Slides by: Bruna Brands, PhD
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Department of Pharmacology
University of Toronto
Live Dramatic Interpretation by:
Wende Wood, B.A., B.S.P., B.C.P.P.
Drug Information and Drug Use Evaluation
Pharmacist
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

• group of substances that produce changes in thought, perception and/or mood
• term hallucinogen derived from
Latin alucinari - “to wander in the mind”

• indolealkylamines (similar to 5-HT)
• phenylethylamines (similar to nor-ep)
• anticholinergics
• miscellaneous category

Clinical Manual of Chemical Dependence
Street Names of Hallucinogens
LSD
Morning glory seeds
Psilocybin
DMT, DET
Peyote/mescaline
Acid, blotter, blue devils, California sunshine, haze, microdot(s), mickeys, Mr. Natural, paper acid, purple haze, sunshine, wedges, window panes(s)
Flying saucers, licorice drops, heavenly gates, pearly gates
Magic mushroom, mushroom
Businessman’s lunch, snuff
DOM
MDA
MDMA
MDEA
Button(s), cactus, mesc, mescal, mescal buttons, moon, peyote
Golden eagle, STP, psychodrine, tile
Love drug
Adam, ecstasy, MDM, XTC
Eve
Note LSD = lysergic acid diethylamide DMT = N,N -dimethyltryptamine DET = N,N -diethyltryptamine
DOM = 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methamphetamine MDA = methylenedioxyamphetamine
MDMA = methylenedioxymethamphetamine DEA = 3,4-methylendioxyethamphetamine
Edited by D.A. Ciraulo and R.I. Shader

• LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide,semi- synthetic substance derived from ergot)
• LSA (d-lysergic acid amide, from morning glory seeds)
• psilocybin and psilocin ( isolated from hallucinogenic mushroom genus Psilocybe)
• DMT( N,N-dimethyltryptamine), found in trees of genus Virola

• hallucinogenic and psychotomimetic effects of LSD discovered by Hofmann who accidentally ingested a minute quantity of ergot derivatives
• ergot alkaloids are produced by rye- plant inhabiting fungus (Claviceps
purpurea)
• outbreaks of ergotism in Middle Ages

• two types
– gangrenous ergotism
• gangrene of limbs, loosened before death
– convulsive ergotism
• erythema, diarrhea, vomiting, formication, burning sensation in limbs, convulsions, maniacal excitement, death

Tryptamine-Related Hallucinogens
(Indolealkylamines)
• naturally-occurring plant alkaloids (ex ergot alkaloids, Claviceps purpurea)
• chemically synthesized derivatives (LSD)

• acts primarily through 5-HT receptor subtypes
• antagonist or partial agonist at 5-
HT
2 and 5-HT
1c at multiple 5-HT receptors, agonist
1 receptors
• cannot attribute hallucinogenic effects to one 5-HT receptor subtype

• well-absorbed from GI tract
• LSD most potent (20-25  g produces marked sympathomimetic effects)
• 5 morning glory seeds a high of 12 hours or longer
• LSD longer acting (8-12h) and more potent than psilocybin or psilocin (4-12h)
• 1-2 mushrooms hallucinosis for 4-12h
• all compounds mainly cleared by liver; excreted in feces
• LSD no active metabolites
• psilocybin is hydrolyzed to psilocin (active hallucinogen)

• usual doses 30-400  g (20  g clinically detectable symptoms)
• tolerance occurs over time
• symptoms within 30 min
• maximum effects at 1-4h, symptoms subside after
8-16h
• lower doses autonomic nervous system changes and mood changes:  HR and BP and body temp,
 appetite, nausea, vomiting etc
• higher doses perceptual distortions and body image changes

• subjective experience depends on personality of user, expectations, setting
• perception: visual distortions, blurred vision, perception of distance and depth
• synesthesia, colours are visible
• delusions of supernatural abilities, suicide
• euphoria or frightening experience may occur
• flashbacks
• prolonged adverse reactions: psychosis, paranoid states, depression

• similar to LSD
• intensity of effects related to dose
• restlessness, nausea and autonomic hyperactivity
• visual disturbances more common
• Psilocybe mushrooms: ataxia, hyperkinesis, anticholinergic effects
(symptoms within 15-30 min)

