Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens are drugs that alter

perception, conscious awareness, mood, thinking, processes, and physiology

How many different species of plants or synthetic agents produce these kinds of effects

90

What are Serotonergic hallucinogens?

LSD, Mescaline (peyote), psilocybin (mushrooms), DMT,

How many subgroups are there

4

What do sertonergic hallucinogens influence

serotonergic transmissions in the brain

What does Serotonergic hallucinogens bind to

5-HT2A

What is 5-HT2A

Serotonin receptors, produces vivid visual hallucinations

What are Methylated amphetamines structures similar to?

amphetamines

What changes do Methylated amphetamines produce

Produces changes in mood, consciousness, and a few sensory changes

what synapses do Methylated amphetamines act on

Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and serotonin synapses

Do Methylated amphetamines bind to 5-HT2A?

no. It does not activate serotonin

how do anticholinergic hallucinations affect individuals?

they produce a dream-like trance

what is anticholinergic hallucinogens an antagonist of

it is the antagonist of acetylcholine which is a stimulant

How to users remember being on anticholinergic hallucinogens?

users often don’t remember the experience of being on them

what is phencyclidine hallucinogens more commonly known as

PCP, Angel dust, Ketamine

How can Phencyclidine be used for medical use?

It can be used as a dissociative anesthetic.

How can Phensyclidine be in surgery?

Produces surgical anesthesia while patient remains semiconsscious

What neurotransmitter can be affected by Phensyclidine

Glutamate.

What are Glutamate neurotransmitters?

Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that maintains proper brain function. It plays a major role in learning and memory.

What is Salvinorin

acts on Kappa receptors, doesn’t need to be studied heavily

What groups use Serotonergic Hallucinogens

Often used by inigenous peoples in Central & South America but also includes different groups across Africa

How are Serotonergic Hallucinogens used around the world?

It can be used in religious ceremonies

When did Serotonergic Hallucinogens go mainstream

Drugs entered mainstream European & American culture in the 1980’s

Who discovered LSD

Albert Hofmann

When was LSD first discovered

in 1938

How did Hofmann discover LSD

Hofmann was studying derivatives of ergot (a fungus that infests grain & causes disease)

What medical uses can come from Ergot derivatives?

Can be used to treat migraines and uterine contractions during pregnacy

How did Hofmann discover LSD

in 1943, Hofmann spilled a small amount on his hand and it was absorbed

what is LSD-25

Synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide

Does LSD-25 have any medical properties?

no

How was LSD used in psychotherapy?

It was claimed that the drug could break down a persons ego

How did Ernset execute potential LSD usage experiments?

The experiments transformed into parties with faculty, students, and celebrities

What did Leary claim LSD would do?

Leary claimed that LSD is the way to spiritual enlightenment

What did Leary call himself

he called himself the “high priest”

What book was written while the author was on LSD?

One flew over the cuckoo’s nest

Which genre of music did LSD make an impact on?

Hippie culture, bands like Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix. Called Acid Rock

What were some negative publicity that surrounded LSD in the 60’s?

LSD would cause chromosome damage, cause insanity, suicide, acts of violence, and homicidal behavior

Did the negativie publicity increase LSD use or decrease it?

decreased it by 1980

What was the MDMA use percentage in the 1990’s?

2.7%

What receptors are influenced when on LSD-like drugs

Serotonin receptors (5-HT2A)

LSD - most potent

25 micrograms can prooduce effects through oral administration

LSD is rapidly absorbed

Effects are felt 20-60 mins after consumption

How long does LSD last for?

Often persists 8-12 hours

Psilocybin

Dosing is more difficuklt

Typically 5-10 grams are taken

How long does Psilocybin last for

4-6 hours

Mescaline

When taken orally, needs about 5-120 “buttons”

How potent is Mescaline compared to LSD

1/3000

How long does Mescaline last for

10-14 hours

What can psilocybin be used for in the medical field

moderate uses with advanced stage cancer

reduces anxiety and depression

benefits with alcohol and nicotine SUD’s

Needs to be administered by a therapist because mechanisms are not well understood

What are some negative effects associated with LSD?

