Neurotransmitters and Drugs Chart

3/8/13 Neurotransmitters and Drugs Chart

ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/SP/SP.236/S09/lecturenotes/drugchart.htm 1/6

MedLinks is sponsored and supportedby the Center for Health Promotion

and Wellness at MIT Medical.

Disclaimer: Do not misuse drugs. Do not use drugs for fun. Take drugs exactly as prescribed by a trustworthy doctor, anddo not fear necessary prescription drugs because of terrible side effects on this chart (which, by the way, may beinapplicable or extremely rare in your case and have been considered by your doctor). This chart provides a rough overviewof some common recreational drugs. This chart is an oversimplification, it has omissions, and it may have blatantinaccuracies due to ongoing scientific debate or the writer's ignorance. Important note: All of these drugs are dangerous,but none of these drugs is The Devil in Powdered Form. Every one of these drugs has been used with no visible detrimentaleffect by some lucky people, but every one of these drugs could also destroy your life. Why would you take the risk?

Chart compiled by Zak Fallows

Please ask questions, make comments, point out errors, and give suggestions by sending email [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]



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 atbenzodiazepine site onthe GABA-A receptor

Calm, relaxedmuscles, sleepy

Drowsiness, falls,impaired

coordination,impaired memory,

dizziness

Anxiety,insomnia,

epilepsy, manyother diseases

Benzodiazepineagonists

Zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone(Lunesta), zopiclone, zaleplon (Sonata)

Same as above

Mainly just sleepy,sometimes

hallucinations andsleep-like states

Same asbenzodiazepines

Insomnia

BarbituratesPhenobarbital, pentobarbital, thiopental

(sodium pentothal, sodium amytal),secobarbital

Agonist at barbituratesite on the GABA-A

receptor

Calm, euphoric,sleepy

Same asbenzodiazepines, plus

breathingsuppressed, terriblewithdrawal, death

Epilepsy, otherdiseases in thepast and morerarely today

Alcohol

Opens BK potassiumchannels

(hyperpolarizingneurons), closes SK

potassium channels inreward center of brain(causing DA release),probably other effects

Calm, euphoric, lossof inhibitions

(facilitates socializing,talking, singing, sex),

relaxed


nausea, vomiting,breathing

suppressed, terriblewithdrawal (including

psychosis andseizures), braindamage, variousdiseases, death

Alcoholwithdrawal

Gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB), GBL, 1,4-butanediol

Agonist at GHBreceptor (may

desensitize it or inhibitGABA), agonist atGABA-B receptor

Euphoric, energetic,sleepy, calm (mix of

stimulant andsedative effects)


nausea, vomiting,breathing

suppressed,psychosis, seizures,

death

Narcolepsy(improves

cataplexy, notsimply a sleep

aid)

Amphetamine (Adderall),methamphetamine (Desoxyn),

methylphenidate (Ritalin),phentermine, 4-methylaminorex,

phenmetrazine (Preludin),methcathinone, fenfluramine

(Pondimin, Fen-Phen), dexfenfluramine(Redux), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed),ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine (old

Increase release andinhibit reuptake of 5-

HT, DA, and NE.

Euphoric, energetic,able to work,

concentrate, stayawake. Reduces

appetite.

Anxiety, paranoia,psychosis, high blood

pressure, heartattack, stroke, braindamage when used

excessively

ADHD,narcolepsy,

obesity, rarelydepression



Stimulants

AmphetaminesTriaminic), phenylephrine (Sudafed PE)

MDMA (ecstasy), MDA, MDEALike above, but

releases a lot more 5-HT

Euphoric, energetic,deep and unusual

thoughts, perceivedinspiration and

novelty, enhancessex, dancing, music,

art, touch and senses.Contentment.

Connection to otherpeople, strong

emotions.

Same asamphetamine, plus

brain damage,confusion, agitation,frequently death due

to hyperthermia,heart attack, waterintoxication, andother problems.

