Hallucinogens

Question 1

Serotonin agonists

Answer 1

LSD and psilocybin (mushrooms)

Question 2

What does LSD and psilocybin act on and what does it do?

Answer 2

5HT2A receptor agonizing serotonin

Question 3

What brain area does LSD and psilocybin effect?

Answer 3

thalamus

Question 4

What is the main purpose of the Thalamus

Answer 4

to be the central relay station for the brain

Question 5

What does LSD and psilocybin cause in the person?

Answer 5

distortion in thinking, illusions, and visual hallucinations

Question 6

What are the pharmaco-kinetics of LSD?

Answer 6

peaks in the blood in 3 hours, last 6 to 8 hours, lipid soluble, only need 25-300 micrograms to cause an effect, have a TI of 280, no physical dependance

Question 7

What is the DMN?

Answer 7

The defaut mode network: deals with a sense of self and filters things in the brain based on needs and priorities

Question 8

Why does treating Depression or PTSD with serotonin agonists (LSD or psilocybin) work?

Answer 8

small doses can “reset” the DMN and changes can occur, can potentially disrupt patterned of negative thinking

Question 9

Catecholaminelike Hallucinogens

Answer 9

MDMA (ecstacy) and Nutmeg

Question 10

What are the positive general effects of MDMA and Nutmeg?

Answer 10

enhanced energy, endurance, sociability, and sexual arousal

Question 11

What are the negative general effects of MDMA and Nutmeg?

Answer 11

sensory perceptual distortion, altered perception, hallucinations, dreamlike state, enhanced emotional response

Question 12

Why do MDMA (ecstacy) and nutmeg cause stimulant like effects?

Answer 12

They both effect the neurotransmitters NE and DA, and is structurally similar to amphetamines and have similar effects, also increases the focuses attention via DA in the prefrontal cortex

Question 13

What are the Physiological effects of MDMA and nutmeg?

Answer 13

increased blood pressure, body temperature, suppressed appetite, restlessness, and insomnia, jaw clenching, and impaired gait

Question 14

What brain areas are effected by MDMA and nitmeg?

Answer 14

pre-frontal cortex, hypothalamus, amygdala, raphe nucleus, and nucleus accumbens

Question 15

What are the acute dangers of MDMA and nutmeg?

Answer 15

Increased blood pressure, body temperature, suppressed appetite, restlessness, and insomnia, jaw clenching, impaired gait, and hyperthermia

Question 16

What are the chronic dangers of MDMA and nutmeg?

Answer 16

Neurotoxicity of serotonin and psychiatric problems

Question 17

Anticholinergic Hallucinogens

Answer 17

Scopolamine (previously used as poison)

Question 18

General effects of scopolamine

Answer 18

dry mouth, blurred vision, increased heart rate, urinary retention, sedation, amnesia, delirium, restlessness, hallucinations, euphorica

Question 19

Glutaminergic NMDA receptor antagonists

Answer 19

PCP and Ketamine

Question 20

What are the effects of PCP

Answer 20

dissociate anesthetic, agitation, excitement, delirium, disorientation, hallucinations, psychotic state

Question 21

How does treatment with Ketamine work?

Answer 21

It quickly reverses severe depression and can be administered with nasal spray

Question 22

What neurotransmitters do serotoninlike hallucinogens act on? What are examples of drugs?

Answer 22

5-HT agonists on the 5HT2A receptor (ex: LSD, DMT, psilocybin (mushrooms) and mescaline

Question 23

What neurotransmitters do catecholaminelike hallucinogens act on? What are examples of drugs?

Answer 23

NE, DA, 5-HT (ex: MDMA, DOM, and nutmeg)

Question 24

What neurotransmitters do anticholaminelike hallucinogens act on? What are examples of drugs?

Answer 24

They are acetylcholine antagonists (Ex: scopolamine)

Question 25

What neurotransmitters do Glutaminergic NMDA receptor antagonists act on? What are examples of drugs?

Answer 25

They effect glutamate system by acting as NMDA receptor antagonists (ex: PCP and Ketamine)

Question 26

What drugs occur naturally?

Answer 26

mescaline form peyote cactus, psilocybin from mushrooms, nutmeg nut, and scopolamine from plants like the nightshade, stinkweed, or jimsonweed

Question 27

How does psychedelic assisted psychotherapy work?

Answer 27

small doses could change the brain networks by "resetting" the DMN which deals with sense of self and filtering priorities

Question 28

What do psychedelic drugs do to the brain in psychedelic assisted psychotherapy?

Answer 28

Most hallucinogens effect the DMN like DMT, MDMA, LAD, ketamine, and psilocybin

Question 29

What is shown to help with PTSD and how?

Answer 29

Ecstacy can help PTSD by modulating the DMN and the amygdala