Psychedelic drug

The psychedelic (from the Greek words for "mind," ψυχη psyche, and "manifest," δηλειν delein) drugs are classified as those whose primary action is that of enhancing or amplifying the thought processes of the brain. This is thought to result from the disabling of filters which block or suppress signals related to mundane functions from reaching the conscious mind. These signals are presumed to originate in several other functions of the brain, including but not limited to the senses, emotions, memories and the unconscious (or subconscious) mind. This effect is sometimes referred to as mind expanding, or consciousness expanding as your conscious mind becomes aware of (or sometimes assaulted by) things normally inaccessible to it. At high levels this can overwhelm the sense of self and can result in a dissociative state.

Pharmacological classes of psychedelics, and their general subjective effects

Entries marked with a # are naturally occurring.

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Classic Psychedelics (serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor agonists)

• Indoles (Although many consider all of these to be tryptamines)
• Tryptamines
• Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) #
• 5-MeO-DMT #
• Bufotenine # (the psychedelic activity of this chemical is doubtful, although research is limited and inconsistent, but the DEA has made it illegal regardless)
• Alphamethyltryptamine (AMT)
• 5-MeO-AMT
• Dipropyltryptamine (DPT)
• DIPT
• 5-MeO-DIPT
• Psilocybin # and Psilocin #, the active constituents of magic mushrooms (Psilocybe spec.)
• 4-HO-DIPT
• Lysergamides
• LSD, acid
• Ergine (LSA) #, from Morning glory and Hawaiian baby woodrose seeds
• Ergonovine #
• Ibogoids
• Ibogaine
• Voacangine
• Ibogaine # (also an NMDA receptor antagonist with dissociative effects)
• beta-Carbolines, the active alkaloids in harmala and ayahuasca, powerful MAOIs.
• Harmaline #
• Harmine #
• Phenethylamines
• Substituted phenethylamines
• Mescaline #, the active constituent of certain cacti, such as peyote and San Pedro
• 2C-B
• 2C-C
• 2C-I
• 2C-E
• 2C-T-2
• 2C-T-4
• 2C-T-7
• 2C-T-21
• Substituted amphetamines (alpha-methyl-phenethylamines)
• DOM, also known as STP
• DOB
• DOI
• Br-DragonFLY
• TMA-2
• TMA-6

Many of the tryptamines and phenethylamines cause remarkably similar effects, despite their different chemical structure. However, most users report that the two families have subjectively different qualities in the "feel" of the experience which are difficult to describe. At lower doses, these include sensory distortions such as the warping of surfaces, shape suggestibility, and color variations. Users often report intense colors that they have not previously experienced, and repetitive geometric shapes are common. Higher doses often cause intense and fundamental distortions of sensory perception such as synaesthesia or the experience of additional spatial, temporal, or time dimensions. Some compounds, such as 2C-B, have extremely tight "dose curves," meaning the difference between a non-event and an overwhelming disconnection from reality can be very slight. There can be very real differences, however, such as 5-MeO-DMT which rarely produces the visual effects typical of other psychedelics. Some drugs, such as the ß-carbolines, produce very different effects from the more standard types of psychedelics.

Related Topics:
Tryptamine - Phenethylamine - Synaesthesia - 2C-B

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Empathogens and/or Entactogens (serotonin releasers)

• Substituted amphetamines (phenethylamine family)
• MDMA, Ecstasy
• MDA
• MBDB
• MDEA

The primary effects of the empathogens include openness, euphoria, empathy, love, and heightened self-awareness. Its initial adoption by the dance club sub-culture is probably due to the enhancement of the overall social and musical experience.

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Note that MDMA is not considered to be a traditional psychedelic - as the word is defined above, it is deffinitely not.

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