Drug
class:
Specific drugs:
Subgroup:
Examples:
Mechanism:
Major
effects:
Side effects:
Any
medical
use:
Diazepam
(Valium),
clonazepam
(Klonopin),
lorazepam
Drowsiness, falls,
Anxiety,
(Ativan),
Calm,
Agonist at benzodiazepine
impaired
insomnia,
temazepam
relaxed
Benzodiazepines
site on the GABA-A
coordination,
epilepsy,
(Restoril),
muscles,
receptor
impaired memory, many other
flunitrazepam
sleepy
dizziness
diseases
(Rohypnol),
triazolam
(Halcion),
alprazolam
(Xanax)
Zolpidem
Mainly just
(Ambien),
sleepy,
eszopiclone
sometimes
Same as
Benzodiazepine agonists
Same as above
Insomnia
(Lunesta),
hallucination benzodiazepines
zopiclone,
s and sleepzaleplon (Sonata)
like states
Phenobarbital,
Epilepsy,
Sedatives
pentobarbital,
Same as
other
thiopental
Calm,
benzodiazepines, plus
Agonist at barbiturate site
diseases in
Barbiturates
(sodium
euphoric, breathing suppressed,
on the GABA-A receptor
the past and
pentothal, sodium
sleepy
terrible withdrawal,
more rarely
amytal),
death
today
secobarbital
Calm,
Same as
Opens BK potassium
euphoric, benzodiazepines, plus
channels (hyperpolarizing
loss of
nausea, vomiting,
neurons), closes SK
inhibitions breathing suppressed,
Alcohol
Alcohol
potassium channels in
(facilitates terrible withdrawal
withdrawal
reward center of brain
socializing, (including psychosis
(causing DA release),
talking,
and seizures), brain
probably other effects
singing, sex), damage, various
relaxed
diseases, death
Euphoric,
Same as
energetic,
Narcolepsy
Agonist at GHB receptor
benzodiazepines, plus
sleepy, calm
(improves
Gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB), GBL, 1,4(may desensitize it or
nausea, vomiting,
(mix of
cataplexy,
butanediol
inhibit GABA), agonist at
breathing suppressed,
stimulant and
not simply
GABA-B receptor
psychosis, seizures,
sedative
a sleep aid)
death
effects)
Amphetamine
(Adderall),
methamphetamin
e (Desoxyn),
Euphoric,
Anxiety, paranoia,
methylphenidate
energetic,
ADHD,
psychosis, high blood
(Ritalin),
Increase release and inhibit able to work,
narcolepsy,
Stimulant
pressure, heart attack,
Amphetamines
phentermine, 4- reuptake of 5-HT, DA, and concentrate,
obesity,
s
stroke, brain damage
methylaminorex,
NE.
stay awake.
rarely
when used
phenmetrazine
Reduces
depression
excessively
(Preludin),
appetite.
methcathinone,
fenfluramine
(Pondimin, Fen-
Phen),
dexfenfluramine
(Redux),
pseudoephedrine
(Sudafed),
ephedrine,
phenylpropanola
mine (old
Triaminic),
phenylephrine
(Sudafed PE)
Euphoric,
energetic,
deep and
unusual
thoughts,
perceived
Same as
inspiration amphetamine, plus
and novelty,
brain damage,
MDMA
enhances sex, confusion, agitation,
Like above, but releases a
(ecstasy), MDA,
dancing,
frequently death due
lot more 5-HT
MDEA
music, art, to hyperthermia, heart
touch and
attack, water
senses.
intoxication, and
Contentment.
other problems.
Connection
to other
people,
strong
emotions.
Cocaine
None
Local
anesthesia
Same as
Inhibits 5-HT, NE, and DA Same as
and
amphetamine, plus a
reuptake, blocks voltage- amphetamine
bleeding
worse risk of heart
gated sodium channels
(above)
control,
attack
diagnostic
tests
Morphine, heroin
(diacetylmorphin
e), hydrocodone
(Vicodin),
oxycodone
(Percocet,
Oxycontin),
Activate all opioid
Full opioid agonists
fentanyl,
receptors completely.
