A poisoning syndrome

Ibotenic acid and muscimol (pantherine syndrome)

Ibotenic acid and muscimol, in the fly agaric and the panther cap.

Ibotenic acid and muscimol (pantherine syndrome): how soon does it show?

Thirty minutes to two hours.

How does it run?

Confusion, dizziness, and a drunken excitement, twitching, then deep sleep with vivid dreams; convulsions in children; recovery in a day. Muscimol acts on the GABA receptors like a strong sedative, ibotenic acid on the glutamate receptors as an excitant.

What is done for it?

Supportive; benzodiazepines for convulsions. Deaths are rare.

Historical and descriptive, not medical advice. In a poisoning, call a poison centre or emergency services.

Which substances in the database cause it?

Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria), plate: Amanita muscaria (fly agaric)
FungusFly agaricAmanita muscaria The red, white-spotted toadstool of fairy tales, of birch and pine woods.Caution
Panther cap (Amanita pantherina), plate: Amanita pantherina (panther cap)
FungusPanther capAmanita pantherina A brown, white-spotted amanita of European woods.Caution

Sources

  • Michelot, D., and Melendez-Howell, L. M. (2003). Mycological Research 107. Book, not indexed