For questions about the scientific study of the effects of pharmaceutical and general drugs on perception, behavior, mood and cognition.
2
votes
0answers
14 views
Study purportedly proving psychedelics induce a “heightened state of consciousness”
The Guardian headlines on 28 Nov 2017: "Psychedelic drugs induce 'heightened state of consciousness', brain scans show".
Healthy volunteers who received LSD, ketamine or psilocybin, a compound ...
2
votes
0answers
21 views
Caffeine any-dose tolerance study
Lifehacker says:
A 1995 study suggests that humans become tolerant to their daily dose of caffeine—whether a single soda or a serious espresso habit—somewhere between a week and 12 days.
They don'...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Sexual arousal when studying science [closed]
I'm interested in the phenomenon of people getting sexually aroused while studying science (math, physics, etc.). In particular, I've heard from a friend who's a psychologist, that it could be an ...
2
votes
0answers
22 views
Can tapering reduce the risk of sedative kindling and brain damage?
So we know that repeated withdrawal from GABAeric substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines will cause kindling and worsen future withdrawal symptoms. Also, it appears that withdrawal from alcohol ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
What genetic polymorphisms are linked to aggression or violence?
So about 10 years ago, I was trying to quit smoking with the use of the smoking cessation drug varenicline (Chantix) and it made me very snappy and aggressive towards people. I know myself well enough ...
2
votes
1answer
20 views
experimental tracking and treating bipolar disorder
Is there a way to measure what neurotransmitters (and in what amount) are present in a person via blood or other method? I feel like if such information was available there could be experiments ...
2
votes
1answer
21 views
Stroke amelioration
Excessive sugar, like Pepsi, is considered harmful. However, I am wondering if it could be helpful if taken by a victim of stroke during or immediately after a stroke, or somewhat after a stroke? My ...
1
vote
0answers
16 views
Polypharmacy involving sumatriptan, tramadol and serotoninergic antidepressants and risk of serotonin syndrome [closed]
Let us consider the following clinical vignette:
A 61 y/o male presents complaining of migraines on the order of 2 or 3 times a month. When he gets them, the only thing that helps to mitigate them is ...
2
votes
2answers
94 views
Can you get addicted from using topical or local anaesthetics to ease pain?
I've been wondering if there was such a thing as developing some kind of physical or psychological dependence on things that relieve pain. While we often hear about opioid addiction, which is ...
3
votes
1answer
29 views
Do hallucinogenics affect chronic pain?
As noted in a previous question, hallucinogenics, such as psilocybin, have been used to treat depression with some success. Chronic pain is affected somewhat by a top-down process from the brain, as ...
2
votes
0answers
75 views
Are many anticonvulsants just coincidentally also psychoactive?
Many of the antiseizure I'm aware of are described as having the potential for behavior altering side-effects. I am curious about this.
Is there something about the chemistry of the brain that ...
7
votes
1answer
44 views
How to counteract the deterioration of speech in stutterers by targeting sympathetic arousal?
I am quoting a good overview from a Quora member about the reasons why people stutter when exposed to stress:
...The underlying physiological basis of why stress provokes stuttering
has been ...
6
votes
1answer
65 views
Do antipsychotics have a delayed onset of action similar to (monoamine) antidepressants?
I've been trying to understand the position of Steve Hyman (a former NIMH director), who has been amply quoted in an recent article in Quartz, saying among ohter things that
There’s not “an iota of ...
3
votes
2answers
132 views
Do stimulants increase the IQ tests score for everyone?
There is some meta-analytic evidence that stimulants increase the IQ test scores of ADHD children by 2 to 7 points (Jepsen et al., 2009).
Although giving stimulants to non-ADHD children may be ...
4
votes
1answer
94 views
Is tianeptine addictive?
A recent (2014) study in cell cultures has found that tianeptine is a mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist (and [mentioning for completeness] delta opioid receptor agonist as well, albeit weaker). It's ...
2
votes
1answer
16 views
Dopamine dysregulation syndrome in non-Parkison's subjects?
I realize that giving L-dopa or similar drugs to people who don't need it would be unethical owing to their side effects*, but given that L-dopa is abused by some Parkinson's disease patients, are ...
