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​Hallucinogens are psychedelic drugs that can potentially change the way people see, hear, taste, smell or feel, and also affect mood and thought.

Official Name

​Hallucinogens

What is it?

Types of hallucinogens: LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, PCP, cannabis, ecstasy, ketamine, salvia and others.

The term hallucinogen refers to many different drugs, which are often called “psychedelic” drugs. While the effects of these drugs vary widely, all change the way people see, hear, taste, smell or feel, and affect mood and thought. At high doses, all may cause a person to hallucinate, or see, hear or feel things that aren’t really there.

Most of the hallucinogens used in North America belong to one of these six categories:

• indolealkylamines, which includes LSD (d-lysergic acid diethlyamide, a semi-synthetic substance originally derived from “ergot,” a fungus that grows on rye and other grains), LSA (d-lysergic amide, from morning glory seeds), psilocybin and psilocin (from Psilocybe mushrooms) and DMT (dimethyltryptamine, from the bark of the Virola tree, and other sources)
• phenylethylamines, which includes mescaline (found in peyote cactus), and “designer drugs” such as:
  • MDA (methylenedioxyamphetamine)
  • MDMA (ecstasy, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
  • PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine)
  • 2-CB (4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine)
  • STP (2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine)
  • TMA (trimethoxyamphetamine).
• arylcycloalkylamines, such as PCP (phencyclidine) and ketamine
• cannabinoids, especially THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), found in marijuana, hash and hash oil
• anticholinergics, from the plant family Solanaceae, which includes deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) and jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
• the diterpene, salvinorin-A, from the plant Salvia divinorum.

Where does it come from?

Some hallucinogens come from mushrooms (psilocybin), cacti (mescaline) and other plants (cannabis, salvia). Of these, cannabis and psilocybin are almost always used in their natural form. Although LSD is used only in a synthesized form, a related drug, LSA, is found in nature. Other hallucinogens, such as MDMA and ketamine, are created in laboratories.

Who uses it?

Hallucinogens have been used since ancient times in religion, medicine, magic and prophecy. In the 1960s and 70s, hallucinogen use became a symbol of the counter-culture among young people in North America and Europe. In the 1990s, hallucinogen use was linked to the “rave” scene.

A 2007 survey of Ontario students in grades 7 to 12 reported that:

• 3.5 per cent had used ecstasy at least once in the past year
• 1.6 per cent had used LSD at least once in the past year
• 0.7 per cent had used PCP at least once in the past year
• 5. 5 per cent had used other hallucinogens (such as psilocybin and mescaline) at least once in the past year.

A 2004 survey of Canadians (aged 15+) reported that:

• 4.1 per cent had used ecstasy and 11.4 per cent had used LSD, PCP or other hallucinogens at least once in their lifetime
• 1.1 per cent had used ecstasy and 0.7 per cent had used LSD, PCP or other hallucinogens at least once in the past year.

How does it make you feel?

How hallucinogens make you feel depends on:

• how much you use
• how often and how long you use
• your mood, expectation and environment
• your age
• whether you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions
• whether you’ve taken any alcohol or other drugs (illegal, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal).

Hallucinogens cause mostly psychoactive, or mind-altering, effects, which can be mild to intense. These effects vary from drug to drug, from person to person, from one drug-taking episode to the next, and can even change dramatically within one time of use. Effects can range from ecstasy to terror, from mild distortion of the senses to full hallucinations (where people believe that drug-induced visions or other perceptions are real).

Different types of hallucinogens produce different effects; for example:

LSD produces a kaleidoscope of visual patterns and changes perception. People who take LSD usually know that the hallucinations are not real; however, the effects can appear real.

Ecstasy enhances mood and produces feelings of empathy and intimacy.

Ketamine causes an out-of-body feeling, which may be pleasant or terrifying.

Salvia causes intense, short-lived hallucinogenic effects, such as smelling sounds or hearing colours.

