Ketamine (special K, K, vitamin K…)
o Action: A dissociative and hallucinogenic anesthetic. NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonist.
o Source: Synthetic
o Legality: Controlled substance approved by the FDA for anesthesia.
o ROA (route of administration): Usually IV, also available as a nasal spray.
o Uses: Mainly used as an anesthetic, pain reliever and sedative.
o Risks: Can have a wide variety of short term and long-term side effects such as amnesia and muscle tremors. Do not use in combination with other depressants such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. Long term use can cause addiction.
o Therapeutic Use: Resistant or severe depression, PTSD, mood disorders.
o Dosage: Slow IV infusion given by a medical professional. Dosage varies by use, response and body weight.
o What’s it like? Trance like state, dissociation from the body, relaxing, visions like dreams
Phencyclidine- PCP (angel dust)
o Action: Hallucinogen and dissociative, NMDA receptor antagonist and glutamate antagonist. More potent than ketamine.
o Source: Synthesized to be an anesthetic similar to ketamine but had too many neural effects for use.
o Legality: Illicit drug in the US
o ROA: Oral, IV, snorted or smoked
o Uses: Can alter mood states unpredictably. Often leads to detachment and numbness.
o Risks: Convulsions, neurotoxicity, violence, and shallow breathing. Nausea, vomiting and drooling can occur. Can cause addiction and tolerance. Overdose at large doses >20 mg is possible as is brain damage. Do not use in combination with other depressants such as alcohol or benzodiazepines.
o Therapeutic use: None designated.
o Dosage: 5-10 mg. Effects can last from 6-24 hours and can linger on for 48 hours.
o What’s it like? Dissociation from the body, hallucinations, aggressive behavior, paranoia, psychosis. Very unpredictable.
Psilocybin (magic mushrooms, shrooms…)
o Actions: Hallucinogenic serotonin agonist
o Source: Fungi
o Legality: Illegal in the US but decriminalized in some states. The spores and grow kits are not illegal. Legal or decriminalized in many countries.
o ROA: Ate or brewed into tea.
o Uses: Pleasant psychedelic experiences that affect your connections to others and the world.
o Risks: Nausea, vomiting and panic attacks. Do not mix with alcohol or other depressants. Serotonin syndrome can occur if used in conjunction with anti-depressants such as SSRI’s (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) or other triptans (some migraine medications). Can lead to high blood pressure, headaches, shivering and diarrhea. Severe symptoms can include muscle rigidity, fever, seizures and death if not treated.
o Therapeutic uses: Could be approved by the FDA in 2021 under breakthrough therapy status for depression (most notably) and potentially OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), addiction, and cluster headaches.
o Dosage: Dried shrooms low dose (0.5-2 g), moderate dose (2-3.5 g), high dose (3.5-5 g). Trips often last 4-6 hours but can be up to 12 hours.
o What’s it like? Can cause euphoria, relaxation and drowsiness. Visual and sensory distortions as well as altered time perception are common. Altered emotional states also can occur.
N,N-dimethyltryptamine- DMT (businessman’s trip)
o Action: Hallucinogenic and euphoric. Not effective orally without an MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor). Binds to serotonin receptors.
o Source: Many plant sources ex: Ayahuasca
o Legality: Illegal in most countries but allowed in certain religious ceremonies.
o ROA: Smoked, snorted, more easily brewed into a tea or drink
o Uses: Powerful dissociative psychedelic for “spiritual” experiences.
o Risks: Vomiting is common. High doses can lead to seizures, loss of muscle control or respiratory arrest. Can lead to persistent hallucinations. Don’t mix with other depressants. Serotonin syndrome (see above)
o Therapeutic use: Depression and other psychological disorders.
o Dosage: 25-40 mg injected or snorted. Ayahuasca brews often last 4-6 hours. Dosages can vary wildly and are hard to control without experience in preparation.
o What’s it like? It can cause euphoria and altered sense of time. Visual and sensory distortions are common. Fear and anxiety are also common. Experiences vary by dose.
