CNS Stimulants and Hallucinogenics: Cocaine, Amphetamines, & Psilocybin

Vocabulary practice cards covering pharmacology, scheduling, and clinical use of CNS stimulants (Cocaine, Amphetamines) and the hallucinogen Psilocybin.

Schedule I Drugs

Drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, such as Heroin, LSD, marijuana, MDMA, peyote, and methaqualone.

Schedule II Drugs

Drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence, including Cocaine, methamphetamine, PCP, methadone, fentanyl, Adderall, and Ritalin.

Schedule III Drugs

Drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence, such as Tylenol with codeine (containing <$90\,mg$ of codeine), ketamine, and anabolic steroids.

Schedule IV Drugs

Drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence, including Xanax, Soma, Valium, Ativan, and Ambien.

Schedule V Drugs

Drugs with a lower potential for abuse than Schedule IV, generally used as antidiarrheals, antitussives, and analgesics, such as Robitussin AC.

CNS Stimulants

A group of psychoactive drugs that accelerate brain and body processes, increasing alertness, attention, energy, and physical activity.

Hallucinogenics

A group of psychoactive drugs that alter perception of reality, thought processes, and mood, primarily by altering serotonin levels.

Dopamine Transporter (DAT)

The site where cocaine's reinforcing properties correlate with inhibition effectiveness, resulting in increased concentrations of dopamine at reward-mediating sites.

Cocaine Half-life

The half-life of this substance is $50\,min$, though the inhaled (crack) version produces a high in $10-30\,min$.

Benzoylecgonine

The primary metabolite of cocaine which is excreted in the urine and can be detected for up to $10\,days$ after heavy use.

Cocaethylene

A byproduct formed by the coadministration of ethanol and cocaine; it has a half-life of $3-5\,hours$ and acts as a potent cardiac sodium channel blocker.

Amphetamine Use Disorder

A medical condition characterized by a compulsive, uncontrollable pattern of amphetamine or methamphetamine use leading to significant clinical distress and impaired daily functioning.

Amphetamines Mechanism

Drugs that increase synaptic DA, NE, and $5-HT$ by stimulating the presynaptic release of stored neurotransmitters.

Methamphetamine

A highly lipophilic synthetic powder or crystal linked in postmortem studies to diseases associated with aging, including coronary atherosclerosis and pulmonary fibrosis.

Psilocybin

A naturally occurring psychedelic compound (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) found in over $200$ species of fungi.

Psilocin

The active substance produced after psilocybin (a pro-drug) undergoes Phase I and Phase II metabolism to create psychedelic effects.

Ketanserin

An antagonist that has been found to block the psychedelic effects of psilocybin.

Neuroplastogenic Effects

Effects of psilocybin including neuritogenesis and increased neurogenesis, mediated through TrkB, mTOR, and $5HT_{2A}$ signaling pathways.

Psilocybin Agonism

Acts as an agonist at serotonin receptors in the CNS (specifically $5HT_{2A}$, $5HT_{1A}$, and $5HT_{2C}$), stimulating glutamate release and exciting cortical pyramidal cells.