Transcript Effects of hallucinogens

Hallucinogen
What are hallucinogens ?
 Hallucinogens are a group of drugs that work on the
brain to affect the senses and cause ‘hallucinations’
 Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting or touching things
that do not exist.
Hallucinogens also called…
 Psychedelics: substances that expand or heighten
perception and consciousness.
 Psychotomimetic: substances that mimic psychosis.
 Psychotogenic: substances that produce psychosis.
 "mind-expanding"
Hallucinogens …
 Some hallucinogens occur naturally.
 Others are made in laboratories by mixing different
chemical substances (‘trips’, LSD,‘acid’).
 Some drugs, such as cannabis and ecstasy can cause
hallucinogen-like effects when used in high doses or in
certain ways.
 Using hallucinogens is often called ‘tripping’.
Effects of hallucinogens
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Depends on:
• how much you take
• your height and weight
• your general health
• your mood
• your past experience with hallucinogens
• whether you use hallucinogens on their own or
with other drugs
• whether you use alone or with others, at home
or at a party, etc.
The effects of hallucinogens are not easy to predict.
The effects are different for different people and at different
times
 The main effects of hallucinogens are changes
in the way you perceive things with your senses.
 They can include strange sensations such as floating
or your body becoming part of another object.
 Some people find such unusual sensations
interesting and pleasant, while to others these
same effects are unpleasant and disturbing.
Bad trip
 Some users can experience many general senses of fear,
unrelieved terror, they are going insane or will never return to
reality.
 Users may exhibit actions suggesting harm to themselves or
others around them. This harm could take the form of suicidal
ideation.
 Medical treatment consists of supportive therapy and minimization
of external stimuli. In some cases, sedation is used when
necessary to control self-destructive behavior, or when
hyperthermia occurs. Diazepam is the most frequently used
sedative for such treatment, but other benzodiazepines such as
lorazepam are also effective.
 In severe cases, antipsychotics such as haloperidol can reduce or
stop hallucinations, but this treatment is only effective against the
Flashbacks
Spontaneous recurrence of trip after period of
normalcy
 can occur after long periods of abstinence
 more common after multiple high dose use
 prolonged afterimages for days and weeks after
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tripping mechanism unknown
 can be brought on by other drugs or setting
 most commonly reported in low light situations
 not intrinsically dangerous and usually go away
4 Categories of Hallucinogens
 1) Serotonin-like
 2) Psychedelic Anesthetics
 3) Anticholinergic
 4) Catecholamine-like
Serotonin-like Hallucinogens
 Act as agonist of Serotonin Receptors.
 Examples:
 LSD
 Psilocybin
 Psilocin
 DMT
 Bufotenine
 Ololiuqui
 Harmine
Serotonin
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide LSD
 LSD (‘acid, ‘trips’) is the most often used form of
hallucinogen. In its pure form LSD is a white,
odorless powder.
 Synthesized from lysergic acid, which is found in
ergot alkaloids of the rye fungus.
 fungus growing on various grains. Produced in labs
specifically for illegal drug market. No current
medical use.
 This pure form is very strong.
 It comes in liquid form, tablets, capsules or squares
of gelatin or blotting paper or postage stamp-sized
papers impregnated with varying doses of LSD (50
to 300 mg or more).
Effects
 Effects are felt within an hour, and last 2 to 12 hours.
 Perception intensifies, colors appear brighter, objects
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more sharply defined or distorted.
Dilation of pupils, dizziness, dreamy detached feelings
Possible changes in the perception of time and
distance.
A person may feel the body as light, heavy or distorted.
Thinking and concentration are difficult and shortterm memory is impaired. Extreme mood swings,
including joy, inspiration, depression, anxiety, terror,
aggression can occur.
At High doses causes nausea, tremors, & confusion.
Psilocybin/Psilocin
 Found in psiloycbe mexicana mushroom
 In its pure form, psilocybin is also a white powder,
but it is usually sold as dried mushrooms or in
substances made from mushrooms.
 Street Names: mushrooms, magic mushrooms,
shrooms, Musk, Silly Putty, Simple Simon.
 Psilocybin is from the same chemical family as LSD
so its effects are similar.
