Therapeutic Usefulness of Hallucinogenic Drugs as a Function of their Chemical Structure
Pharmacopsychiatry January 1, 1975 DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1094457 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractLSD combines structural features of mescaline (a phenylethylamine) and psilocybin (a tryptamine and serotonin analog). Naloxone, which blocks LSD-like side effects of cyclazocine, also blocks effects of LSD, and cross-tolerance may exist between LSD and cyclazocine but not between mescaline and psilocybin. Although LSD binds subcortically, its effect on regional brain perfusion and function is primarily cortical; psilocybin's perfusion shifts are confined to subcortical regions, suggesting other phenylethylamines like mescaline may selectively affect cortical activity.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or pharmacological analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | LSD Mescaline Psilocybin Serotonin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Tryptamine |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key finding | LSD combines phenylethylamine and tryptamine structures, naloxone blocks LSD effects, and LSD's cortical perfusion effects differ from psilocybin's subcortical effects. |
Abstract
D-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) displays (1) the phenylethylamine pattern present in mescaline, cyclazocine and catecholamines and (2) the 4-substituted tryptamine structure of psilocybin which is a serotonin analog. Hence (a) Naloxone--a blocker of the LSD-like side effects of cyclazocine--should (and does) block effects of LSD, and (b) cross-tolerance may be present between LSD and cyclazocine but not between mescaline and psilocybin. Even though LSD binds subcortically, its effect on regional perfusion of the brain and, presumably, function is primarily cortical and, since the perfusion shifts evoked by psilocybin are confined to subcortical regions, we assume that other compounds with the phenylethylamine structure such as mescaline, also may selectively affect cortical activity.