How long does the feeling last?

The effects of some hallucinogens, such as LSD, last for hours, while others, such as salvia, last only a short time.

Is it addictive?

Most people who use hallucinogens do so occasionally. Repeated use of hallucinogens such as LSD or ecstasy leads to tolerance, where the drug has reduced or no effect. Sensitivity to the drug returns if the person stops using it for a period of time, and then starts again. Stopping use of hallucinogens does not usually cause symptoms of withdrawal. However, people can develop psychological dependence, in which they feel they need the drug.

Is it dangerous?

Most of these drugs are illegal and unregulated, and may include toxins, or not even contain the drug they are sold as. For example, drugs sold as ecstasy are usually not pure MDMA, and have been found to contain other drugs, such as methamphetamine. Drugs sold as mescaline are almost always something else.

Hallucinogens affect perception and behaviour. Taking them may cause people to become disoriented, have poor judgment and take risks.

Many hallucinogens can have very unpleasant or toxic effects (e. g., jimsonweed, deadly nightshade). Hallucinogenic plants can be mistaken for other toxic or lethal plants, for example, mushrooms.

Although research is scarce, taking hallucinogens during pregnancy may affect the development of the baby, and increase the chance of miscarriage.

What are the long-term effects of using it?

Hallucinogen use may, on rare occasions, result in “flashbacks,” or replays of the drug experience, days, weeks or even years after the drug was taken. Some people who take hallucinogens feel depressed or anxious long after they took the drug.

Copyright © 2004, 2009 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

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Hallucinogens: Commonly Abused And Dangerous Drugs

Hallucinogens, while considered among the least addictive illicit drugs, can be fatally dangerous Psychoactive substances with a wide potential for abuse.

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Though Hallucinogens have a history of medicinal and spiritual use, today they are commonly abused for their Psychoactive effects. These substances, also known as Dissociatives, make up a diverse group of drugs that, though not chemically similar in most cases, produce similar alterations in perception, feeling, and experiences.

How Hallucinogens Work

The different plants and chemical compounds that make up the group of drugs known as Hallucinogens alter normal brain function by disrupting communication between chemical systems in the brain and spinal cord. Hallucinogens also hinder the release of serotonin (the chemical responsible for regulating mood, sleep, sensory perception, body temperature, sex drive, and muscle control). This is why many individuals who use Hallucinogens report increased feelings of euphoria, touch, and sexual pleasure. However, repeated use can train the brain to become dependent on a Hallucinogen for a release of serotonin, instead of the brain producing normal amounts on its own.

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Types Of Hallucinogens

Many Hallucinogens are Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning they have a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in the US. While Hallucinogen addiction and overdose are generally low, individuals may still become dependent on the effects these substances produce.

Some of the most common Hallucinogens include:

PCP

Phencyclidine (PCP) was originally developed in the 1950s as an Anesthetic for surgery. After it was later discovered to be a Dissociative Anesthetic, its medical use was discontinued in the 1960s. It produces an “out-of-body” experience but can also result in serious side effects. PCP can be found in liquid, powder, and white crystal forms and is often added to other illicit substances (e. g., Meth, LSD, and Marijuana) to enhance Psychedelic effects. Other names for PCP include Angel Dust, Hog, Love Boat, and Peace Pill.

LSD

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) is an odorless, colorless substance known for its highly potent Psychedelic effects. Originally used as a therapeutic aid in the 1960s, it has largely been debunked as a clinical therapy aid today. LSD is most commonly abused by individuals in their late teens and early twenties. For the most part, LSD is consumed orally in powder, liquid, or pill form and produces mood-elevating “trips.” Some have reported acute anxiety and depressions after use due to LSD’s effect on the brain’s serotonin levels.