None

Cocaine

Inhibits 5-HT, NE, andDA reuptake, blocks

voltage-gated sodiumchannels

Same asamphetamine (above)

Same asamphetamine, plus aworse risk of heart

attack

Local anesthesiaand bleeding

control,diagnostic tests

Narcotics

Full opioidagonists

Morphine, heroin (diacetylmorphine),hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone

(Percocet, Oxycontin), fentanyl,Demerol, codeine, opium,hydromorphone (Dilaudid),

oxymorphone (Opana), methadone

Activate all opioidreceptors completely.Reduce NE release.

Euphoric, pain relief,calm, relaxed, sleepy,appetite suppression

Nausea, constipation,vomiting, drowsiness,breathing suppressed

Pain relief,rarely

depression anddiarrhea

Partial, selective,or mixed opioid

agonists

Buprenorphine (Suboxone),pentazocine, nalbuphine, tramadol

(Ultram), tifluadom

Only activate certainsubtypes of opioid

receptors, and/or donot activate them fully,and/or block certain

subtypes.

Pain relief, not quiteas euphoric orrelaxing as full

agonists (above)

Nausea, constipation,vomiting, drowsiness

Pain relief,rarely

depression,opioid addiction

CannabisActive ingredient is mostly tetrahydrocannabinol, some

other active ingredients like cannabidiol in smallerquantities

Agonist at cannabinoidreceptors

Unusual thoughts andfeelings, sometimescalm, happy, hungry,

enhancedappreciation of art

Memory, thinking,reflexes, and

coordination areimpaired. Maycontribute to

psychosis in the longterm.

Might relievenausea,

vomiting, andneuropathicpain. Pills

already legal,other forms

underinvestigation.

Phenethylamines

Mescaline (peyote cactus), 2C-seriesdrugs (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). Thisreceptor is mostly

Feeling of novelty,inspiration,

reverence. Fast,disordered thoughts,trances. Perceptual

Anxiety, insomnia,paranoia, temporary

psychosis. May

None



Psychedelics Tryptamines

Psilocybin and psilocin (both inmushrooms), bufotenin (in toads), DMT(in plants), 5-MeO-DMT (in plants), 5-

MeO-DiPT, DET, AMT, 4-HO-DiPT

excitatory, but it isinhibitory in certainparts of the brain

dealing withperception.

anomalies: patternsmove, colors brighter,

seeing sounds,smelling colors. Crazy

ideas and beliefs.

contribute topsychosis in the long

term, or cause"flashbacks" (HPPD).Some cause nausea,

increased bodytemperature,

tremors.

Psilocybin andLSD have beentested for thetreatment of

clusterheadaches

ErgolinesLysergic acid diethylamine (LSD), LSA

(ergine, in plants)

Same as above, plusagonism at other 5-

HT, DA, and NEreceptors.

Same as above, plusother effects,

depends of frequencyof use and dose.

Other ergolinesare used for

many diseasesbut are notpsychedelic.

Dissociativeanesthetics

Phencyclidine (PCP), dextromethorphan, ketamineNMDA (glutamate

receptor) antagonists

Feeling of distancefrom reality and body,

numbing ofsensations and pain.

Convincing andabsorbing

hallucinations.

Nausea, vomiting,coma, violence,

extreme confusion,temporary psychosis.

PCP causes braindamage.

Anesthesia. Arelated drug,memantine, is

used inAlzheimer'sdisease, and

these could beused in stroke

sufferers.

DeliriantsScopolamine and atropine (in plants), diphenhydramine

(Benadryl), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)Muscarinic (ACh

receptor) antagonists

Loss of memory,convincing and

absorbinghallucinations.

