A qualitative descriptive analysis of effects of psychedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines

Abstract

Objective: The number of novel psychedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines has continued to increase, but little academic research has focused on the effects of these substances. We sought to determine and compare the subjective effects of various substances. Methods:We conducted in-depth interviews with 39 adults (75.4% male and 87.2% White) who reported experience using psychedelic phenethylamines and/or tryptamines. Participants described the effects of compounds they have used. We examined the subjective drug effects in a qualitative descriptive manner.Results: Participants reported on the use of 36 compounds. The majority (64.1%) reported the use of 2C series drugs, with 2C-B use being most prevalent; 38.5% reported the use of NBOMe, and 25.6% reported the use of DOx. With regard to tryptamines, 46.2% reported use, and 4-AcO-DMT was the most prevalent drug used in this class. 2C-B was often described as being more favorable than other 2C series compounds with the effects described as being comparable with MDMA and LSD. NBOMe effects were generally described in an unfavorable manner, and the effects of DOx were often described as lasting too long (12-36 hr). The effects of 4-AcO-DMT were often described as mimicking psilocybin.Conclusion: Knowing the effects of various compounds can inform education, prevention, and harm reduction efforts regarding the use of these drugs. K E Y W O R D Sdrug effects, new psychoactive substances, phenethylamines, psychedelics, tryptamines

Lifetime use of psychedelics is associated with better mental health indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…The molecular structure of classic psychedelics resembles that of serotonin (an endogenous neurotransmitter), which enables their pharmacological action as 2A serotonin receptors (5-HT 2A ) agonists (Nichols, 2016). At the phenomenological, cognitive and behavioral levels, 5-HT 2A agonism is linked to a wide range of effects that alter the conscious experience of the user, such as modifications in the perception of the environment and the self, sedation, stimulation, as well as changes in mood, prosocial behavior, cognitive flexibility, and creativity, among others (Jungaberle et al, 2018;Nichols, 2016;Palamar & Acosta, 2020;Preller & Vollwenweider, 2016;Schmid et al, 2015). These effects attracted the attention of mainstream science during the 1950s, leading to several investigations in healthy and clinical populations (Dyck & Farrell, 2018).…”

Safer Tripping: Serotonergic Psychedelics and Drug Checking. Submission and Detection Rates, Potential Harms, and Challenges for Drug Analysis

“…Acute adverse psychological effects include dysphoria, panic, confusion, hallucinations, paranoid thought, aggression, and anxiety [38,64]. These symptoms could be especially problematic by using long-acting phenethylamine psychedelics like DOB and DOI, with effects lasting for up to 36 h [81], or in cases of unintended consumption of SPs due to mis-sold non-psychedelic samples. Of concern are recent incidences of LSD poisonings following insufflation of a white powder mis-sold as cocaine [82].…”

Beyond ecstasy: Alternative entactogens to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine with potential applications in psychotherapy

“…In summary, potential alternatives were excluded if they met one or more of the following exclusion criteria: Based on these criteria, the classic psychostimulants like amphetamine, methamphetamine or methylphenidate were excluded, even though they share some of the subjective sequalae of MDMA (Bershad et al, 2016;Oberlender and Nichols, 1988), because they do not potently increase synaptic availability of 5-HT (Liechti, 2015;Rothman et al, 2001;Simmler et al, 2013). While an argument can be made that compounds like 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B) or N,N-diisopropyl-5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeO-DiPT) are also entactogenic, and they have been described as such in the past (González et al, 2015;Palamar and Acosta, 2020;Schifano et al, 2019), they were also excluded due to their high affinity as agonists at post-synaptic 5-HT 2 and 5-HT 1A receptors (Fantegrossi et al, 2006;Nugteren-van Lonkhuyzen et al, 2015;Taylor et al, 1986;Villalobos et al, 2004), which would indicate that their effects also include a marked psychedelic component. While it is certainly possible that these two compounds, and others like them, may be useful for psychotherapy, their effects are -strictly speaking -not MDMA-like, for which reason they were excluded from this review.…”