Glossary

A

Agonist

A substance that initiates a physiological response when combined with a receptor.

Antagonist

A substance that interferes with or inhibits the physiological action of another.

C

Cannabinoid

Chemicals produced naturally that bind to cannabinoid receptors. They are involved in a variety of mental and physical processes, including pain regulation, food intake, and reward.

Cathinone

Cathinone, or Benzoylethanamine is a monoamine alkaloid found in the shrub Catha edulis (khat) and is chemically similar to ephedrine, cathine and other amphetamines. Cathinone differs from amphetamine by possessing a ketone oxygen atom on the β position of the side chain.

Chirality

The term chiral describes an object, especially a molecule, which has or produces a non-superimposeable mirror image of itself.

D

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention, learning, and the brain’s pleasure and reward system.

E

Enantiomer

One of two stereoisomers that are mirror images of each other that are non-superposable (not identical). Think of it like the left and right hand, which are identical aside from orientation.

F

First pass metabolism

First pass metabolism is the process in which the liver starts to break down drugs before they reach systemic circulation. Different ROA's including insufflation are used to bypass this process to increase potency.

G

GABA

Gamma aminobutyric acid an amino acid that is found in the central nervous system; acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter.

GABA receptor

The GABA receptors are a class of receptors that respond to the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

I

Inverse agonist

An inverse agonist is an agent that binds to the same receptor as an agonist but induces a pharmacological response opposite to that agonist (i.e. Naloxone).

Isomer

Each of two or more compounds with the same formula but a different arrangement of atoms in the molecule and different properties.

M

MAOI

Monoamine oxidase inhibitor any of a group of antidepressant drugs that inhibit the action of monoamine oxidase in the brain and so allow monoamines to accumulate.

Monoamine Oxidase

An enzyme that catalyzes the metabolism of many drugs (e.g., DMT, dopamine and serotonin).

N

NMDA receptor

A glutamate receptor, is the predominant molecular device for controlling synaptic plasticity and memory function.

Nootropics

These are a class of drugs that work by increasing levels of either/or neurotransmitters, enzymes, hormones, oxygen supply, and/or stimulating nerve growth. They are generaly neuroprotective, and extremely non-toxic.

Norepinephrine

Norepinephrine, or noradrenaline, is a catecholamine with multiple roles including as a hormone and a neurotransmitter.

P

Phenethylamine

Phenethylamine (PEA) is a natural monoamine alkaloid, trace amine, and psychoactive drug with stimulant effects. In the mammalian central nervous system, phenethylamine is believed to function as a neuromodulator or neurotransmitter.

Phenethylamine (substituted)

The substituted phenethylamines are a family of chemical compounds that contain the 2-phenylethylamine chemical structure and also have additional modifications at the phenyl ring, sidechain, and/or amino group (i.e. MDMA).

R

Re-uptake inhibitor

Also known as a transporter blocker, is a drug which inhibits the transporter-mediated reuptake of a neurotransmitter from the synapse into the pre-synaptic neuron, leading to an increase in the extracellular concentrations of the neurotransmitter.

Release

A releasing agent (RA), or simply releaser, is a drug that induces the release of a neurotransmitter from the presynaptic neuron into the synapse, leading to an increase in the extracellular concentrations of the neurotransmitter.

Research Chemical

Designer drugs, a term used to describe drugs which are created (or marketed, if they had already existed) to get around existing drug laws, usually by modifying the molecular structures of existing drugs to varying degrees, or less commonly by finding drugs with entirely different chemical.

ROA

Common abbreviation for Route Of Administration, used to describe the various different methods of ingesting drugs, including oral, insufflation, sublingual/buccal, rectal, intramuscular (IM) and intravenous (IV) injection.

S

Serotonin (5-HT)

A monoamine neurotransmitter, biochemically derived from tryptophan, that is primarily found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, platelets, and central nervous system (CNS) of humans and animals. It is a well-known contributor to feelings of well-being.

T

Tryptamine

Tryptamine is a monoamine alkaloid found in plants, fungi, and animals. It is based around the indole ring structure, and is chemically related to the amino acid tryptophan, from which its name is derived.