• close structural resemblance to catecholamines, nor-ep and DA
• mescaline naturally occurring substance found in peyote cactus
• modification of mescaline molecule led to synthetic amphetamine derivatives with hallucinogenic action
• one dried flower top (mescal button) contains
6-45mg of active compound
• ingested fresh or as a powder

• <potent than LSD (5mg vs 1  g)
• readily absorbed from GI tract
• concentrated in liver, spleen, kidney
• clinical symptoms similar to LSD
• nausea and vomiting 30 min to 2h after ingestion
• mydriasis, diaphoresis, hypertension, dizziness, chills
• hallucinogenic effects peak at 5-6h
• vivid colours, kaleidoscopic visions, synesthesias

• substituted phenethylamines-
“designer drugs”
• structural similarities to amphetamine and mescaline
• MDMA

( 3-4 methylenedioxy-methamphetamine )

• effective dose of MDMA 50-150mg
• well absorbed
• peak effect at 1-5h

– plants: Solanum dulcamara, Atropa belladonna
(belladonna alkaloids: atropine and scopolamine)
– Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), seeds contain 4% anticholinergic alkaloids
(scopolamine, hyoscyamine and atropine)

– low doses of scopolamine- mild euphoria, sedation, drowsiness
– much higher doses intense cns and pns effects:
• clinical findings: muscarinic effects: dry mouth, decreased GI motility, urinary retention, tachycardia, dry mouth, hyperpyrexia with dry, flushed skin
• CNS effects: visual, auditory and tactile hallucinations; disorientation and confusion, memory loss, dilation of pupils, seizures
– entire episode may last for 24 to 48 hours

• atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade)
• berries used as poison (Atropa, after
Atropos, one of Greek Fates who cut the thread of life and was responsible for death)
• belladonna means beautiful woman – refers to putting a drop of the juice of the plant to dilate pupils
• also used by witches in Middle Ages

• Jimson weed (“locoweed”, thorn apple)
• Solanaceae family
• all parts of plant are poisonous
• seeds contain 4% anticholinergic alkaloids
(scopolamine, hyposcyamine and atropine)
• leaves can be eaten raw, prepared as tea or smoked
• as little as 4-5g of crude leaf may be lethal for children
• adolescents smoke the dried leaves or consume dried seeds to induce toxic delirium
• effects dose dependents

• PCP and Ketamine
• dissociative anesthetics
• both drugs produce hallucinogenic effects at low levels
• PCP can produce stimulant, depressant, analgesic, anesthetic, and hallucinogenic effects (dose-dependent)

• ketamine:anesthetic
• atropinic alkaloid: to control smooth- muscle spasms, hyperirritability of the
GI tract, excessive salivation and bronchial secretions etc
• scopolamine for motion sickness
• no medical uses for LSD, MDMA etc

• acute; usually mild and transient feelings of physical discomfort, anxiety, depression
• sometimes intense anxiety, panic, paranoia; rarely toxic psychosis
• “bad trips” not always related to dose
• PCP and LSD are hallucinogens most frequently associated with serious and lethal accidents
• atropine, scopolamine, hyoscyamine dangerous at high doses
• PMA highly lethal

• deaths associated with MDA, MDMA, PCP
• flashbacks
• brain damage
• tolerance develops to psychoactive effects of many hallucinogens (ex LSD)
• psychological dependence may develop to some
• development of physical dependence not supported by literature

• mint family
• main active ingredient is Salvinorin A
• used in spiritual practices for its psychoactive properties by Mazatecs of Oazaca, Mexico
• no actions on 5-HT hallucinogens)
2A serotonin receptors
(principal molecular target for classical
• structurally distinct from DMT, psilocybin, mescaline and synthetic hallucinogens such as
LSD and ketamines

• not active orally, usually smoked
• most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen (as potent as LSD)
• effective dose in humans 200-1000 μg range when smoked
• intense hallucinatory experiences
• duration of action: several minutes to 1hr or so
• potent and selective κ opioid receptor agonist
• first non-alkaloid opioid receptor subtype selective drug

- psychomimetic selective for κ opioid receptors, therefore κ opioid selective antagonists may be helpful to treat diseases which involve perceptive disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, dementia, and bipolar disorders)

• most of these drugs are produced in illicit laboratories
• purity varies, adulterants
• misrepresentation on the street
• street drugs and driving