Bad trips from being exposed to a drug without knowing it

Flashbacks, usually visual disturbances and precipitated by stress or fatigue

Long term psychosis MAY NOT BE LINKED BUT may exacerbate other probems, interact with other drugs

What can be a predisposed factor that can cause people to experience psychosis?

Having long-term psychosis to begin with can be a predisposed sign that you’ll experience psychosis when on the drug

Should you be taking hallucinogens if you have predispositiosn with psychosis?

NO!

What was MDMA used for originally?

a drug with psychotherapy benefits, is now returning to the possibility that it can be used for psychotherapy

What was MDMA known as in the 1990’s?

a club drug

When was MDMA made illegal?

1985

Similarities between MDMA and amphetamines

produced few to no visual hallucinations

mild euphoria

openness, fellings of warmth & empathy

the love drug

lack of defensiveness

some scientists consider these drugs to be more empathogens than hallucinogens

Effects of Methylated Amphetamines

MDMA, MDA, MDE

Usualy taken orally - can be injected or snorted

absorbed rapidly

How long do Methylated Amphetamines last for

6-8 hours

What do Methylated Amphetamines do for monoamines

increases the release of them but specifically serotonin

What does MDMA do with serotonin and dopamine

blocks reuptakes

What effects of Methylated Amphetamines drugs produce

sympathetic effects

What are some sympathomimetic effects

Increased heart rate, blood pressure, pupil dilation, body temperature

increased muscle tension

teeth grinding (bruxism)

decreased appetite

insomnia

Do people prefer MDMA to other amphetamines? why?

Yes. MDMA is more reinforcing than amphetamines

Toxic effects of Methylated Amphetamines

Dehydration, heat stroke, heat exhaustion

Muscle breakdown

Kidney failure, stroke, seizures

Can occur after relatively low doses (unclear b/c MDMA or other additives added to the play)

Ricaurtue et al. 1985

Experiment involving rats, after several adminsitrations, rats had depletion of serotonin

One large dose (20mg/kg) was administered or several small doses (5mg/kg) over consecutive days

replicated in many species - including primates

Brain damage?

Can be caused by degration of serotonergic neuron tterminals

Can you recover from brain damage?

some evidence suggests that the system recovers after a period of absence

Psychotherapeutic uses for MDMA

enhances communicative ability & empathy (decreases defensiveness)

Can you administer MDMA for theraputic use by yourself?

NO. Clients have to be physically IN therapy while on the drug

Psychotheraputic uses

Can be used for people with PTSD

the openness felt because of the drug leads them to discuss things they normall would not

Dissociative Anesthetic Hallucinogens - Phencyclidine (PCP)

has tranquilizing effects

left animals conscious - but not feeling pain

normally used as tranquilizers in veterinary practices

Dissociative Anesthetic Hallucinogens - Phencyclidine (PCP) in Humans

hyperexcitability, hyperactive stage

delirium

visual disturbances

When did PCP emerge

emerged as street drugs in 1970’s

Ketamine

often used among club drugs

snorted, injected, taken orally, or smoked

Hopfer et al. 2006

over 18% of clients in treatment for substance abuse used ketamine

Effects of PCP and Ketamine in moderate doses (1-10 mg/kg)

Fellings of euphoria and numbness

General motor discoordination

Users may be catatonic or hyperactive

Effects of PCP and Ketamine in larger doses

hallucinations

include feelings that different body parts are shrinking/growing

described as the K-hole , can last for days or weeks

paranoia and sometimes vioence that can last for days

long-term cognitive impairments for PCP and Ketamine

far more likely (compared to LSD) to create psychotic symptoms

What group of people use dissociative anesthetic hallucinogens for psychotheraputic uses

People suffering from depression

What can a single dose of ketamine do for someone with depression

can improve unrelenting depressive symptoms WITHIN HOUSE

How long does Ketamine last when being used for depressive symptoms

Results are brief - (a few days → a week)

allows for other drugs and psychotherapy to start to work