3
votes
1answer
87 views
Can drugs cause a psychosis, or only unlock it?
There have been many reports, that recreational drug use can cause psychosis. Some cannabis users report experiencing psychosis (sometimes permanent) immediately after use. Some methamphetamine users ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Factors of depersonalisation as a result of drug use
Depersonalisation (DP) and derealisation (DR) are documented side-effects of certain drugs, such as cannabis, LSD. According to "Chronic depersonalization following illicit drug use: a controlled ...
4
votes
2answers
379 views
Can drugs cause positive reinforcement for undesirable tasks?
For this example, I will use alcohol as an example drug, since it's legal and increases dopamine.
Can drinking alcohol when performing unpleasant tasks, such as homework, cleaning, or laundry confuse ...
2
votes
1answer
323 views
LSD and tryptamines harmless or neurotoxic? [closed]
It's commonly stated by numerous people that LSD and trytamines like DMT and psilocin are physically harmless and not neurotoxic. Is there evidence for this?
I recently read 5-meo-Dipt which is a ...
6
votes
1answer
223 views
Is it dangerous to take an antipsychotic drug irregularly?
I've read the case of Witty Ticcy Ray: a 24 years old man with disabling Tourette’s syndrome.
The first Dr. Sacks's treatment, with Haldol, provokes a strong change in Ray's behavior: from tics and ...
6
votes
1answer
82 views
Psilocybin for treatment of anxiety disorder
Has psilocybin been used for treatment of anxiety disorder? I've mostly found it used in the treatment of anxiety in patients diagnosed with cancer (Nichols et al. 2017) and patients not diagnosed ...
5
votes
0answers
82 views
Evidence of cannabis exposure causing schizophrenia?
I've heard that cannabis exposure during teenage years increases the probability of developing schizophrenia-like symptoms later in life. What evidence is there that this is causal and not ...
3
votes
1answer
51 views
What is the difference between flow and cannabis induced high?
I am doing research on flow. So far I found out that flow is a short-term positive peak experience, but not a persistent state of mind. I wonder, what is the difference between flow and cannabis ...
1
vote
4answers
217 views
Why is depression a diagnosable issue?
To me, it seems strange that something such as depression, which anyone can feel at any given time, is diagnosed and treated medically as if it is a mental disorder. I believe depression should be ...
3
votes
0answers
43 views
Interaction between caffeine intake and biorhythm on alertness
Throughout the day, people's wakefulness and attentiveness varies, as modulated by one's circadian biorhythm. Whereas in the morning people are less awake, just before noon and around 15:00 people ...
1
vote
2answers
98 views
Why is Potassium(K) important to neurology & the brain?
When researching the pharmacological mechanisms of action and interactions that various psychotropic drugs, poisons, neurotoxins, etc. have on the brain:
I frequently see off-hand references to the ...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
Can Prozac cause anxiety?
I know some selective serotonin inhibitors, such as Prozac, are prescribed for anxiety, but can they also cause anxiety?
1
vote
0answers
69 views
Mechanism of ketamine in treatment of depression and anxiety?
What are the mechanisms by which ketamine reduces the symptoms of depression and anxiety?
5
votes
2answers
237 views
Can LSD connect sensory regions in the brain?
How is it possible that after using LSD you can hear sounds and see colours?
I have my own experience with this phenomenon. When I´m lying totally relaxed in bed and suddenly a door is closed loudly,...
3
votes
2answers
116 views
What is the effectiveness of self-prescribed marijuana for depression?
How common is it for patients diagnosed with depression to self-prescribe themselves marijuana after trying prescription anti-depressants? Is there any evidence that this self-treatment is effective ...
4
votes
2answers
48 views
How should medication for the treatment of ADHD symptoms be calibrated?
My understanding is that the treatment of ADHD symptoms with stimulant medication is a balancing act between alleviating ADHD symptoms, and not producing unwanted side effects like insomnia or anxiety....
3
votes
1answer
84 views
Is it possible to develop immunity to mental health drugs?
After watching The Princess Bride, I discovered this word: Mithridatism, "the practice of protecting oneself against a poison by gradually self-administering non-lethal amounts."
Is it possible for ...
5
votes
2answers
124 views
Is there a less colloquial term for the phenomenon known as “brain zaps”?
