Psychotropic drugs are drugs that can change mood, perception, and behavior. Combining these drugs with psychotherapy will be handy for treating disorders such as borderline personality disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. Of course, these drugs differ from psychedelic substances that increase sensory perception, thought processes, and energy levels. If you want to know about the effect of psychedelic drugs on the brain and their difference from psychoactive substances and get acquainted with their side effects, stay with us.
What are psychedelics?
Psychotropic medications help control psychological symptoms such as sudden mood swings, explosive anger, hallucinations, delusions, and complications that may interfere with psychotherapy. The patient can focus on developing their coping skills and managing their mental health by controlling these symptoms. These drugs change the balance of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and GABA in the body. These chemical messengers carry messages between organs to regulate their function. In the brain, neurotransmitters help nerves communicate to control mood, concentration, perception, and other parts. Transporters are specific for their target cells.
According to research by the National Institute of Mental Health, depressed patients who used psychoactive drugs made more progress in 2 months than those who did not take the medication throughout their lives.
Uses of psychotropic drugs
Psychotropic drugs work in different ways, but they also have similarities. These drugs change neurotransmitters in the brain to improve the symptoms of various diseases. The doctor prescribes each specific medicine based on the patient’s symptoms, disease severity, age, and other factors. These drugs may be prescribed to treat these conditions:
- depression;
- anxiety;
- sleep disorders;
- schizophrenia;
- Bipolar disorder;
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Types of psychedelics
1. Antidepressant
Antidepressants are psychoactive drugs that treat various mental disorders, including depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and anxiety disorders. Antidepressants are divided into five main groups:
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor ( SSRI ): These drugs are usually the first line of treatment for depression and are combined with psychotherapy. These drugs prevent serotonin (a neurotransmitter that positively affects mood) from being reabsorbed and cause more serotonin to be transported between cells. Citalopram, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, vilazodone and sertaline are from this category.
- Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor ( SNRI ): These drugs increase serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain by inhibiting reuptake and thus treat disorders. Duloxetine, venlafaxine, levomilnacipran, venlafaxine, and milnacipran are included in this group.
- Tricyclic antidepressants ( TCS ): These are older antidepressants and are usually prescribed to people who have not responded well to newer medications. These antidepressants increase serotonin and norepinephrine. Some examples of these drugs are clomipramine, amoxapine, amitriptyline, desipramine, nortriptyline, doxepin, trimipramine, imipramine, and protriptyline.
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors ( MAOI ): selegiline, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine are among these categories.
- Atypical antidepressants: trazodone, vortioxetine, mirtazapine, simplex, and bupropion are some examples of these drugs.
Like all medicines, antidepressants can have side effects that depend on the treatment, and not everyone gets them. Common side effects of these drugs include anxiety, blurred vision, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, bruising, numbness, insomnia, nausea, sexual problems, and weight gain. Their serious complications include suicidal thoughts, allergic reactions, mania, seizures, sodium deficiency, and serotonin syndrome.
2. Antipsychotic drugs
These drugs are used to treat the symptoms of psychosis and fall into two categories: typical and atypical. Atypical antipsychotic drugs were introduced in the 1990s as an alternative to specific medications with fewer side effects. However, if atypical antipsychotic medications do not respond, the doctor may prescribe typical medicines.
The most common atypical antipsychotic drugs are:
- Aripiprazole;
- clozapine;
- paliperidone;
- risperidone;
- quetiapine;
- Olanzapine.
The most common typical antipsychotic drugs are:
- Chlorpromazine;
- loxapine;
- Thiothixin;
- Perphenazine;
- Prochlorperazine;
- flupentixol;
- Thioridazine;
- Fluphenazine;
- Trifluoperazine.
These atypical antipsychotics can cause weight gain and metabolic and sexual problems. Typical antipsychotics have more severe side effects that may include tremors, spasms, muscle stiffness, and loss of control and consciousness. Any of these side effects can remain after treatment and become permanent.
3. Sleeping pills
These types of drugs make you fall asleep and prolong sleep. These drugs include barbiturates, quinazolinones, benzodiazepines, non-benzodiapines, melatonin , antihistamines and antidepressants.
4. Mood stabilizers
Mood stabilizers are commonly used to treat disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, and depression. These drugs treat chemical diseases to control severe mood swings. Some examples of these drugs are:
- Aripiprazole;
- Ziprasidone;
- lurasidone;
- risperidone;
- quetiapine;
- Olanzapine.
5. Triggers
Stimulant drugs increase brain activity to improve alertness and mood. These drugs include common substances such as caffeine and nicotine and illegal substances such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Prescription stimulants affect the central nervous system and autonomic nervous system and enhance the effect of dopamine and norepinephrine. These drugs may affect blood pressure, respiratory function, and euphoria.
In the past, these drugs were used to help with weight loss, but their addictive nature made this method obsolete. Today, these drugs are used primarily to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sleep attacks ( narcolepsy ). Common medications in this category include:
- Ritalin (methylphenidate);
- Adderall (dextroamphetamine);
- Dexdrine (dextroamphetamine).
