Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary mental states and a perceived "expansion of consciousness". Also referred to as classic hallucinogens or serotonergic hallucinogens, the term psychedelic is sometimes used more broadly to include various types of hallucinogens, such as those which are atypical or adjacent to psychedelia like salvia and MDMA, respectively.
3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), sometimes referred to as “sass,” is an empathogen-entactogen, stimulant, and psychedelic drug of the amphetamine family that is encountered mainly as a recreational drug. In its pharmacology, MDA is a serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA). In most countries, the drug is a controlled substance and its possession and sale are illegal.
α-Ethyltryptamine, also known as etryptamine, is an entactogen and stimulant drug of the tryptamine family. It was originally developed and marketed as an antidepressant under the brand name Monase by Upjohn in the 1960s before being withdrawn due to toxicity.
Amides of lysergic acid are collectively known as lysergamides, and include a number of compounds with potent agonist and/or antagonist activity at various serotonin and dopamine receptors. Lysergamides contain an embedded tryptamine structure, and as a result can produce similar, often psychedelic, effects to those of the true tryptamines.
N-Methyltryptamine (NMT), also known as monomethyltryptamine, is a chemical compound of the tryptamine family and a naturally occurring compound found in the human body and certain plants.
The 5-HT2A receptor is a subtype of the 5-HT2 receptor that belongs to the serotonin receptor family and is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). The 5-HT2A receptor is a cell surface receptor, but has several intracellular locations.
Etoperidone, associated with several brand names, is an atypical antidepressant which was developed in the 1970s and either is no longer marketed or was never marketed. It is a phenylpiperazine related to trazodone and nefazodone in chemical structure and is a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI) similarly to them.
Oxypertine, sold under brand names including Equipertine, Forit, Integrin, Lanturil, Lotawin, and Opertil, is an antipsychotic medication used in the treatment of schizophrenia. It was also evaluated for the treatment of anxiety at a dosage of 20 mg per day.
Nemonapride, also previously known as emonapride and sold under the brand name Emilace, is an atypical antipsychotic which is used in the treatment of schizophrenia. It is taken by mouth.
A monoamine releasing agent (MRA), or simply monoamine releaser, is a drug that induces the release of a monoamine neurotransmitter from the presynaptic neuron into the synapse, leading to an increase in the extracellular concentrations of the neurotransmitter. Many drugs induce their effects in the body and/or brain via the release of monoamine neurotransmitters, e.g., trace amines, many substituted amphetamines, and related compounds.
A serotonin–dopamine releasing agent (SDRA) is a type of drug which induces the release of serotonin and dopamine in the body and/or brain.
Tiospirone (BMY-13,859), also sometimes called tiaspirone or tiosperone, is an atypical antipsychotic of the azapirone class. It was investigated as a treatment for schizophrenia in the late 1980s and was found to have an effectiveness equivalent to those of typical antipsychotics in clinical trials but without causing extrapyramidal side effects. However, development was halted and it was not marketed. Perospirone, another azapirone derivative with antipsychotic properties, was synthesized and assayed several years after tiospirone. It was found to be both more potent and more selective in comparison and was commercialized instead.
2,3-Dichlorophenylpiperazine (2,3-DCPP or DCPP) is a chemical compound from the phenylpiperazine family. It is both a precursor in the synthesis of aripiprazole and one of its metabolites. It is unclear whether 2,3-DCPP is pharmacologically active as a serotonin receptor agonist similar to its close analogue 3-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), though it has been shown to act as a partial agonist of the dopamine D2 and D3 receptors.
7,N,N-trimethyltryptamine (7-methyl-DMT, 7-TMT), is a tryptamine derivative which acts as an agonist of 5-HT2 receptors. In animal tests, both 7-TMT and its 5-methoxy derivative 5-MeO-7-TMT produced behavioural responses similar to those of psychedelic drugs such as DMT, but the larger 7-ethyl and 7-bromo derivatives of DMT did not produce psychedelic responses despite having higher 5-HT2 receptor affinity in vitro (cf. DOBU, DOAM). 7-TMT also weakly inhibits reuptake of serotonin but with little effect on dopamine or noradrenaline reuptake.
5-(Nonyloxy)tryptamine is a tryptamine derivative which acts as a selective agonist at the 5-HT1B receptor. Increasing the O-alkoxy chain length in this series gives generally increasing potency and selectivity for 5-HT1B, with highest activity found for the nonyloxy derivative, having a 5-HT1B binding affinity of 1.0 nM, and around 300-fold selectivity over the related 5-HT1A receptor.
5-Chloro-α-methyltryptamine (5-Chloro-αMT), also known as PAL-542, is a tryptamine derivative related to α-methyltryptamine (αMT) and one of only a few known specific serotonin-dopamine releasing agents (SDRAs). It has been investigated in animals as a potential treatment for cocaine dependence. The EC50 values of 5-chloro-αMT in evoking the in vitro release of serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE) in rat synaptosomes were reported as 16 nM, 54 nM, and 3434 nM, with an NE/DA ratio of 63.6 and a DA/5-HT ratio of 3.38, indicating that it is a highly specific and well-balanced SDRA. However, 5-chloro-αMT has also been found to act as a potent full agonist of the 5-HT2A receptor, with an EC50 value of 6.27 nM and an efficacy of 105%. It is likely to act as a potent agonist of other serotonin receptors as well.
Tepirindole (INNTooltip International Nonproprietary Name; developmental code names RU-27592, HR-592) is a tryptamine-related atypical antipsychotic and major tranquilizer which was never marketed. It is similar in structure to tryptamines but is not technically a tryptamine itself and is instead a piperidinyl indole. The drug is said to act on dopamine D2, serotonin 5-HT2, and α1-adrenergic receptors. It is a potent dopamine receptor antagonist but reportedly has little propensity to cause catalepsy and has been said to potentially be useful in treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The drug may also act as a potent serotonin receptor agonist. Tepirindole was first described in the literature by 1979.
Alpertine is a drug described as an antipsychotic, neuroleptic, and tranqulizer which was never marketed.
Milipertine is a drug described as an antipsychotic, neuroleptic, and tranquilizer which was under development for the treatment of schizophrenia but was never marketed.
ortho-Methoxyphenylpiperazine (oMeOPP), also known as 2-methoxyphenylpiperazine (2-MeOPP), is a phenylpiperazine derivative which is known to act as a serotonergic agent. Along with various other phenylpiperazines, like benzylpiperazine (BZP) and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP), oMeOPP has been found in illicit drug samples.
