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Home , Atropa belladonna, Datura, Morning glory, Psilocybin mushroom

4/23/2015

Hallucinogens •Psychedelics or This “classic” column The 2 groups below are quite different produce similar effects From the classic

Hallucinogens Stimulating 5HT Receptors Drugs BLOCKING ACH Receptors • aka “psychotomimetics” LSD Nightshade() Jimsonweed Morning Glory Dimethyltryptamine What do the very mixed group of hallucinogens found around the world share in common? •Drugs Resembling NE Drugs BLOCKING Glutamate Receptors

• cactus (PCP) • All contain something that resembles a •Methylated like MDMA High dose •Nutmeg neurotransmitter •New synthetic variations (“”)

•5HT-Like Hallucinogens •LSD History • • created by for Sandoz Pharmaceuticals LSD • was studying vasoconstriction produced by LSD • initial exposure was accidental absorption thru skin • so potent ED is in millionths of a gram (25-250 micrograms) & must be delivered on something else (sugar cube, gelatin square, paper)

Psilocybin

Activate 5HT2 receptors , especially in prefrontal cortex and limbic areas, but is not readily metabolized

•Characteristics of LSD & Other “Typical” •Common Effects Hallucinogens • Sensory distortions (color, size, shape, movement), • Autonomic (mostly sympathetic) changes occur first constantly changing (relatively mild) • Vivid closed eye imagery • Sensory/perceptual changes follow • (crossing of senses – e.g. hearing music • Cognitive changes occur even later triggers visual effects) • Hallucinogenic effects usually last ~6-10 hours • Altered recognition, feelings of novelty • Rapid tolerance but no dependence • Altered body image & feelings of self • Quality of effects very user-dependent • Decreased logic & testing; • Altered emotions; feelings of insight

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•Bad Trips • Panic reaction; feel out of control & like you are losing •Treatment your mind • “Talking down” in a less stimulating, reassuring • Unpleasant perceptions (claustrophobia, paranoia, environment, turning attention to more positive overload) topics • Emotional crisis (depression, feelings of worthlessness or • Sedatives or antipsychotics in extreme cases meaninglessness) • In susceptible individuals may precipitate a psychotic episode (1- 5/1000 users)

•Aftereffects •Other Psychedelics Acting as • Flashbacks (“hallucinogen persisting perception disorder”) • Post-use depression, confusion or boredom Serotonin at • Some may show impaired cognitive function with heavy use 5HT-2 receptors

•Morning Glory Seeds •*Psilocybin “Mexican mushrooms” or (aka ololuiqui, LAA) “shrooms” • Contain lysergic acid amide (LAA). Most often sold dried or LSD is 10-30X as strong. in powder-packed capsules. • Used for spiritual purposes in , Central & South America. Dose = ~5-10 grams of mushroom, • Negative side effects (vomiting, containing 10-20 mg psilocybin, but headache) limit its popularity for different sub-families of psilocybin recreational use. vary widely in potency • US seeds may be coated with (LSD is ~100-200x as potent). harmful fungicide Psilocybin is turned into active compound in body; effects last 6-10 hrs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhVcKWE00j0&mode=related&search=

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•Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) •Bufotenine (5-HO-DMT) from “Bufo” Toads • Found in many species of tropical but now also easy to synthesize • Toads secrete as a defense mechanism • Usually snuffed or smoked because DMT on its own is • Concentration & composition vary with toad species, destroyed by stomach acids* but generally cause cardiovascular & CNS stimulation. Some can be toxic enough to kill pets that bite them; • Short-acting – effects gone in less than an hr for some species the secretions are also hallucinogenic. • “Businessman’s LSD” • The toad is NOT licked but glands are “milked” to collect secretions. “” – mix of plants brewed as . Native users have learned which contain a natural MAOI which allows DMT to be orally effective

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• Hallucinogens Resembling •NE-Like NE & DA Hallucinogens • Peyote cactus Mescaline • Mescaline Amphetamines • Methylated amphetamines like MDMA • Nutmeg & Mace • Club 2CB is synthetic bromo-mescaline • New synthetic variations always coming out