Other names for LSD include:

• Acid
• Blotter Acid
• Dots
• Mellow Yellow
• Window Pane
• Yellow Sunshine

Ketamine

Ketamine is a surgical Dissociative Anesthetic that also produces some Hallucinogenic effects. It is primarily an injectable, used widely by veterinarians, but can also come in powder or pill forms. Because Ketamine is a Sedative and induces immobility, relief from pain, and amnesia, it has also been used as a date rape drug. The onset of effects is quick (often occurring within a few minutes) and the hallucinations it produces last approximately 30 to 60 minutes. Sometimes a “bad trip” happens, leaving someone who is high on Ketamine in a terrifying state referred to as a “K-hole.” Common street names include Kit Kat, Special K, Super Acid, Super K, Vitamin K, and Special La Coke.

Mescaline

Mescaline is a Hallucinogenic compound that is the active ingredient in Peyote, a small, spineless cactus. It is traditionally used by Native Americans in spiritual rites central to the Native American Church. Though it has been suggested to be an effective treatment for depression and alcoholism, it remains a Schedule I substance. Abuse of Mescaline can cause illusions and hallucinations, altered perception of space and time, and altered body image. Peyote and Mescaline are also known as Buttons, Cactus, Mesc, and Peyoto.

Psilocybin

Psilocybin is a chemical compound contained in some Psychedelic Mushrooms native to Mexico, Central America, and the US. The so-called “Magic Mushrooms” are distinguished from the non-magical variety by their long, slender stems and caps with dark gills on the underside. They are generally ingested orally or brewed in tea to reduce the bitter flavor. Psilocybin can produce hallucinations, an inability to differentiate reality from fantasy, panic attacks, and psychosis if consumed in large doses. They are also known as Shrooms.

Bath Salts

Synthetic Cathinones, or “Bath Salts,” are man-made illicit substances known for their Stimulant and Hallucinogenic effects. Chemically, Bath Salts are related to the Khat plant, grown in East Africa and South Arabia. Its makeup varies with each lab that produces it, increasing its potential for fatal use. Bath Salts are usually a white or brown crystal-like powder, packaged with labels like “not for human consumption” to bypass federal regulations. They are sold legally as cheap substitutes for Stimulants like Meth and Cocaine because labs are able to reintroduce slightly-altered versions of the substance in quick succession and dodge law enforcement efforts.

Salvia Divinorum

Salvia Divinorum is a plant with Psychoactive properties that is native to Mexico and Central and South America. Also called Diviner’s Sage, Magic Mint, and Sage Of The Seers, this Hallucinogen distorts time and causes a feeling of flying. Unintended physical effects include dizziness, lack of coordination, chills, and nausea. Salvia Divinorum is legal in some states, decriminalized in others, and an illegal Schedule I substance in many states as well.

DMT

DMT, or Dimethyltryptamine, is a Hallucinogen found in some plants as well as inside the brains, blood, and urine of mammals. Those seeking to experience the effects of the compound commonly use an Amazonian brew called Ayahuasca. DMT can also be smoked, injected, or consumed orally to produce intense hallucinations (including “true” hallucinations, involving total departures from reality) and euphoria. It is a Schedule I drug in the US and is also referred to as Dimitri.

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GHB

Officially known as Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid, this Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressant can be found naturally in human cells. GHB is synthesized for the effects of euphoria, decreased inhibitions, sleepiness, disorientation, loss of coordination, and decreased heart rate it produces. It is sold as a liquid or as a white powder commonly dissolved in a liquid like juice or alcohol. Xyrem is the FDA-approved prescription name, but it is also called Roofies, Easy Lay, Georgia Home Boy, Goop, Scoop, Grievous Bodily Harm, and Liquid Ecstasy.

Effects Of Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens interfere with a normal-functioning brain by prematurely flooding the brain with serotonin (the neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation, sensory perception, sleep cycles, hunger, body temperature, sex drive, and muscle control). This excess of serotonin can cause the body to develop a dependence on the Hallucinogen. The abuse of Hallucinogens can leave the body unable to produce adequate amounts of serotonin on its own.

