Witty Historian

NBOMe, also known as N-Bomb, is a family of extremely potent psychedelics that became notorious for being sold on blotter paper as LSD. 25I-NBOMe in particular appeared throughout the psychedelic scene, where people sometimes took it believing they were getting acid.NBOMe trip reports describe intense visuals, unusual body sensations, overwhelming psychedelic experiences and, in some cases, terrifying medical emergencies. Unlike LSD, the difference between an active dose and a dangerous one could be frighteningly small.From the infamous bitter taste to the extreme NBOMe visuals and experiences reported by users, this is the strange story of the drug hiding on blotter paper — and why “if it’s bitter, it’s a spitter” became a warning.

Symmetry is the name given to a mysterious synthetic psychedelic related to salvinorin A, the extraordinarily potent hallucinogenic compound found in Salvia divinorum. Often described as a chemical successor to Salvia, Symmetry became notorious for producing extremely powerful, bizarre and sometimes terrifying psychedelic experiences at remarkably small doses.But Symmetry wasn’t simply “stronger Salvia.”Its story begins with scientists modifying the chemistry behind one of the strangest naturally occurring psychedelics ever discovered. What emerged was a compound capable of producing experiences involving extreme time distortion, loss of identity, impossible geometric spaces, encounters with seemingly autonomous entities, and the unsettling sensation of being transported somewhere completely different.📚 SOURCES & FURTHER READINGThe original Symmetry paper (Mercury & Feelodd, 2008) — full text on Erowid:https://erowid.org/chemicals/salvinorin_b_ethoxymethyl_ether/salvinorin_b_ethoxymethyl_ether_article1.shtmlErowid's EOM SalB vault (compound overview, basics, legal status):https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/salvinorin_b_ethoxymethyl_ether/salvinorin_b_ethoxymethyl_ether_basics.shtmlRoth et al. 2002 — the PNAS paper establishing salvinorin A as a kappa opioid agonist:https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.182234399Wikipedia entry for salvinorin B ethoxymethyl ether:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvinorin_B_ethoxymethyl_etherPaton et al. 2021 — the MS remyelination paper, Frontiers in Neurology (open access):https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.782190/full

How does a truth serum actually work? As it turns out, the answer is far stranger than the myth that inspired centuries of experiments, interrogations, and false confidence.

Mirapex (pramipexole) is a Parkinson's disease medication that has been linked to unexpected side effects, including compulsive gambling and other impulse control disorders. This documentary explores the history, science, and real-life stories behind one of the most unusual medication side effects ever discovered.📚 SOURCES & FURTHER READINGThe big study (3,090 patients, 17% developed compulsive behaviors): https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/721768The neuroscience — why pramipexole blunts the reward system: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2423613/The Canadian investigation (W5) — patients, lawsuits, what the company knew: https://trlaw.com/blog/w5-parkinsons-drug-sends-patients-on-orgy-of-gambling-shopping-and-sex/Public Citizen's fight for a black box warning (includes all FDA responses): https://www.citizen.org/article/petition-to-the-fda-to-require-a-black-box-warning-for-dopamine-agonist-drugs/The moment it went public — NBC News, 2005: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/popular-parkinsons-drug-linked-gambling-flna1c9441661Full literature review for anyone who wants to go deeper: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3197927/#history #drug

STP arrived in San Francisco with a reputation for being something extraordinary. The problem was that almost nobody taking it knew quite what they were dealing with. A single experience could stretch far beyond what people expected, sometimes lasting well into the next day. Better known today as DOM, the drug became tangled up with the Summer of Love, Haight-Ashbury and one of the stranger chapters of psychedelic history.. before largely disappearing from popular memory.

Antidepressants have transformed millions of lives, but they also come with risks that are often misunderstood or rarely discussed. This documentary explores the history of SSRIs, the science behind serotonin, and one of the most dangerous drug reactions known as serotonin syndrome.We'll explain what serotonin syndrome is, its symptoms, treatment, and recovery, while exploring how modern antidepressants became one of medicine's greatest successes.. and one of its most controversial prescriptions.

Humans have been searching for altered states for thousands of years. From ancient rituals and fermented drinks to poisonous plants, this documentary explores the fascinating history of humanity's endless pursuit of getting high.

Phenibut was developed in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and later used as an anti-anxiety medication. Decades later, it found a new audience online, where it was sold as a nootropic and supplement. But phenibut’s effects on the GABA system can lead to tolerance, dependence, and severe withdrawal. This is the story of how a Soviet anxiety drug became an internet addiction.

Vioxx was once one of the world's best-selling painkillers before becoming one of the biggest pharmaceutical scandals in history. Why was Vioxx recalled? It was voluntarily withdrawn from the market in 2004 after studies linked it to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Drug addiction didn't emerge all at once, it evolved over thousands of years as humanity discovered new ways to relieve pain, chase pleasure, and escape reality. This is the story of how that relationship changed history.