Lysergic acid diethylamide- LSD (acid, blotter)
o Action: Hallucinogenic serotonin receptor agonist.
o Source: Synthetic precursor is derived from ergot fungus.
o Legality: Illegal in the US as are its precursors.
o ROA: Paper tabs, gelatin, tablets
o Uses: Pleasant psychedelic trips and out of body experiences.
o Risks: Paranoia, hallucinogenic flashbacks (after use is stopped), tremors, seizures. Serotonin syndrome (see above).
o Therapeutic effect: In clinical trials for major depressive disorder. Under investigation for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), anxiety and drug-dependency.
o Dosage: Can be felt with as little as 25 μg. Dosages range from 40-500 μg. Mid-range dose is ~200 μg. LSD is VERY potent compared to other drugs. Trips last a long time, could be 12+ hours based on the dose.
o What’s it like? Altered thoughts, feelings and awareness of surroundings. Hallucinations and increased body temperature occur. Euphoria, decreased inhibitions and mental clarity are common. Empathy and increased sensory experiences.
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine- MDMA (ecstasy, E, X, molly)
o Action: Hallucinogenic stimulant that increases levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Monoamine transporter substrate.
o Source: Synthetic drug
o Legality: Illegal in most countries
o ROA: Oral
o Uses: Psychedelic with an increase in energy, pleasure and empathy. Common in rave culture.
o Risks: Can cause addiction and overdoses. Use can lead to death due to dehydration, and increased sweating. Do not use with alcohol or caffeine (which increase dehydration). Serotonin syndrome (see above). Withdrawal symptoms from serotonin depletion are common.
o Therapeutic use: Potential for treatment of PTSD in clinical trials for approval set for 2021. It could be useful for anxiety, depression or addiction treatment.
o Dosage: 75-150 mg oral dose lasts 2-3 hours.
o What’s it like? Euphoria, self-confidence, increased sociability. Relaxation, increased sexuality and empathy feelings. Increased body temperature.
2C-B (erox)
o Action: Some interaction with the serotonin receptors but has also been shown to increase dopamine.
o Source: Synthetic
o Legality: Illegal in the US
o ROA: Snorted, swallowed or smoked
o Uses: Described like a mix of a serotonin receptor agonist psychedelic (like LSD) and MDMA.
o Risks: Limited information available. Jitters, GI issues, headaches may occur. Can lead to addiction.
o Dosage: 15-25 mg. Lasts 4-7 hours.
o What’s it like? Waves of visual hallucinations and giggling are reported. Limited anecdotal experiences.
Mescaline (Big chief, peyote, buttons)
o Action: Hallucinogenic serotonin receptor agonist.
o Source: Peyote cactus or synthetic
o Legality: Illegal in the US but allowed for certain religious ceremonies.
o ROA: Oral, brewed into tea, or swallowed
o Uses: Psychedelic used in “spiritual” ceremonies.
o Risks: Serotonin syndrome (see above). Can cause rapid heartbeat, tremors, and psychosis.
o Therapeutic use: Potential for treatment of depression and addictions.
o Dosage: 0.3 to 0.5 g (about 5 g of dried peyote) and lasts about 12 hours.
o What’s it like? Altered sense of time and self-awareness. Described as a dream-like state. Intense color visualizations and other visual hallucinations are common.
Salvia
o Action: κ-opioid receptor agonist
o Source: Plant Salvia divinorum
o Legality: Legal in some states in the US
o ROA: Chewing, smoking, tincture administered sublingually or brewing tea from the leaves.
o Uses: Dissociative psychedelic that is different from other hallucinogens. Rapid but short-lived effects.
o Therapeutic uses: Analgesic and anti-diarrheal effects. Potential for drug addiction treatment. spasmodic in the gut.
o Risks: Nausea, dizziness, irregular heart rate, loss of coordination, panic attack, sleep disturbance. Very little toxicity risk
o Dosage: 0.25-1 g dried leaves smoked or ~ 5 Leaves chewed. Lasts ~10 minutes from smoking or 1-2 hours from chewing.
o What’s it like? Lower dosages have dissociative and analgesic properties, giggling, and a high feeling. Higher dosages can lead to intense trips, visual distortions, and “bad” trips but still short lived.
https://www.drugs.com/
https://www.healthline.com/
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