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Last about 6-10 hours
Need a lot to get same effect as LSD
How is Psilocybin Consumed?
• Eaten – While the mushrooms are usually dried
prior to sale and/or consumption, they can be
eaten raw or cooked like regular mushrooms.
• Drank – Heated with water to make a tea or a
soup.
• Smoked – The mushroom is ground into a fine
powder and often smoked on top of marijuana.
Psilocybin
DMT (Dimethyltryptamine)
 Short-acting serotonin agonist (30 min)
 snorted or smoked
 Can’t be taken orally.
 Bufotenine Found in toad skins
 Ololiuqui
 Found in morning glory seeds
 100 seeds creates hallucinations, distorted visions,
confusion.
 Side Effects: nausea, vomiting, headache, &
sleepiness.
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Harmine
Found in plants & shrubs in Middle East &
South America.
Side Effects: intoxication, hallucinations, sleep, nausea,
and vomiting.
Psychedelic Anesthetics
 PCP (Phencyclidine)
 Ketamine(Ketalar)
Phencyclidine
 Street Names: Angel Dust, Black Dust, Blue
Madman, Busy Bee, Cliffhanger, Crazy Coke.
 Developed as intravenous anesthetic.
 Use was discontinued due to delirium and mania
experienced after coming off drug (effects lasted up
to 18hours).
Phencyclidine
 Administered orally, smoked, snorted, or injected.
 Stimulates brain reward areas, thus creating
psychological dependence.
 Withdrawal symptoms sometimes occur.
Ketamine
 Street Names: Cat Valium, Jet, Kit Kat, Special K,
Vitamin K
 Developed to replace PCP as anesthetic.
 Injected, snorted, orally ingested.
 Odorless, tasteless so often used as date rape drug
Anticholinergic Hallucinogens
 Attach to Acetylcholine receptors and block the
site so Acetylcholine cannot attach.
 Impairs learning and memory as result
 Found in Belladonna, Nightshade, Jimsonweed,
and Mandrake plants.
 Effects: Dry mouth, decreased sweating, dry
skin, increased body temperature, blurred vision,
increased heart rate, dilated pupils, drowsiness,
decreased attention.
 @ High Doses = Hallucinations, paralysis of
respiratory system, coma, and death.
 Examples:
 Scopolamine, Mandrake, Hyoscine, Hyoscyamine,
and Atropine.
Catecholamine-Like Hallucinogens
 Also called Phenethylamine Psychedelics
 Structurally similar to Catecholamines (Norepinephrine &
Dopamine) and Amphetamines.
EXAMPLES:
Mescaline
Myristin: found in nutmeg
Elemicin: found in nutmeg
Norepinephrine
Dopamine
Amphetamine
Synthetic Amphetamine Derivatives
DOM (dimethoxymethylamphetamine)
MDA (Methylenedioxyamphetamine)
TMA (trimethoxyamphetamine)
DMA (dimethoxymethylamphetamine)
MDE (methylenedioxyethylamphetamine)
MDMA (methylenedioymethamphetamine)
PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine)
Mescaline
 Peyote or "Mescal buttons" consists of
the dried tops of the cactus Lophophora
Williamsii
 (Fam. Cactaceae).
 • This plant has been associated with
Indian ceremonies for many years. It
disturbs normal mental function and
causes concomitant hallucinations and
euphoria.
 • The drug contains several alkaloids,
including Mescaline (that is the most
active constituent).
 Mescaline is a hallucinogenic alkaloid
 Administration
 Chewed raw or cooked and eaten
 Pure powder form
 High cost of synthesis and lacks a large market
Salvia divinorum potent hallucinogen
 Many other Salvia spp. may also contain psychoactive
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diterpenes. “Salvinorin A”
Related to Sage plants/Mint family
Mexican origin
First reported in 1962 but popularity increased via
Internet…
Salvinorin A acts as opioid receptor agonist.
The plant leaf is chewed, smoked or taken as tincture.
Produce brief effect.
The most common after effect include improved mood,
sensation of insight and calmness.
Low toxicity and low addictive potential
Salvia divinorum
Salvinorin A
tiny bit of crunched up leaves soaked
in extract