Demerol,
Reduce NE release.
codeine, opium,
hydromorphone
Narcotics
(Dilaudid),
oxymorphone
(Opana),
methadone
Buprenorphine
(Suboxone),
Only activate certain
pentazocine,
subtypes of opioid
Partial, selective, or mixed
nalbuphine,
receptors, and/or do not
opioid agonists
tramadol
activate them fully, and/or
(Ultram),
block certain subtypes.
tifluadom
Active ingredient is mostly
Agonist at cannabinoid
Cannabis
tetrahydrocannabinol, some other active
receptors
Euphoric,
pain relief,
Pain relief,
calm,
Nausea, constipation,
rarely
relaxed, vomiting, drowsiness, depression
sleepy,
breathing suppressed
and
appetite
diarrhea
suppression
Pain relief,
Pain relief,
not quite as
rarely
euphoric or Nausea, constipation,
depression,
relaxing as vomiting, drowsiness
opioid
full agonists
addiction
(above)
Unusual
thoughts and
Memory, thinking,
reflexes, and
Might
relieve
ingredients like cannabidiol in smaller
quantities
Phenethylamines
Psychedel
ics
Tryptamines
Ergolines
feelings,
coordination are
sometimes
impaired. May
calm, happy,
contribute to
hungry,
psychosis in the long
enhanced
term.
appreciation
of art
Mescaline
Feeling of
(peyote cactus),
novelty,
2C-series drugs
inspiration,
(2C-B, 2C-I, 2Creverence.
C, 2C-T-7), 3CFast,
E, 4-MTA, PMA,
disordered
DO-series drugs Partial agonist at 5-HT2
thoughts,
(DOC, DOB, receptors (2A and possibly
trances.
DOI, DOM) 2C). This receptor is mostly Perceptual
excitatory, but it is
anomalies:
Psilocybin and
psilocin (both in inhibitory in certain parts of patterns
the brain dealing with
move, colors
mushrooms),
perception.
brighter,
bufotenin (in
seeing
toads), DMT (in
sounds,
plants), 5-MeOsmelling
DMT (in plants),
colors. Crazy
5-MeO-DiPT,
ideas and
DET, AMT, 4beliefs.
HO-DiPT
Same as
Lysergic acid
above, plus
Same as above, plus
diethylamine
other effects,
agonism at other 5-HT, DA,
(LSD), LSA
depends of
and NE receptors.
(ergine, in plants)
frequency of
use and dose.
Dissociati
ve
anesthetic
s
Phencyclidine (PCP), dextromethorphan,
ketamine
Deliriants
Scopolamine and atropine (in plants),
diphenhydramine (Benadryl),
dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
Inhalants
Diethyl ether (starter fluid), toluene,
gasoline, glue, paint, xenon, freon,
halothane, sevoflurane
nausea,
vomiting,
and
neuropathic
pain. Pills
already
legal, other
forms under
investigatio
n.
None
Anxiety, insomnia,
paranoia, temporary
Psilocybin
psychosis. May
and LSD
contribute to
have been
psychosis in the long
tested for
term, or cause
the
"flashbacks" (HPPD).
treatment of
Some cause nausea,
cluster
increased body
headaches
temperature, tremors.
Other
ergolines
are used for
many
diseases but
are not
psychedelic
.
Feeling of
Anesthesia.
distance from
A related
reality and
drug,
body,
Nausea, vomiting,
memantine,
numbing of
coma, violence,
is used in
NMDA (glutamate
sensations extreme confusion,
Alzheimer's
receptor) antagonists
and pain. temporary psychosis.
disease, and
Convincing
PCP causes brain
these could
and
damage.
be used in
absorbing
stroke
hallucination
sufferers.
s.
Loss of
memory,
Extreme confusion,
convincing temporary psychosis,
Many
Muscarinic (ACh receptor)
and
hot, dry skin, dry
legitimate
antagonists
absorbing mouth, huge pupils,
uses
hallucination fast heartbeat, death
s.