The short-term effects of Hallucinogens can include:

• Hallucinations
• Fluctuations in heart rate
• Intense feelings and sensory feedback
• Feelings of distorted time
• Dry mouth
• Anxiety or paranoia

The extended abuse of some Hallucinogens may produce a variety of long-term effects, including:

• Speech problems and memory loss from repeated PCP use
• Bladder ulcers and kidney problems from Ketamine use
• Paranoia
• Visual disturbances
• Mental problems
• Flashbacks

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Abuse Of Hallucinogens

Evidence has suggested that some Hallucinogens can be addictive when used repeatedly because individuals can develop a tolerance to their effects. As a result, some must use more of a given substance to produce the same effects. For example, LSD is not considered to be addictive, but people may need to take increasing amounts of it each time to get the same “high.” People may also develop an addiction to PCP after prolonged abuse. Withdrawal from PCP may produce drug cravings, headaches, and sweating. Detox from any Hallucinogen is not something that should be done alone.

Statistics

Find Treatment For A Hallucinogen Addiction

Currently, there are no government-approved medications to treat a Hallucinogen addiction. Behavioral therapy in particular may benefit individuals seeking recovery from Hallucinogens. Inpatient and outpatient treatment centers are also available to treat a variety of addictions and co-occurring disorders. If you need help finding the right treatment center, contact a dedicated recovery provider now, and start your journey to sobriety.

What everyday causes can cause hallucinations

Coffee, sleep deprivation, antibiotics, and increased predictive ability can all cause hallucinations. The science department of Gazeta.Ru explains why you should not panic if you see a mysterious image or hear strange noises.

According to WHO, every fifth person in the world suffers from various mental disorders. However, most healthy people also experienced symptoms that are characteristic of a particular neurological disease. These symptoms include hallucinations – images that arise in the mind without the influence of an external stimulus. Hallucinations are not only visual: for example, visceral hallucinations are the sensation of a foreign object or a living organism under the skin or in the body.

Treating or maiming?

The occurrence of hallucinations in healthy people is associated not only with the consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs. A group of scientists from Harvard Medical School and the Brigham Women’s Clinic in Boston conducted a study in which it turned out that between taking antibiotics and delusional disorders there is a link.

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Neurological problems have been previously found in some cases of antibiotic use, but little research has been done on this issue. The elderly are believed to be at risk of developing cognitive impairment as a result of taking these drugs:

2-12% of cases of insanity or dementia were due to drug toxicity.

The study, published in the journal Neurology , included an analysis of the medical records of 391 patients who, after taking antibiotics, experienced symptoms of delirium – a mental disorder accompanied by delusions, hallucinations, disorientation in time and space. The study looked at 54 types of drugs in 12 classes, including cefepime and penicillin.

47% of patients had hallucinations and delusions, another 14% had convulsions, 15% had muscle twitches, and 5% lost control of their movements.

Scientists have classified a person’s response to an antibiotic into three categories. The first category is characterized by convulsions accompanying the use of penicillin and cephalosporin. In this case, the symptoms disappear within two days after the end of treatment. The second group of people were susceptible to psychosis as a result of taking drugs such as penicillin procaine, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones and macrolides. The third category includes anomalies on electroencephalography, impaired coordination of movements and other neurological problems caused by taking metronidazole. Unlike the first two categories, the symptoms of the latter did not go away for several weeks after stopping the medication.

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The authors of the paper suggested that delusional disorders could be caused by the infection itself, and not by the antibiotics that fight it. However, if the disease did not affect the central nervous system, the cause of hallucinations and other symptoms lay in the drugs. Dr. Bhattacharya, who led the study, explained: “Antibiotics not only react against bacteria, but can also have a damaging effect on brain function. Different medications can cause different abnormalities.”

In medical practice, there are also cases when mental disorders were caused by analgesics. So, after taking a codeine-containing drug, a fourteen-year-old girl complained of drowsiness and loss of concentration.