Side effects of psychotropic drugs
All types of psychoactive drugs have different possible side effects, and we will examine each one below.
1. Side effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI)
Some of the side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are:
- nausea and vomiting;
- dizziness;
- anxiety and confusion;
- blurred vision;
- decreased sexual desire ;
- sexual satisfaction disorder;
- erectile dysfunction
2. Side effects of selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors may cause these side effects:
- Headache;
- nausea and vomiting;
- high blood pressure ;
- Excessive sweating.
3. Side effects of tricyclic antidepressants
Some side effects of tricyclic antidepressants include:
- constipation;
- dizziness;
- Drowsiness;
- Weight Gain;
- dry mouth;
- blurred vision
4. Side effects of benzodiazepines
If a person takes this drug with narcotics or other central nervous system depressants, the risk of overdose increases. Side effects of benzodiazepines include:
- contusion
- dizziness;
- memory problems;
- loss of balance;
- lowering blood pressure;
- convulsions
5. Side effects of antipsychotic drugs
These drugs increase the risk of death in older adults with psychotic dementia. Some side effects of antipsychotic medications include:
- High probability of stroke, cardiac arrest, and other heart diseases.
- dryness
- shaking
- Movement problems.
6. Side effects of stimulants
Stimulants cause dependence, which may lead to addiction. Some side effects of stimulant drugs include:
- irregular heartbeat;
- increased blood pressure;
- increase in heart rate.
What are psychotropic substances?
Psychedelic substances or pills are a group of substances that enhance the perception of the senses, the way of thinking, and the level of energy. These substances are even used to create spiritual experiences. Some people call them hallucinogens and usually use them for fun. People smoke, ingest, or brew psychedelics as tea. The use of hallucinogens in psychotherapy dates back to the 1960s but has recently been discontinued for various reasons. Of course, experimental psychoactive substances are used to treat complications such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress syndrome.
All kinds of psychoactive substances
1. acid (LSD)
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a chemical hallucinogen from ergot (a mold that grows on buckwheat). “Acid” was widely used until the 1960s but was outlawed then. Of course, this substance is still used illegally.
2. Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
This substance is one of the natural and herbal psychoactive substances found in the trunks and seeds of some South and Central American trees. The effects of DMT are much shorter than other psychoactive substances and usually last about 1 hour.
3. mescaline
Mescaline is another natural psychoactive substance found in some types of cacti (the most famous of which is the peyote cactus). The effects of mescaline are similar to LSD, and this substance is also considered illegal.
4. Ololiuqui
This substance is also a natural psychoactive substance found in the core of the lotus flower, which grows in Central and South America. This substance is not illegal in America and is used as a herbal psychoactive substance.
5. Psilocybin
Psilocybin, or Magic Mushroom, is a natural hallucinogen in some mushrooms. Of course, this substance may be dangerous or even fatal due to the toxicity of some types of mushrooms.
6. ecstasy
Ecstasy, MDMA, or M psychedelic pills are less classified as psychedelics because their hallucinogenic effects are less obvious and more mood-enhancing and stimulating. Of course, ecstasy can also cause hallucinations and delusions, and it may also cause side effects due to increased temperature, dehydration, and water intoxication.
Effects of psychoactive substances
Psychedelic substances can have different psychoactive effects depending on the individual. Factors such as dose, environment, and personality play an essential role in the impact of psychoactive substances. The results of these substances include:
- Changing the perception of time;
- difficult communication with others;
- Hallucinations such as various sensory hallucinations (hearing sounds and seeing images that are not real);
- Clearer awareness and understanding;
- increased energy;
- Losing the ability to think logically;
- experience combining the senses (such as seeing sounds);
- nausea;
- spiritual experiences;
- Precise knowledge of sensory messages.
LSD, peyote, and DMT may increase the heart rate in the short term. Also, LSD and peyote raise body temperature. Acid can also cause dizziness, drowsiness, increased blood pressure, loss of appetite, dry mouth, sweating, numbness, weakness, tremors, and thoughtless behavior.
Psilocybin may cause a feeling of relaxation or introversion, but with its use, there is a possibility of causing anxiety, paranoia, and even panic. Side effects of peyote include uncoordinated movements, excessive sweating, and redness. DMT can cause body/environment confusion. The impact of Ololiuko is similar to LSD, but this substance has unpleasant side effects such as nausea, vomiting, headache, high blood pressure, and drowsiness.
final word
Psychotropic drugs treat some mental disorders and may have side effects in addition to their beneficial uses. Psychotropic substances are illegal, often used recreationally, and may have dangerous side effects. The use of legal psychotropic drugs for the effective treatment of mental illnesses is only helpful with a doctor’s prescription and psychotherapy, and their spontaneous or illegal use may have irreversible consequences.
Warning! This article is only for educational purposes; to use it, it is necessary to consult a doctor or specialist.
