Psychedelic Hallucinogen

For many years it was believed that the brain mechanisms underlying the effects of psychedelic hallucinogens and dissociative anesthetics were separate and distinct. Indeed, there has been considerable debate about which represents the best drag model of schizophrenia. However, recent data show that the two classes of psychotomimetic drags share a common final pathway involving an increase in the release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. 

Psychedelic Hallucinogen Psycho Energizers Psychomotor Stimulant Diugs Psychostimulants Psychotogenic Psychotomimetic Drugs PT... 

Fig. 4. Electrophysiological traces from a prefrontal layer V showing the response to nearby electrical stimulation of corticocortical afferents. Stimulus artifact appears as a vertical line. (1) The fast evoked excitatory postsynaptic current (evEPSC) follows immediately, as depicted by the arrow. Under normal conditions, stimulation at 0.1 Hz evokes only a fast evEPSC. (2) However, after the application of a psychedelic hallucinogen (3 pMDOI, 15 min), stimulation at this frequency almost always evokes both a fast evEPSC and a late evEPSC, as depicted by the arrows. The neuron is voltage-clamped close to its resting potential and was not directly depolarized by DOI. It is not known what type of glutamate release accounts for the late evEPSC. Traces are averages of 10 sweeps taken during each of the conditions.

Almost all the presently known psychedelic, hallucinogenic, or entheogenic compounds, whether occurring in plants or synthesized. 

The term psychedelic literally means mind manifesting and was applied to hallucinogens like LSD or mescaline to emphasize the intensification of awareness and sensory perception that is associated with these drugs. 

Hallucinogen A drug that disturbs sensory perception. Visual hallucinations are the most common effect of the psychedelic drug LSD. In contrast, auditory hallucinations predominate in schizophrenia. 

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) A potent indolylamine with psychedelic, or hallucinogenic, properties. 

With most psychedelics, their activity can probably be considerably enhanced by prior (or possibly concomitant) use of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (e.g., isocarboxazid (Marplan), nialamide (Niamid), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate)). Some compounds (e.g., DMT) which have no oral activity, can probably become orally active. These compounds are often prescribed as antidepressants, but it is not a good idea to use them frequently or in large doses. For antidotes to the hallucinogens see Amer. J. Hosp. Pharm. 30,80(1973). 

The various cocaine precursors and analogs seem not to have been tested for psychedelic activity. Cogentin (benzo-tropane) is hallucinogenic at a dose of about 4 mg. Synthetic compounds which may have activity are -pseudo-cocaine, tropacocaine, eccaine,... 

The root of the plant Acorus calamus (also called flag root and sweet calomel), which grows over much of the world, is chewed by the Cree Indians of Canada to produce psychedelic effects. The active compound seems to be asarone — a precursor in an hallucinogenic amphetamine. 

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