Moreover, she experienced hallucinations and memory loss. Doctors found no other cause for the symptoms than an overdose of codeine.

Lack of sleep and coffee will lead to visions

Scientists have also found that everyday causes can also affect the occurrence of mental disorders. For example, staff at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland proved that lack of sleep can also cause hallucinations and delusions. In the course of the experiment, 122 ICU patients were regularly checked using the Confusion Diagnostic Method to screen for delirium. The researchers consistently improved their sleep conditions: first, they stopped the procedure of nocturnal blood sampling, then offered the participants in the experiment earplugs and sleep masks, and stopped giving medications before bed. As a result, all patients showed a decrease in delirium symptoms.

Another hallucinatory activity that many people do regularly is drinking coffee. Many people drink several cups of coffee a day without thinking, and even two cups, according to studies, can cause anxiety, nausea, headaches, sleep disturbances and arrhythmias.

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Doses of more than 750 mg of caffeine lead to more serious effects, including delirium, ringing in the ears, and hallucinations in the form of flashing lights.

Are you hallucinating? This is fine!

However, despite the frightening abundance of factors that cause hallucinations, people have no reason to worry. Scientists came to the conclusion that visual and sound hallucinations can also occur in absolutely healthy people. A study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry suggests that 5% of people at least once in their lives saw non-existent objects or heard imaginary sounds, while no deviations in their psyche were noticed. The researchers clarify that a third of those who have experienced hallucinations have experienced it only once in their lives, another third – from two to five times.

Auditory hallucinations were found to be more common among women, and people in developed countries experience both types of hallucinations more frequently than people in developing countries.

In addition, scientists have found that hallucinations occur due to the fact that the brain of some people has an increased ability to draw conclusions from the available visual information and predict the situation. Study was published in the journal PNAS.

Any person has the ability to complete the picture of what is happening, based on the information already available. So, seeing the silhouettes of furniture in a dark room, a person can easily determine where the table is and where the sofa is.

However, it is this ability that causes hallucinations:

when a person perceives such fragmentary visual data too sharply, his brain tends to complete a picture that does not exist in reality.

What happens when haloperidol is stopped in people with schizophrenia

Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods ►

Survey Question

What are the effects of withdrawal of the antipsychotic haloperidol in stable people with schizophrenia while taking haloperidol.

Relevance

In schizophrenia, the links between thoughts, emotions, and behavior are severed, resulting in impaired thinking and perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, and social isolation. Haloperidol is one of the first drugs to treat schizophrenia. Haloperidol is known to be effective in treating the psychotic symptoms (such as delusions and hallucinations) of schizophrenia, but it can cause unpleasant side effects. The effects of discontinuing or discontinuing haloperidol are not well understood.

Search for evidence

We electronically searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Trial Registry (latest on 24 January 2019) to find trials in which people with schizophrenia and stable on haloperidol were randomized to stop or continue taking haloperidol. The review authors found and reviewed 54 records.

Discovered evidence

Five trials met the requirements of the review and provided acceptable data.

Evidence from randomized controlled trials is of very low quality and suggests that stopping haloperidol is associated with worse outcomes in terms of overall improvement in symptoms (general well-being) in people with schizophrenia. They also show that people who stop taking haloperidol are more likely to experience a relapse (return of symptoms) within the first year after treatment. There were no trials with evidence of what happens after the first year. The number of participants who dropped out of the study early (which may be an indicator of treatment satisfaction) was similar for both treatment options.

The very low quality of available evidence is due to methodological weaknesses in the included trials. This reduces our confidence in the reliability of the results and limits their applicability in the real world.

Terminals

Disappointingly few studies were found, and the size and quality of these studies were limited. The available evidence does not fully answer important questions regarding the effects of haloperidol withdrawal. In particular, there is no evidence regarding the side effects of haloperidol. New, better tests are needed.

If you found this evidence helpful, please consider donating to Cochrane.