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