Hallucinogens

Question 1

Hallucinogens

Answer 1

Substances whose primary effect is to cause perceptual and cognitive distortions without producing a state of toxic delirium.

Question 2

Mescaline

Answer 2

Found in peyote cactus.

Oral administration → chewed raw or cooked.

Question 3

Muscimol

Answer 3

• Active agent in fly agaric mushrooms.
• produces macroscopia
• GABA-a agonist.

Question 4

Psilocin

Answer 4

• After ingestion, psilocybin gets converted into psilocin.

- Oral administration → eaten dried, boiled in water, or cooked in food.

Question 5

DMT

Answer 5

• Common in South America.
• Used to prepare ayahuasca drink.
• When smoked or snorted, can produce a short-intense experience.
• Synthetic DMT analogs → AMT/Foxy Methoxy.

Question 6

NBOMes

Answer 6

Synthetic hallucinogens.

Oral/buccal administration → single doses on blotter paper.

Nasal administration → drug can be taken in powder form.

Very potent = easy to overdose.

Question 7

Salvinorin A

Answer 7

Oral administration

Is a k-opioid receptor agonist.

Inactivated by the GI tract when swallowed.

Effects → out-of body experiences, vivid hallucinations, hysterical laughter, etc.

Question 8

LSD

Answer 8

Dr. Albert Hoffman → first to synthesize LSD (from ergot).

Recreational use banned in 1967.

Active orally (oral administration).

Question 9

Range of potency

Answer 9

LSD → psilocin → DMT → mescaline (lowest).

Question 10

Duration

Answer 10

Onset is typically 30-90 mins.

• LSD trip lasts for 6-12 hours.
• NBOMes effects last for 3-10 hours.
• DMT & salvia peak in minutes, and are over in an hour or less.

Question 11

The LSD Trip - Onset Stage

Answer 11

30 mins to 1 hour after ingestion.

Visual effects begin to occur, Intensification of colors, Appearance of geometric shapes

Question 12

The LSD Trip - Plateau Stage

Answer 12

Lasts for 2 hours.

Subjective sense of time beings to slow & Visual effects become more intense.

Question 13

The LSD Trip - Peak Stage

Answer 13

Lasts for 2-3 hours.

User feels like they’re in another world with suspended time, Continuous stream of bizarre, distorted images.

May experience synesthesia.

Question 14

The LSD Trip - ComedownStage

Answer 14

Lasting 2 hours or longer.

Most of the drug effects are gone.

Question 15

Physiological Effects of Hallucinogens -

Sympathetic activation

Answer 15

Pupil dilation, increase in heart rate, blood pressure, & body temperature.

LSD use can lead to dizziness, nausea & vomiting.

Question 16

NBOMe Toxicity

Answer 16

Delusions, seizures, hypertension, muscle breakdown, kidney damage.

Question 17

Indoleamine hallucinogens

Answer 17

Substances with serotonin-like structure.

Includes LSD, psilocybin, DMT.

Question 18

Phenethylamine hallucinogens

Answer 18

Includes mescaline & NBOMes.

Structure related to NE (norepinephrine) & amphetamine.

Question 19

what is the mechanism of action of Hallucinogens?

Answer 19

• Activation of 5-HT2 receptors

- Disrupts the functioning of glutamatergic networks

Question 20

Flashbacks

Answer 20

re-experiences of hallucinogenic visual distortions.

Question 21

Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD)

Answer 21

when perceptual symptoms persist for a long time following drug use and are experienced frequently.

Question 22

LSD-induced psychosis

Answer 22

psychotic episodes following use of LSD.

Question 23

Chronic Effects of hallucinogens

Answer 23

Lack high degree of abuse potential.

Do not produce physical withdrawal.

Not effective reinforcers.

Rapid tolerance with repeated use linked to 5-HT2 receptor (not for DMT or Salvia).

Alternate tolerance mechanism for mescaline.

Sensitization

Question 24

Psycholytic therapy

Answer 24

gradually increasing LSD doses to promote the release of repressed memories and to enhance communication.

Question 25

Psychedelic therapy

Answer 25

the patient is given a single high dose of LSD with the hope of gaining insight into their problems.

Question 26

Multidisciplinary association for psychedelic studies (MAPS)

Answer 26

promotes new research on the potential psychotherapeutic application of hallucinogens.