How about a drug with no other effect than to alter the way you see color or make everything seem brighter. Would be popular among ravers or people who just want a change of pace.
-- amadeus, Sep 20 2000

The Day of St Anthony's Fire http://www.amazon.c...002-3772261-4504027
Other books on ergot poisoning listed. [Scott_D, Sep 20 2000]

... DISCOLORATION BY AGENT http://micromedex.h...dx-fulldb/ddl80.htm
Was going to add a link about phenolphthalein, when I found this. Wow: a veritable rainbow! [rmutt, Sep 20 2000, last modified Oct 17 2004]

LSD - My problem child, by Albert Hofmann. http://www.psychede...brary.org/child.htm
The whole book online. [Pallex, Sep 20 2000, last modified Oct 17 2004]

The Day of St Anthony's Fire http://www.amazon.c...002-3772261-4504027
Other books on ergot poisoning listed. [Scott_D, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Or old ladies with cataracts who just luuuv yellow now.
-- thumbwax, Sep 20 2000


LSD, derived from ergot, a fungus which grows on rye, temporarily increases the oxygen supply to the brain, among other things - this can cause visual "Hallucinations" It can also result in peripheral "artifacts", although I can't remember just now what the exact pysiological explanation for this is, I believe it has to do with increased pupil dilation, and consequent sensitivity to light. A very interesting drug, it mimics schizophrenia in the average person, though strangely, it reduces the symptoms of this mental illness in person suffering from schizophrenia - it's primary pharmacological use, and very effective.

The effects of ergot are alluded to in medieval literature, and an incident in France in the 1950's led to isolation of LSD, as recounted in "Day of St. Anthony's Fire", by Grant Fuller - out of print now, but a fascinating book, if you can find it. Raw ergot has some unpleasent side effects, including constriction of circulation in the extremities, which can cause limbs to fall off etc, a lá leperosy.
-- Scott_D, Sep 20 2000


All the others are out of print as well - any insight on the Harry Potter connection - Hmmmm?
-- Scott_D, Sep 20 2000


One of the known side effects of Viagra is a temporary blue tint to your vision. Could be a good start for your research (or just a hell of a lot of fun).
-- koz, Sep 20 2000


Regarding, uh.. ergot-derived substances, I heard stories about one of the people with whom I went to college... apparently after a particular experience, he couldn't/can't see the colour orange.

Not quite what you're looking for, but evidence that ergot messes with the way you see colours...
-- cswiii, Sep 22 2000


As someone who's consumed a hell of a lot of LSD and other psychedelics, I can tell you that I have never personally experienced any type of full-on color shift. Also, LSD, strictly speaking, is not a "hallucinogen," that is, you don't see things that don't exist. Objects often resemble other things, or there's an overlying visual pattern, or edges of objects seem to have movement. I don't speak for everyone's experience, but it's definitely the norm.

The color drug is an intriguing idea. I got a webcam recently and have been playing with duo-tone filters and find the effect very cool. It would be quite a safety risk.. Differentiation of objects would be a challenge. Good luck isolating a drug that has JUST that effect.
-- daniela, Sep 24 2000


Good LSD makes colours appear brighter as the drug wears off. It often lasts the entire next day. It is due to severe dilation of the pupils allowing more light to enter the eye. Flowers look amazing. It would be very very nice to isolate this one aspect of the experience.
-- redhed, Jan 22 2001


I just went for an eye exam, and they put drops in my eyes that totally dialated my pupils (I mean totally... there was only a thin sliver of iris visible around my pupils). Although this made me more sensitive to light (oncoming headlights on the way home were very sparkly), I didn't notice any sort of color shift. I would think that any effect like this from LSD would be due to something other than or in addition to pupil dialation.
-- PotatoStew, Jan 22 2001


Aren't the sensory effects of good LSD about like that of night vision, but in color? I was led to believe that the 'color' one sees at night while tripping is a side effect of the impurities in the drug.
-- reensure, Jan 22 2001


mescaline {sp?} has some similar effects, check into that too.
-- AfroAssault, Apr 27 2001


Here's your solution (good thinking afroassault):

5-10 mcg's of 2cb- aka- synthetic mescaline. this will give a slightly elevated feeling to the body but will cover your visual consciousness with a colorful glow. Sharpness in vision, brighter color contrast, and you may even glimpse the souls of plants winking at you! Good luck finding it!
-- Oracle2012, Aug 08 2001


Good luck finding some? Wow, I must live in a drug-town. I could score that in about an hour.
-- AfroAssault, Aug 16 2001


Check out DMT as well.
-- Pallex, Aug 16 2001


isn't it easier just to wear cellophane glasses? it is not that difficult and has only the color effects.
-- adeps, May 29 2002


Although I can't deny this idea is moderately decent, I can't condone anythign drug-related. Fishbone. Sorry.
-- NickTheGreat, May 29 2002


NickTheGreat: Can't condone ANYTHING drug related? Do you take aspirin, caffeine, alcohol, or any other legal medicine? Do you take anything to knock you out before surgery or kill the pain during and after dental work?

Oh, you mean you can't condone anything drug-related unless it's socially acceptable in this particular milieu - which translates to the drug's effect being socially *related*, it seems. Alcohol and coffee are both "people" drugs; the former makes people less inhibited in festive social environments, and less afraid of interacting with friends, coworkers, etc. Caffeine is the elixir that keeps the wheels of the workplace fuelled and lubricated every day - and often night. (Cocaine was once mixed in with it, too.)

The "uncondoned" drugs like cannabis and various psychedelics are the ones that cause one to experience interesting things on one's own, with just one's own sense organs and brains. Could that be why it is that they remain illegal even though most of the serious problems with recreational drugs amount to being direct consequences of their being illegal?

People being most afraid of what they don't understand, it must be that it "squicks" them to think of being around a person who has had experiences like seeing things change colour or cartoons dance on walls. It makes normal people feel uncomfortable, because they're unable to relate...and don't know how to have a conversation with someone living in realities they're not famliar with. People on the whole like things to be nice, safe and familiar and easy to explain.

I now want to set my mind to think of a halfbakery idea that might help to ameliorate this problem. It means a lot to me.
-- monde, Jul 08 2002


NickTheGreat: Can't condone ANYTHING drug related? Do you take aspirin, caffeine, alcohol, or any other legal medicine? Do you take anything to knock you out before surgery or kill the pain during and after dental work?

Oh, you mean you can't condone anything drug-related unless it's socially acceptable in this particular milieu - which translates to the drug's effect being socially *related*, it seems. Alcohol and coffee are both "people" drugs; the former makes people less inhibited in festive social environments, and less afraid of interacting with friends, coworkers, etc. Caffeine is the elixir that keeps the wheels of the workplace fuelled and lubricated every day - and often night. (Cocaine was once mixed in with it, too.)

The "uncondoned" drugs like cannabis and various psychedelics are the ones that cause one to experience interesting things on one's own, with just one's own sense organs and brains. Could that be why it is that they remain illegal even though most of the serious problems with recreational drugs amount to being direct consequences of their being illegal?

People being most afraid of what they don't understand, it must be that it "squicks" them to think of being around a person who has had experiences like seeing things change colour or cartoons dance on walls. It makes normal people feel uncomfortable, because they're unable to relate...and don't know how to have a conversation with someone living in realities they're not famliar with. People on the whole like things to be nice, safe and familiar and easy to explain.

I now want to set my mind to think of a halfbakery idea that might help to ameliorate this problem. It means a lot to me.
-- monde, Jul 08 2002



random, halfbakery