Activate NE and DA receptors but also affect 5HT2 receptors

MDMA

•Peyote • Cactus heads cut and dried. 5-20 buttons (containing 200-800 mg •Methylated Amphetamines mescaline) are used. • Variations of amphetamines, , or mescaline • Grows along and south of Texas- Mexico border. • Some degree of properties + hallucinogen properties. • Risks: , dehydration, dry mouth & eyes, increased HR & BP (all of these are aggravated if you are dancing or very active), bruxism/jaw clenching, restlessness, possible seizures, bad trips • Content and quality of drug uncertain

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“Bath Salts” •Ecstasy • AKA Bliss, Vanilla Sky, Purple Wave, (MDMA) Ivory Wave & others • AKA: E, X, XTC, Mandy, Adam, hug, love drug, Molly* • Contain “” • methylene-dioxy- (MDMA) (, , and/or • Multiple effects • Stimulant rush & stimulant body effects MDPV or • Hallucinogen-like - enhances visual and tactile senses, but produces few methylenedioxypyrovalerone) illegal • Emotional – empathetic, sensual, disinhibited as of Sept 2011 • 5HT release and blocks reuptake; can lead to 5HT depletion • Like a hallucinogenic • A large body of animal research (including primates) shows loss of 5HT methamphetamine neurons after MDMA; human brain imaging suggests decreased brain MDMA activity but no “before” and “after” comparison possible. A recent review • http://www.webmd.com/mental- of the human studies concludes & related cognitive deficits highly likely. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181923/ health/features/bath-salts-drug-dangers • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8jn2unqKGU • http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/ MDPV mdpv.pdf

Anticholinergic Poisoning Symptoms Hallucinogens • Hot as Hades - • Fast as a Hare – Rapid HR • Dry as a Bone – Lack of sweating • In this case the drugs BLOCK rather than activate ACh receptors • Red as a Beet – Flushed skin • • Recall ACh = parasympathetic transmitter & Mad as a Hatter – important transmitter in cortex (cognition), • Full as a Tick – memory system, brainstem • Blind as a Bat – dilated

•Anticholinergic Hallucinogens (or more aptly •Deadly Nightshade “”) • Found in many plants • belladonna (Deadly nightshade) • Datura family (jimsonweed, thornapple) Common in Iowa & elsewhere • Henbane • • Contain atropine & scopolamine which block ACh receptors in CNS and parasympathetic system • Used in past as beautifiers (dilate pupils), in /black mass celebrations, and as deadly • Produce delirium, confusion & rather than a vivid sensory

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Jimsonweed () • Muscaria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u12SZAy • a less poisonous member of the Amanita (Death Mp54&playnext=1&list=PLB240A88EC45D 8B8B&index=19 Angel) mushroom family • produces intoxication, mood swings, hallucinations • contains both glutamate & ACh related compounds • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s_fpRUqpuE&mode=related&search=

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Do I have to Add a 5th Box to my Hallucinogen Table? Salvia Divinornum •Psychedelic (Magic mint or Sally D) • Phencyclidine (PCP) (aka angel dust, horse tranquilizer, hog, PeaCe Pill, superjoint, Sherms, dank, ‘embalming fluid’, ozone, • Very potent, short-acting naturally occurring wack, THC, crystal, mescaline) & ketamine (Special K, vitamin hallucinogen taken orally or smoked K) • Active ingredient salvinorum seems to act on • PCP developed as a “dissociative ” (appear awake, but are “dissociated” from pain experience & sometimes from kappa receptors (but does not produce full reality) and amnesic for the experience, but drug had too effects) many adverse effects for human use • Not typically pleasurable but produces mind- • Low dose floaty, numb , incoordination altering ‘spiritual’, sometimes scary other-worldly • Higher doses  may be either motionless OR show perceptual changes agitation, emotional reactivity, psychotic-like, out-of-control behavior • http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?st • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=692NA0q1uOM oryId=5290545

•Dissociative Anesthetics • Block glutamate NMDA receptors* • More unpredictable in behavioral effects • Greater risks (seizures, coma, fever, hi BP possible; memory problems,agitation, schizophrenic-like state) • Long unpredictable timecourse, half life 11-51 hrs) sometimes with persisting effects • Can cause dependency PCP • Higher incidence of bizarre and violent behaviors while under influence than other psychedelics • Ketamine less potent. Sometimes used as a date-rape drug. • http://www.rxlist.com/ketamine_hydrochloride-drug.htm

• * This is the same kind of receptor blocked by dextromethorphan in “Robo-tripping” K

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