One average areca nut (~2 g) contains ~5-8 mg arecoline. Calcium hydroxide or slaked lime is traditionally added to basify saliva and improve buccal absorption, but greatly increases oral carcinogen formation. Chronic areca nut use is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by IARC with strong evidence for oral cancer, submucous fibrosis, and systemic health effects. Commercial 10 mg HBr products provide cleaner stimulation than traditional betel quids but carry cancer risk with long-term use. First-aid for cholinergic excess: 0.5-1 mg atropine IV or oral diphenhydramine, fluids, and monitoring.
Arekolīns molecular structure diagram from the DrugsPRO substance library.
Also known as: Arecolin, Arecaline, Arecholine, Betel nut alkaloid, Areca alkaloid
Classification
Psychoactive: Nootropic
Psychoactive: Stimulant
Tag: Alkaloid
Tag: Cholinergic
Tag: Natural product
Effects
Stimulation
Increased Saliva Production
Gi Peristalsis
Nausea
Bradycardia
Jaw Tremor
Enhanced Concentration
Mild Euphoria
Anxiety
Cognitive Enhancement
Increased Focus
Euphoria
Warm Facial Flushing
Light Sensitivity
Acuity Enhancement
Appetite Suppression
Bodily Control Enhancement
Visual Acuity Enhancement
Routes of Administration
Buccal (Chewed Betel Quid)
Dosage
Threshold: 2 mg arecoline freebase
Light: 2-4 mg arecoline freebase
Common: 4-8 mg arecoline freebase
Strong: 8-15 mg arecoline freebase
Heavy: 15 mg arecoline freebase
Duration
Onset: 0.03-0.08 h
Peak: 0.2-0.7 h
Offset: 0.5-1.5 h
After Effects: 1-3 h
Oral (Swallowed Arecoline Hbr Solution / Capsule)
Dosage
Threshold: 2-3 mg
Light: 3-6 mg
Common: 6-10 mg
Strong: 10-15 mg
Heavy: 15 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.25-0.42 h
Peak: 0.2-0.7 h
Offset: 0.5-1.5 h
After Effects: 1-3 h
Sublingual / Buccal (10 MG Huny Mint / Lozenge)
Dosage
Threshold: 1-2 mg
Light: 2-5 mg
Common: 5-10 mg
Strong: 10-15 mg
Heavy: 15 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.03-0.08 h
Peak: 0.2-0.7 h
Offset: 0.5-1.5 h
After Effects: 1-3 h
Vaporized / Nebulized E-Liquid
Dosage
Threshold: 0.5-1 mg inhaled
Light: 1-3 mg inhaled
Common: 3-6 mg inhaled
Strong: 6-10 mg inhaled
Heavy: 10 mg inhaled
Duration
Onset: 0.01 h
Peak: 0.2-0.7 h
Offset: 0.5-1.5 h
After Effects: 1-3 h
Buccal
Dosage
Heavy: 15+ mg arecoline freebase
Light: 2–4 mg arecoline freebase
Common: 4–8 mg arecoline freebase
Strong: 8–15 mg arecoline freebase
Threshold: 2 mg arecoline freebase
Duration
No data available for this section yet.
Oral
Dosage
Heavy: 15+ mg arecoline HBr
Light: 3–6 mg arecoline HBr
Common: 6–10 mg arecoline HBr
Strong: 10–15 mg arecoline HBr
Threshold: 2–3 mg arecoline HBr
Duration
No data available for this section yet.
Sublingual
Dosage
Heavy: 15+ mg arecoline HBr
Light: 2–5 mg arecoline HBr
Common: 5–10 mg arecoline HBr
Strong: 10–15 mg arecoline HBr
Threshold: 1–2 mg arecoline HBr
Duration
No data available for this section yet.
Vaporized
Dosage
Heavy: 10+ mg (estimated inhaled)
Light: 1–3 mg (estimated inhaled)
Common: 3–6 mg (estimated inhaled)
Strong: 6–10 mg (estimated inhaled)
Threshold: 0.5–1 mg (estimated inhaled)
Duration
No data available for this section yet.
Harm Reduction
Check interactions before mixing substances, pay attention to dose spacing and hydration, and treat all dosage guidance as approximate rather than guaranteed safe.
Sources
Substance data is aggregated from the following public harm-reduction and reference sources.
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Arecoline - DrugsPRO vielu ceļvedis
Arecoline: One average areca nut (~2 g) contains ~5-8 mg arecoline. Calcium hydroxide or slaked lime is traditionally added to basify saliva and improve buccal absorption, but greatly increases oral carcinogen formation. Chronic areca nut use is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by IARC with strong
