Chapter 12 - Psychedelic Drugs

Question 1

what are psychedelic drugs

Answer 1

a wide variety of substances that produce reality altering experiences (hallucinations, sensory distortions, delusions, etc)

Question 2

3 broad categories of psychedelics

Answer 2

1. hallucinogens
2. mixed stimulant psychedelics
3. dissociative anesthetics

Question 3

what are hallucinogens

Answer 3

large class of psychedelic drugs that are characterized by hallucinations
-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
-psilocybin (magic mushroom)
-mescaline (peyote cactus)
-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)

Question 4

what is psilocybin

Answer 4

primary psychoactive psychoactive ingredient found in hallucinogenic mushrooms; rapidly converted into the active metabolite psilocin which accounts for most of the hallucinogenic effects of the drug

Question 5

what is mescaline

Answer 5

hallucinogen found in peyote cactus; consumed by chewing disc-shaped buttons from the crown of the cactus

Question 6

what is dimethyltryptamine (DMT)

Answer 6

found in a variety of hallucinogenic plants; usually brewed to make a tea called ayahuasca; small amounts of DMT are produced in the body; acts on serotonin receptors

Question 7

who discovered LSD

Answer 7

Albert Hoffman (1943); derived from ergot fungus; accidentally discovered its hallucinogenic effects

Question 8

oral use of LSD

Answer 8

small drops are placed onto paper and then licked; very potent; effective dose as low as 0.025 micrograms; reaches peak absorption after an hour

Question 9

where is LSD metabolized

Answer 9

liver; half life of about 3 hours

Question 10

LSD has few ____ effects but very pronounced ____ effects

Answer 10

physiological; subjective

Question 11

true hallucination

Answer 11

perception of images or sounds that are not present

Question 12

pseudo hallucination

Answer 12

alterations of the sights and sounds of things that are present (including synesthesia); effects depend on mood and environment; good vs bad trip

Question 13

good trip

Answer 13

pleasant sensory distortions and pseudo-hallucinations; may also involve the experience of synesthesia)

Question 14

bad trips

Answer 14

disturbing true hallucinations; negative emotional states; out of body sensations; psychotic episodes

Question 15

effects of LSD

Answer 15

hypersuggestibility; flashbacks (of previous trips); hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (long term unpleasant memories of a previous trip)

Question 16

why does LSD affect one’s ability to complete modal object completion tasks?

Answer 16

it alters the function of many sensory processing systems

Question 17

LSD acts as a serotonin ____ for a variety of serotonin receptors

Answer 17

agonist

Question 18

which receptors does LSD affect in the visual cortex?

Answer 18

5-HT1A and 5-HT2A; affects visual processes

Question 19

what are mixed stimulant psychedelic drugs

Answer 19

have properties of psychostimulants and hallucinogens

Question 20

what is MDMA (mixed stimulant)

Answer 20

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
sometimes referred to as entactogen (touching within) or as an empathogen (feeling of closeness to others); often associated with raves

Question 21

pharmacokinetics of MDMA

Answer 21

oral administration; peak concentrations within 2hr; metabolized in liver (active metabolite methylenedioxyamphetamine); half life of about 9hr

Question 22

MDMA affects both ____ and ____ neurotransmission

Answer 22

5-HT; DA

Question 23

MDMA inhibits ____ and reverses ____ so that unstored 5-HT is released into the synapse

Answer 23

5-HT storage in synaptic vesicles; 5-HT membrane transporters

Question 24

neurotoxicity of MDMA

Answer 24

chronic administration can produce severe damage to 5-HT neurons that may be difficult to overcome

Question 25

adverse effects of MDMA (at higher doses)

Answer 25

stimulant-induced psychosis; increased heart rate; increased blood pressure; increased body temperature; multiple organ failure can occur due to hyperthermic effects of MDMA use

Question 26

____ effects occur from normal use, which involves ____

Answer 26

rebound; depression and lethargy, risk of flashbacks and hallucinogen persisting perception disorder

Question 27

what are dissociative anesthetics

Answer 27

sedative drugs that have some pain relieving effects; produce feelings of disconnect from the body

Question 28

2 dissociative anesthetics

Answer 28

phencyclidine (PCP); ketamine
-produces schizophrenia-like symptoms

Question 29

subjective effects of PCP

Answer 29

-low doses create drunken-like state
-moderate doses produce numbness and disrupt memory
-high doses produce psychostimulant (schizophrenic-like) states

Question 30

routes of administration for PCP

Answer 30

inhalation (effects within minutes; peak conc in 30mins); IV injection; insufflation (effects in a minute or less); half life of 18-51hr

Question 31

PCP and neurotransmission

Answer 31

endogenous opioids activate opioid kappa receptors

Question 32

dextromethorphan (other psychedelic drugs)

Answer 32

found in OTC cold medicines; at a high dose acts as glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist that can produce PCP-like effects

Question 33

salvinorin A (other psychedelic drugs)

Answer 33

psychoactive ingredient in the salvia plant; kappa opioid receptor agonist; associated with alterations in visual perception, depersonalization, and uncontrollable laughter

Question 34

scopolamine and atropine

Answer 34

ACH antagonist (muscarinic) receptors; produce hallucinations, delusional thinking, and disorientation