Extreme confusion,temporary psychosis,

hot, dry skin, drymouth, huge pupils,fast heartbeat, death

Many legitimateuses

Inhalants

Diethyl ether (starter fluid), toluene, gasoline, glue,paint, xenon, freon, halothane, sevoflurane

Unknown, probablymultiple mechanisms

Calm, relaxed,euphoric, pain relief,

hallucinations,strange sensations(different inhalants

cause different effectsfrom this list)

Many diseases,death, nausea,

vomiting, accidentalasphyxiation, falls,

varies depending onparticular drug

Generalanesthesia

Nitrous oxideUnknown, but opioid

pathways arenecessary

Calm, euphoric, painrelief, memory loss,

unconsciousnessSimilar to above

General orpartial

anesthesia

Nitrites Isoamyl nitrite, isobutyl nitriteStimulate NO system

(NO is aneurotransmitter)

"Head rush", musclerelaxation, dizziness

Dangerously lowblood pressure,

faintingHeart conditions

Salvinorin A (salvia divinorum)Selective agonist of

the kappa opioidreceptor

Convincing, absorbinghallucinations,

visionary states, painrelief

Dysphoria, panic,headache, inability totalk, falls, sweating,persisting anxiety

Theoreticallysimilar to pain

relievers(pentazocine)



Other

Muscimol (amanita muscaria) GABA-A agonistVaguely like ahallucinogen

Nausea, other sideeffects

Useful inresearch

Nicotine (tobacco)Nicotinic acetylcholine

receptor agonistSee Wikipedia, PubMed, Google

Caffeine (coffee, tea, other plants)

Adenosine receptorantagonist, inhibitssome PDE enzymescausing increased

cAMP signaling

Alertness,wakefullness, energy,appetite suppression,

headache relief

Insomnia, anxiety,headaches on

withdrawal, diuresisHeadaches

Methaqualone (Quaalude, Sopor), thalidomide,meprobamate (Miltown), carisoprodol (Soma),

glutethimide, chloral hydrate (knockout drops, Micky),ethchlorvynol (Placidyl), methyprylon, primidone

Various mechanisms,mostly related toGABA, similar to

barbiturates

Depending on thedrug: Calm, sleepy,euphoric, relaxed

muscles, pain relief,nausea relief

Falls, poorcoordination and

memory, coma, otherside effects vary from

drug to drug

Anxiety,depression,

insomnia, pain,anesthesia,

epilepsy, musclerelaxation,

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 anoversimplification, it has omissions, and it may have blatant inaccuracies due to ongoing scientific debate or the writer's idiocy.



Neuro-transmitter:

AChAcetylcholine

NENorepinephrine

DADopamine

5-HTSerotonin

GluGlutamate

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 mostcommonexcitatory

neurotransmitter

↑Sleepiness↓Anxiety↓Alertness↓Memory

↓Muscle tension

↑Sleepiness↓Anxiety↓Pain

↑Hunger

↑Wakefulness↑Stomach acid↑Itchiness↓Hunger

Drugs thatincrease or

mimic:

Nicotine,muscarine,

Chantix, nervegases (VX,

Sarin),Alzheimer's

drugs (Aricept,Exelon),

physostigmine,Tensilon,

pilocarpine

Amphetamine,cocaine, SNRIs

(Effexor,Cymbalta),

tricyclicantidepressants,

MAOIs,Wellbutrin, LSD,pseudoephedrine

(Sudafed),albuterol,

pyridostigmine

Amphetamine,cocaine,

Parkinson'sdrugs

(levodopa,bromocriptine,benztropine),

MAOIs,Wellbutrin,

LSD

Amphetamine,cocaine, LSD,psychedelics(mushrooms,mescaline),

SSRIs (Prozac,Zoloft), tricyclicantidepressants,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 thatdecrease or

block:

BZ, atropine,scopolamine,benztropine,biperiden,

curare, Botox,mecamylamine,α-bungarotoxin

Propranolol,clonidine,

phentolamine,reserpine, AMPT

Antipsychotics(Haldol),

reserpine,tetrabenazine,

AMPT

Atypicalantipsychotics

(Risperdal,Seroquel),

Zofran,reserpine, TPH

inhibitors,tryptophan-

depleted drink

PCP, ketamine,Namenda (forAlzheimer's),

dextromethorphan(Robitussin),dizocilpine

Flumazenil,bicuculline,

bemegride, Ro15-4513,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 anoversimplification, it has omissions, and it may have blatant inaccuracies due to ongoing scientific debate or the writer's idiocy.

Documents

Neurotransmitters and Drugs Chart