Phenethylamine Type Hallucinogens: Norepinephrine Type and Methylated Amphetamines

Question 1

what do the modifications of amphetamines involve?

Answer 1

• addition of methyl groups so they are called methylated amphetamines

Question 2

Mescaline

Answer 2

• naturally occurring norepinephrine hallucinogen
• it is the active alkaloid in the peyote cactus
• in its natural form, they are brown discs but in the marketed form they are in capsules
• Arthur Heffter isolated mescaline in 1896 and Ernst Spath synthesized it in 1918
• 3mg/kg will produce euphoric effects and 5mg/kg will produce hallucinogenic effects
• peak effects occur in 60mins and last for about 10hrs
• in a lab, doses of mescaline, LSD and psilocybin are indistinguishable
  tolerance occurs to the psychedelic effects over the course of only a few days and cross-tolerance occurs to the serotonergic hallucinogens
• it resembles the neurotransmitter norepinephrine but it produces its hallucinogenic effects in essentially the same way as the serotonergic hallucinogens (having an agonist action at the 5-HT receptor)

Question 3

DOM or STP (serenity, tranquillity and peace)

Answer 3

• synthesized by Alexander Shulgin in 1964 when he was working at the Dow Chemical to produce an appetite suppressant
• wrote a book called PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I have known and loved)
• 3-5mg produces euphoric and stimulant effects while doses greater than 10mg produce hallucinogenic effects that can last 16-25hrs
• DOM is associated with bad trips more than other hallucinogens (probably bc it lasts so long) bc its difficult to convince the user that it’s only temporary

Question 4

MDA

Answer 4

• first synthesized in 1910 and investigated as an appetite suppressant, antidepressant and in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
• MDA is the metabolite of MDMA (ecstasy) and may account for many of MDMA’s effects
• the usual dose is 80-160mg and effects may last from 8-12hrs
• enhances emotions and empathy and thus tends to promote a strong emotional connection with people who are present

Question 5

Amphetamines

Answer 5

• phenethylamine type drug and modifications of amphetamine have produced many drugs with stimulant and hallucinogenic properties
• the propensity of these drugs to produce hallucinogenic properties is related to the degree of agonist activity at the 5-HT receptors

Question 6

MDMA (molly, ecstasy, XTC)

Answer 6

• synthesized by Merck in 1914 as a potential appetite suppressor
• used in tablet capsules in doses of 50-1200mg
• well-absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with onset effects within 1hr and the duration of 4-6hrs
• effects include a variety of positive mood changes, increased and energy and with higher doses of hallucinogenic effects
• the ability for MDMA to create a positive mood change is now being studied in Canada and the US as potential treatment adjuncts for people with PTSD - results seeming promising
• some undesirable side effects pf MDMA are teeth grinding (so users will carry a pacifier), dry mouth and thirst - it also has some acute toxic effects like producing high body temperatures, dehydrations and that combo has produced some deaths
• MDMA has also been known to release dopamine and serotonin - MDMA also blocks the reuptake of serotonin thereby causing a prolonged and intense period of serotonergic activity - and there’s evidence that drugs that cause excessive activation of serotonin and dopamine can cause permanent damage to these neurotransmitter systems
• the major serotonin metabolite was lower in persons who have used MDMA between 80-100 times than those who have never used at all
• there is a reduced serotonin binding and transporter densities in people who have used more than 50 times in their lifetime and these effects were more produced in women
• recreational users show deficits in retro/prospective memory, higher cognition, problem-solving, social intelligence - it also shows neurocognitive impairments and deficits when it comes to sleeping, vision and pain
• use of ecstasy during pregnancy can cause psychomotor impairments in children

Question 7

Myristicin and elemicin

Answer 7

• found in the fruit of the trees Myristica fragrans
• nutmeg and mace are species derived from the dried seed and seed coat
• nutmeg and mace intoxication for psychoactive effects have occurred since the late 1500s
• create fairly weak hallucinogens even at high doses but since they are easily accessible they are used by young drug experimenters
• typically taken in the form of a ‘tea’ made from 1 or 2 teaspoons of the spice
• takes about 30g of nutmeg to produce psychoactive effects and the initial effects are nausea and vomiting but after about 2 hrs it produces weak hallucinogenic effects