There is an unpleasant phenomenon, colloquially known as "brain zaps". It is generally associated with withdrawal from antidepressants, but this isn't always the trigger - I sometimes have it even ...
6
votes
1answer
218 views
Why does marijuana cause anxiety?
Marijuana is getting increasingly used in medical settings. However, one of its disadvantages is anxiety. Does anyone know the reason behind the anxiety? Is it from the marijuana itself, or does it ...
5
votes
1answer
108 views
Would administering oxytocin in games of deception improve performance?
As well as facilitating parturition, the hormone oxytocin is thought to mediate "prosocial behaviour" in mammals. It’s been a while since I have read the literature, but I am aware there is robust ...
4
votes
1answer
433 views
How much sleep is needed for peak cognitive performance?
How much sleep is needed for peak cognitive performance? If some were to, for example, wake up one morning at 12:30PM, would a sleeping pill help obtain better sleep required for that performance the ...
6
votes
2answers
117 views
Can hallucinogens treat depressive states?
Given the serotonin hypothesis of depression, increasing synaptic serotonin level may cause anti-depressive effects.
Hallucinogens seems to have such advantages:
They improve mood at once, but not ...
2
votes
0answers
121 views
What is a short, drug-induced “blackout” experience called? [closed]
I know of anecdotal evidence for the following drug-related side-effects:
It can happen while getting used to a new drug, or when quitting a drug. Probably also some other situations.
The feeling ...
4
votes
3answers
209 views
Are there any circumstances where schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are not lifelong?
It is known that psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar I, and bipolar II are for life, and require long term treatment (lifelong).
Is this always the case?
The answer could include ...
4
votes
0answers
112 views
Influence of antidepressant drugs upon personality
How do antidepressant drugs influence someone's personality? Do they induce a major change in an individual's personality, or do they just negate the influence of depression?
Basically, is the ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
Can SSRI make things worse in the long term or cause delayed depression?
I found two articles that mention that taking SSRI for depression can actually make the depression worse.
"Now Antidepressant-Induced Chronic Depression Has a Name: Tardive Dysphoria" on Psychology ...
3
votes
0answers
114 views
What happens inside our body, when we experience betrayal and infidelity?
I guess many of us have experienced it. The moment that you understand that "the person you love, in whom you've trusted, is now with someone else, enjoying every moment with him/her".
It's so ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Can the neuronal firing rate be increased through medication/diet?
My rudimentary understanding of the neuronal firing rate is that it varies person to person, and neuron to neuron. So any specific number for a firing rate would be specific to the test subject and ...
12
votes
3answers
157 views
Are there any pragmatic uses of hallucinogens?
Hallucinogens (psilocybin, LSD and others) are often regarded as risky substances, therefore they are banned in most places.
Are there ways of using these substances that can be beneficial?
Or in ...
-4
votes
1answer
614 views
Do smart drugs (nootropics) make you smarter? [closed]
Do nootropic drugs like modafinil make you smarter?
Are they like coffee?
Do they improve working memory?
Is there a potential for a pill like NZT-48 from the movie Limitless? From the Wikipedia plot ...
5
votes
1answer
472 views
With the brain's propensity for homeostasis, how can some drugs be labelled addictive and others not?
The human body is always striving for homeostasis. One of the purposes of the brain is to maintain homeostasis, but also the brain needs to maintain homeostasis within itself.
Ergo:
Given the use of ...
2
votes
1answer
191 views
Why can some drugs make us hallucinate and think the hallucinations are reality?
The question above mainly applies to dramamine. I've only taken 1 tablet for carsickness, but I have read about experiences with that drug. I'm including other drugs that can make you hallucinate and ...
8
votes
1answer
118 views
What is the Mechanism of 5-HT2A-mediated psychedelia?
Drugs that activate the serotonergic 5-HT2A receptor (e.g. LSD, psilocybin, mescaline) are notorious for causing psychedelic experiences and I would like to know the neurochemical mechanism behind ...
1
vote
1answer
206 views
Comprehensive encyclopedia of nootropics for medical researchers and practitioners
Is there a clinically-researched and tested encyclopedia (or similar resource) covering all available nootropics currently known?
The Wikipedia article was a helpful first stop; but I'm searching for ...
