowid: Escaline Experience Vault
Isomer Design (TiHKAL/PiHKAL)- Isomer Design: Escaline (PiHKAL Entry #72)
PsychonautWiki- Shulgin (1978) - Psychotomimetic Drugs: Structure-Activity Relationships
- Shulgin & Shulgin (1991) - PiHKAL Entry #72
TripSit Factsheets
Wikipedia
Citations
- Karolina E. Kolaczynska, Dino Luethi, Daniel Trachsel, Marius C. Hoener, & Matthias E. Liechti. (2022). Receptor Interaction Profiles of 4-Alkoxy-3,5-Dimethoxy-Phenethylamines (Mescaline Derivatives) and Related Amphetamines. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, Article 794254. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.79425412
- Halberstadt AL, Chatha M, Chapman SJ, & Brandt SD. (2019-02-21). Comparison of the behavioral effects of mescaline analogs using the head twitch response in mice. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 33(3), 406-414. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811198266101
- Shulgin, Alexander, & Shulgin, Ann. (1991). PiHKAL #72 E (Escaline). PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story. https://erowid.org/library/books_online/pihkal/pihkal072.shtml1
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. (2026-06-27). Designated Substances. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11120000/001712381.pdf1
Further Reading
Automated synthesisInformation aggregated and synthesized using an autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins.
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