Chapter 6 LSD and Other Hallucinogens

During the third and final phase, approximately three to five hours after first taking LSD, the following features being to appear:

- great swings in emotions or feelings of panic - a feeling of timelessness - a feeling of ego disintegration, or a separation of one's mind from one's body

There may be laughing or crying, depending on one's expectations and the setting. between thirty minutes and two hours later, a "psychedelic trip" begins, characterized by four distinctive features. the best way to describe these effects is in the words of individuals who have experienced them:

- images seen with the eyes closed - an intermingling of sense called synesthesia, which usually involves sounds being perceived as hallucinatory visions - perception of a multilevel reality - strange and exaggerated configuration of common objects or experiences

LSD

- is considered one of the most powerful psychoactive drugs known - its potency is so great that effective dose levels have to be expressed in terms of micrograms (mikes) - the effective dose can be as small as 10 mikes, with only one-hundredth of a percent being absorbed into the brain - taken orally, LSD is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and the brain, and its effects begin to be felt within 30 to 60 minutes, reaching a peak in about 2 to 12 hours, LSD effects are over - toxicity is relatively low - a lethal dose for humans between 300-600 times the effective dose - LSD is odorless, tasteless and colorless - street forms may contain color additives or adulterants with a specific flavor - swallowed in the form of powder pellets (microdots) or gelatin chips (windowpanes) or else licked off small squares of absorbent paper that have been soaked with liquid LSD (blotters)

Miscellaneous hallucinogens

- phencyclidine (PCP) - a synthetic preparation, developed in 1963, referred to as angel dust - ketamine (K) - a PCP-like hallucinogen - salvia divinorum or salvia - a hallucinogenic Mexican herb, in the mint family

Salvia divinorum or salvia

a Mexican leafy herb with short-duration hallucinogenic effects

psilocin

a brain chemical related to serotonin, resulting from the ingestion of psilocybin

hallucinogens

a class of drugs producing distortions in perception and body image at moderate doses

ketamine

a dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen related to phencyclidine (PCP).

phencyclidine (PCP) (angel dust)

a dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen that produces disorientation, agitation, aggressive behavior, analgesia, and amnesia. It has various street names, including angel dust.

ergot

a fungus infecting rye and other grains

lysergic acid amide (LAA)

a hallucinogenic drug found in morning glory seeds, producing effects similar to those of LSD

mescaline

a norepinephrine-related hallucinogenic drug. its source is the peyote cactus.

ergotism

a physical and/or psychological disorder acquired by ingesting ergot-infected grains. One form of ergotism involves gangrene and eventual loss of limbs; the other form is associated with convulsions, disordered thinking, and hallucinations.

atropa belladonna plant (deadly nightshade)

a plant species whose berries can be highly toxic . it is the principal source of atropine.

mandrake

a potato-like plant containing anticholinergic hallucinogenic drugs

bufotenine

a serotonin-related drug obtained either from a bean plant in Central and South America or from the skin of a particular type of toad

psilocybin ("shrooms")

a serotonin-related hallucination drug originating from a species of mushroom - a trip lasts from 2 to 5 hours

harmine

a serotonin-related hallucinogenic drug frequently used by South American shamans in healing rituals.

dimethyltrptamine (DMT)

a short-acting hallucinogenic drug - "the businessman's LSD" because it lasts for up to an hour - a chemical found in Bufo toads is similar to DMT

peyote

a species of cactus that is the source for the hallucinogenic drug mescaline

amanita muscaria

a species of mushroom containing the hallucinogenic drug ibotenic acid - also called the fly agaric mushroom because of its ability to lure and sedate flies and other insects - grows i the upper latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, usually among the roots of birch trees - this mushroom has a bright red cap speckled with white dots - amanita mushrooms are one of the world's oldest intoxicants - the effects can be lethal if dose levels are not watched very carefully. They produce muscular twitching and spasms, vivid hallucinations, dizziness, and heightened aggressive behavior - the Viking warriors were reputed to have ingested amanita musrroms beofre sailing off to battle. the drug-induced strength and savagery of these "beserk" invaders were so widely feared that a medieval prayer was wrtten especially for protection from their attacks.

datura stramonium

a species of the datura family of plants with hallucinogenic properties. in the US, the plant is called jimsonweed.

synesthesia

a subjective sensation in a modality other than the one being stimulated. an example is a visual experience when a sound is heard

DOM

a synthetic norepinephrine-related hallucinogenic drug, derived from amphetamine. DOM or a combination of DOM and LSD is often referred to by the street name STP

lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)

a synthetic, serotonin-related hallucinogenic drug - synthetically derived from ergot

cyanosis

a tendency for the skin to turn bluish purple. it can be a side effect of the drug bufotenine

atropine

an anticholinergic hallucinogenic drug derived from the atropa belladonna plant

hyoscyamine

an anticholinergic hallucinogenic drug found in mandrake, henbane, and various species of the datura plant

scopolamine (hyoscine)

an anticholinergic hallucinogenic drug.

henbane

an herb containing anticholinergic hallucinogenic drugs

the principal anticholinergic drugs are

atropine, scopolamine (also called hyoscine), and hyoscyamine

ecstasy use has also been linked to long-term

cognitive impairments and emotional difficulties. Heavy and prolonged ecstasy use can produce confusion, anxiety, sleep problems, reduction in impulse control, and declines in memory and attention. - in general, women show greater behavioral effects from chronic ecstasy use than do men

The most even-handed way of defining their effects

hallucination-producing - some researchers have suggested using the term illusionogenic as a more accurate way of describing drugs that produce these kinds of experiences.

