Fascinated by Khat...

[Nicaine]

I'm fascinated by the accounts I've read about Khat chewing... the strong, astringent taste of the leaves, the buzz, etc. A few questions for anyone who's tried it...

(1) What other stimulant is the buzz most similar to, if anything?

(2) Did you find the experience of chewing unpleasant (due to flavor, odor, side effects, etc) or did you enjoy it?

(3) Can the alkaloids be extracted in some way instead, and have you ever attempted this?

(4) Do you know of interactions with other medications, in particular chemically similar drugs like bupropion HCL (Wellbutrin)?

Thanks. BTW, as a disclaimer I have no intention of using Khat (due to its illegality here), I'm just curious.Edited by: Nicaine

[cash911]

Still no response. Some of the questions are of interest to swim as well

[DaveRave]

SWIM is also interested in this, as last time he checked, Khat was still legal here (correct if wrong).
He's heard about it, but not much is known other than stimulative effects.
In truth, he doesn't even know of a source.

[Pondlife]

I've uploaded the UK ACMD report on Khat to the file archive:
http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/loc...d=2286&catid=8

This has lots of useful information about Khat, which is currently legal in the UK. It also has some interesting content regarding the effect of the legal status; here are a few points made by the report:

The UK is a major destination for imports and exports of khat onto other countries in the world. In the first 6 months of 2005 there were imports each day of approximately 5-7 tonnes from Kenya, 500kg from Ethiopia and 175 kg from Yemen (equates to roughly 25000 bundles or doses), the bulk of which was held in transit for export to the US.

Khat is considerably more expensive in North America than in those countries where it remains a legal drug: in the US street value is $400 per kg and in the UK £16 per kg.

There is no specific evidence linking khat use, distribution or selling networks to serious organised crime in the UK

There does not appear to be a link with acquisitive crime. The rates detected are particularly low considering the financial status, social situation and location of many of the khat using communities.

The report recommends that Khat remain legal in the UK because it's not causing any significant problems.

[Bajeda]

Khat is an interesting substance, but its effects also seem to evolve as you continue to use it.

It is stimulant-like at first, but after time the effects vary greatly. It is akin to an opiate for many chronic users, though for some it is almost hallucinogenic even. It is a very interesting and varied substance, one we don't know enough about really.

Khat was used in Yemen even before coffee and it was immenselypopular. Lewin described khat markets to which khat was brought inbundles of branches from the mountains.
Khat contains cathine (d-norisoephedrine), cathidine, and cathinine.
Cathine is also one of the alkaloids found in _Ephedra vulgaris_. It is
fortunate, perhaps, that khat is also very rich in ascorbic acid which
is an excellent antidote to amphetamine-type compounds.

In animals, khat produces excitation and increased motor activity. In
humans, it is a stimulant producing a feeling of exaltation, a feeling of
being liberated from space and time. It may produce extreme loquacity,
inane laughing, and eventually semicoma. It may also be an euphorient
and used chronically can lead to a form of delirium tremens. Galkin
and Mironychev (1964) reported that up to 80% of the adult population
of Yemen use khat. Upon first chewing khat, the initial effects were
unpleasant and included dizziness, lassitude, tachycardia, and sometimes
epigastric pain. Gradually more pleasant feelings replaced these
inaugural symptoms. The subjects had feelings of bliss, clarity of
thought, and became euphoric and overly energetic. Sometimes khat
produced depression, sleepiness, and then deep sleep. The chronic user
tended to be euphoric continually. In rare cases the subjects became
aggressive and overexcited. Galkin and his colleague observed 51
subjects who had taken khat. Of these, 27 became excited, 18 became
somnolent, and 6 remained unchanged. The respiratory rate and pulse
rate were accelerated and the blood pressure tended to rise. The
subjects also had a decrease in the functional capacity of the
cardiovascular system.

The definite stimulant effect occurs within 30 minutes, peaks in an hour and a half, and lasts about 4-5 hours. Chewing for an hour produces, if you will pardon the oxymoron, a kind of scattered focus. Concentration is acute, but holding together complex concepts difficult. Conversation is augmented, but sometimes over-zealous. Hangovers from Chat are depressing and really suck.

Chewing all night will produce an altered consciousness that can be likened to a mild, speed-derived hallucinogen. No open eye visuals, but some closed eye ones after serious overindulgence. Frequently, phantom movement will be detected out of the corner of your eye.

Small doses are good for working, large ones mess up your focus too much.