Calm,
Many diseases, death,
relaxed,
Unknown, probably
nausea, vomiting,
General
euphoric,
multiple mechanisms
accidental
anesthesia
pain relief,
asphyxiation, falls,
hallucination
s, strange varies depending on
sensations
particular drug
(different
inhalants
cause
different
effects from
this list)
Calm,
euphoric,
General or
Unknown, but opioid
pain relief,
Nitrous oxide
Similar to above
partial
pathways are necessary memory loss,
anesthesia
unconsciousn
ess
"Head rush",
Dangerously low
Isoamyl nitrite, Stimulate NO system (NO
muscle
Heart
Nitrites
blood pressure,
isobutyl nitrite
is a neurotransmitter)
relaxation,
conditions
fainting
dizziness
Convincing,
Theoreticall
absorbing
Dysphoria, panic, y similar to
Selective agonist of the hallucination headache, inability to
pain
Salvinorin A (salvia divinorum)
kappa opioid receptor
s, visionary talk, falls, sweating, relievers
states, pain
persisting anxiety (pentazocin
relief
e)
Vaguely like
Nausea, other side
Useful in
Muscimol (amanita muscaria)
GABA-A agonist
a
effects
research
hallucinogen
Nicotinic acetylcholine
Nicotine (tobacco)
See Wikipedia, PubMed, Google
receptor agonist
Alertness,
wakefullness,
Adenosine receptor
Other
energy,
Insomnia, anxiety,
antagonist, inhibits some
Caffeine (coffee, tea, other plants)
appetite
headaches on
Headaches
PDE enzymes causing
suppression, withdrawal, diuresis
increased cAMP signaling
headache
relief
Anxiety,
Depending
depression,
Methaqualone (Quaalude, Sopor),
on the drug:
Falls, poor
insomnia,
thalidomide, meprobamate (Miltown),
Calm, sleepy,
Various mechanisms,
coordination and
pain,
carisoprodol (Soma), glutethimide, chloral
euphoric,
mostly related to GABA,
memory, coma, other anesthesia,
hydrate (knockout drops, Micky),
relaxed
similar to barbiturates
side effects vary from epilepsy,
ethchlorvynol (Placidyl), methyprylon,
muscles, pain
drug to drug
muscle
primidone
relief, nausea
relaxation,
relief
nausea
Disclaimer: Do not use drugs for fun. Take drugs exactly as prescribed by a trustworthy doctor. This chart provides a rough overview,
it is an oversimplification, it has omissions, and it may have blatant inaccuracies due to ongoing scientific debate or the writer's
idiocy.
NeuroACh
NE
DA
5-HT
Glu
Cannabino
transmitte Acetylcholin Norepinephri
GABA
Opioids
Histamine
Dopamine
Serotonin
Glutamate
ids
r:
e
ne
↓Heart rate
↑Secretions
(sweat,
Effects:
saliva)
↑Memory
↑Muscle
contractions
↑Heart rate
↑Alertness
↑Happiness
↓Blood
circulation
↓Pain
↑Alertness
↑Happiness
↓Hunger
↑Sleepiness
↑Wakefuln
The most
↓Anxiety ↑Sleepine
ess
↑Happiness
common
↓Alertness
ss
↑Stomach
↑Fullness
excitatory
↑Hunger
↓Memory ↓Anxiety
acid
↓Pain
neurotransmitt
↓Muscle
↓Pain
↑Itchiness
er
tension
↓Hunger
Amphetami
Amphetamin
ne, cocaine,
e, cocaine,
LSD,
Nicotine,
SNRIs
Alcohol,
psychedelics
muscarine,
(Effexor,
barbiturates
(mushrooms
Chantix,
Cymbalta), Amphetamine,
(phenobarbit
, mescaline),
nerve gases
tricyclic
cocaine,
al),
Morphine,
SSRIs
(VX, Sarin), antidepressan Parkinson's drugs
benzodiazepi heroin,
THC
Drugs that
(Prozac, D-cycloserine,
Alzheimer's ts, MAOIs,
(levodopa,
nes
fentanyl, (marijuana Opiates,
increase
Zoloft),
domoic acid
drugs
Wellbutrin, bromocriptine,
(Valium), hydrocodo , hashish), betahistine
or mimic:
tricyclic
(shellfish)
(Aricept,
LSD,
benztropine),
GHB,
ne
nabilone
antidepressa
Exelon), pseudoephed
MAOIs,
baclofen, (Vicodin)
nts, MAOIs,
physostigmi
rine
Wellbutrin, LSD
neurosteroids
BuSpar,
ne, Tensilon, (Sudafed),
(alphaxolone
triptans
pilocarpine albuterol,
), muscimol
(sumatriptan
pyridostigmi
, for
ne
migraines)
BZ,
Atypical
atropine,
antipsychoti
scopolamine
cs
PCP,
,
(Risperdal,
ketamine,
Propranolol, Antipsychotics
Flumazenil,
Benadryl,
benztropine,
Seroquel), Namenda (for
Drugs that
clonidine,
(Haldol),
bicuculline,
antipsychot
biperiden,
Zofran,
Alzheimer's),
Naloxone, Rimonaba
decrease
phentolamine
reserpine,
bemegride,
ics,
curare,
reserpine, dextromethorp
naltrexone
nt
or block:
, reserpine,
tetrabenazine,
Ro 15-4513,
Tagamet,
Botox,
TPH
han
AMPT
AMPT
phaclofen
Zantac
mecamylami
inhibitors, (Robitussin),
ne, αtryptophan- dizocilpine
bungarotoxi
depleted
n
drink
Disclaimer: Do not use drugs for fun. Take drugs exactly as prescribed by a trustworthy doctor. This chart provides a rough overview,
it is an oversimplification, it has omissions, and it may have blatant inaccuracies due to ongoing scientific debate or the writer's
idiocy.