As a result of research in the 1980's, it turns out that the critical factor behind LSD's hallucinogenic effects lies

in its ability to stimulate a special subtype of serotonin-sensitive receptors called serotonin-2A receptors - all hallucinogens, even those drugs whose structures do not resemble serotonin, have the ability to excite these receptors - drugs that specifically block serotonin-2A receptors, leaving all other subtypes unchanged, will block the behavioral effects of hallucinogens. - the ability of a particular drug to produce hallucinogenic effects is directly proportional to its ability to bind to serotonin-2A receptors

LSD initially produces an excitation of the sympathetic autonomic activity:

increased heart rate, elevated blood pleasure, dilated pupils, and a slightly raised body temperature. There is an accompanying feeling of restlessness, euphoria, and a sensation that inner tension as been released.

For those who view these drugs with a "positive spin,"

particularly for those who took LSD in the 1960s, hallucinogens have been described as psychedelic, meaning "mind-expanding" or "making the mind manifest." In cases where a spiritual experience has been reported, such as with the ingestion of ayahuasca, hallucinogens have been called entheogenic, meaning "generating the divine within."

Here the category of hallucinogens will be limited to those drugs that

produce marked changes in perceived reality at relatively low dosages and over a relatively short time interval

For people who view these drugs with more alarm than acceptance, the popular descriptive adjectives have been

psychotomimetic, meaning "having the appearance of a psychosis," psychodysleptic, meaning "mind-disrupting," or even worse, psycholytic, meaning "mind-dissolving."

three possible neurotransmitters:

serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine

the principal acute effect of MDMA is

severe hyperthermia (and heatstroke), which can be lethal when one ingests ecstasy while engaged in the physical exertion in an already overheated environment. the dehydration associated with hyperthermia causes an elevation in blood pressure and heart rate and places a strain on kidney functioning. These problems are compounded by the highly risky practice of "ecstasy stacking," in which multiple ecstasy tablets are taken at once or ecstasy is combined with LSD, alcohol, marijunana, or other drugs.

a number of natural plants contain chemicals that share a common feature:

the ability to block the parasympathetic effects of acetylcholine in the body - the drugs with this ability, called anticholinergic drugs, produce specific physiological effects. the production of mucus in the nose and throat, and of saliva in the mouth, is reduced. body temperature is elevated, sometimes to very high fever levels. heart rate and blood pressure go up, and the pupils dilate considerably - psychological effects include a feeling of delirium, confusion, and a loss of memory for events occurring during the drugged state. the amnesic property is one of the primary reasons for the minimal street appeal of these drugs

the best treatment for adverse effects is

the companionship and reassurance of others throughout the period when LSD is active

most hallucinogens can be classified in terms of

the particular neurotransmitter in the brain that bears a close resemblance to the molecular feature of the drug. - a relatively small number of hallucinogens bear no resemblance to any neurotransmitter

1966

the year LSD became illegal, later becoming a Schedule I Drug

If you develop a tolerance to LSD

then you have become tolerant to psilocybin effects, and vice versa (cross-tolerance)

MDMA (ecstasy)

there is a growing consensus of option that hallucinogenic drug. there is a growing consensus of opinion of his psychotherapeutic benefits, although there are significant adverse physical and psychological side effects -widely known under names such as ecstasy (not to be confused with the stimulant Herbal Ecstasy), E, XTC, X, Essence, Clarity, and Adam - MDMA has the reputation of having the stimulant qualities of amphetamines and the hallucinogenic qualities of mescaline

hallucinogen persisting perception disorder

"flashbacks" - the possibility of reexperiencing the effects of the drug long after the drug has worn off

There are three major reasons why LSD is not likely to result in drug dependence

(1) LSD and other hallucinogens cause the body to build up a tolerance to their effects faster than any other drug category. As a result, one cannot remain on an LSD-induced high day after day, for an extended period of time (2) LSD is not the drug for someone seeking an easy way to get high (3) the LSD experience seems to control the user rather than the other way around. It is virtually impossible to "come down" from LSD at will. Besides, the unpredictability of the LSD experience is an unpopular feature for those who would want a specific and reliable drug effect every time the drug is taken.

major categories of hallucinogens

(1) hallucinogens related to serotonin (2) hallucinogens related to norepinephrine (3) hallucinogens related to acetylcholine (4) miscellaneous hallucinogens

Hallucinogens related to acetylcholine

- Atropine - Atropa belladonna plant, known as deadly nightshade, and the datura plant - Scopolamine (hyoscine) -roots of the mandrake plant, henbane herb, and the datura plant - hyoscyamine - roots of the mandrake plant, henbane herb, and the datura plant - ibotenic acid - amanita muscaria mushrooms

Hallucinogens related to serotonin

- LSD - a synthetic derivative of lysergic acid, which is, in turn, a component of ergot - Psilocybin - various species of North American mushrooms - LAA or morning glory seeds - morning glory seeds - Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) - the bark resin of several varieties of trees and some nuts native to Central and South America - Harmine - the bark of a South American vine

Hallucinogens related to norepinephrine

- Mescaline - the peyote cactus in Mexico and the US Southwest - DOM or more commonly STP - a synthetic, mescaline-like hallucinogen - MDMA (ecstasy) and MDA - two synthetic hallucinogens