Behavioral Effects of Psychoactive Drugs Final Study Guide

PSY 330/3330

Barbiturate MOA

GABA Agonist

Barbiturate NS Effects

CNS Depressant

Barbiturate Behavioral Effects

Sedation, sleep

Barbiturate Absorption

Oral, IV

Barbiturate Duration of Action Short-acting:

3–4 hr

Barbiturate Duration of Action Intermediate:

6–8 hr

Barbiturate Duration of Action Long-acting:

10–16 hr

Barbiturate Half Life Short-acting:

15–50 min

Barbiturate Half Life Intermediate:

15–40 hr

Barbiturate Half Life Long-acting:

53–118 hr

Barbiturate Elimination Long-acting:

25-50% excreted

50-75% metabolized

Barbiturate Elimination Short-acting:

100% metabolized

Benzodiazepines MOA

GABA Agonist

Benzodiazepines NS Effects

CNS Depressant

Benzodiazepines Behavioral Effects

Calm, drowsiness

Benzodiazepines Absorption

Oral, IV, IM

Benzodiazepines Duration of Action Short-acting:

2–6 hr

Benzodiazepines Duration of Action Intermediate:

6–24 hr

Benzodiazepines Duration of Action Long-acting:

24–72 hr

Benzodiazepines Half-life Short-acting:

1.5–2.5 hr

Benzodiazepines Half-life Intermediate:

10–20 hr

Benzodiazepines Half-life Long-acting:

20–100 hr

Benzodiazepines

100% metabolized, no parent

compounds found in urine.

GHB MOA

Binds to GABA receptors

GHB NS Effect

CNS Depressant

GHB Behavioral Effects

Euphoria, drowsiness, confusion

GHB Absorption

Oral

GHB Duration of Action:

0.5–3 hr

GHB Half-life:

30-60 min

GHB Elimination

Mostly metabolized, less than 5% excreted in urine

Alcohol MOA

Disrupts neural communication by enhancing GABA activity and inhibiting glutamate (NMDA) receptors; also alters serotonin and acetylcholine signaling

Alcohol NS Effect

CNS Depressant

Alcohol Behavioral Effects

uninhibited, aggressive, impacts on sexual behavior, violence

Alcohol Absorption

Oral

Alcohol Duration of Action:

1–3 hr per standard drink

Alcohol Half-life

4-5 hr

Alcohol Elimination

~90-98% metabolized

~2-10% through sweat,

breath and urine

LSD Category

Hallucinogen

LSD MOA

Long lasting serotonin agonist and dopamine agonist

LSD Absorption

Oral, Transdermal, Eye

LSD Duration of Action

8-12 hrs

LSD Half-life

~3-5 hrs

LSD Elimination

almost completely rapidly metabolized into metabolites

Psilocybin Category

Hallucinogen

Psilocybin MOA

Strong serotonin agonist

Psilocybin Absorption

Oral

Psilocybin Duration of Action

4-6 hrs

Psilocybin Half-life

~1-3 hrs

Psilocybin Elimination

primarily metabolized - less than 2% excreted

Mescaline Category

Hallucinogen

Mescaline MOA

serotonin - 2A agonist

Mescaline Absorption

Oral (high dosage required)

Mescaline Duration of Action

10-14 hrs

Mescaline Half-life

~6-8 hrs

Mescaline Elimination

60% excreted; remaining 40% metabolized

DMT Category

Hallucinogen

DMT MOA

partial serotonin 5-HT(1A, 2A, 2C) agonist

DMT Absorption

smoked (powder), IV (must bein the salt form, DMT fumarate), oral (ayahuasca)

DMT Duration of Action Smokes/IV:

5–20 min

DMT Duration of Action Oral (Ayahuasca):

2–6 hrs

DMT Half-life

10-20 min

DMT Elimination

Complicated due to monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) impacts

MDMA Category

Mixed stimulant/psychadelic

MDMA MOA

mainly releases serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine and dopamine to a lesser extent

MDMA Absorption

Oral

MDMA Duration of Action

4-6 hrs (24 hr after effects)

MDMA Half-life

~7-9 hrs

MDMA Elimination

80% metabolized 20% excreted

Ketamine Category

Dissociative

Ketamine MOA

NMDA antagonist

Ketamine Absorption

sublingual, IV, nasal spray (FDA approved for depression) IM

Ketamine Duration of Action IV:

45–90 min

Ketamine Duration of Action Sublingual/IM:

1-2 hrs

Ketamine Half-life

~2-4 hrs

Ketamine Elimination

2-10% excreted

90-98% metabolized