Psychedelic Medicines

At Numinus, we prefer to use the term medicine when referring to substances used as part of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

In the context of psychedelics, the term “drug” may imply recreational and illegal use. However, these substances used as part of psychedelic-assisted therapy are obtained legally and intended for healing. The term “drug” also discounts sacred plant medicines, such as psilocybin, used by Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. As a result, medicine feels like the most appropriate term to honour the sacred plant medicines we use, to uphold cultural safety and humility, and to create a positive therapeutic experience for clients.

The word psychedelic on its own means "to manifest the mind." In other words, to reveal states of consciousness unknown to ordinary consciousness. Therefore, psychedelics includes classic psychedelics, empathogens, dissociatives, and atypicals.

Defining Terms

There are many terms used to define and categorize psychedelic and other medicines.

Please select the button to learn about the subcategories and subsubcategories of psychoactive substances as they relate to psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Psychoactive Substances

Any substance that crosses the blood-brain barrier, such as psychotropic substances, anesthetics, NSAIDs, and others.

Psychotropic Substances

Any substance which affects one’s cognitive function or mental state, including anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anxiolytics, stimulants, hallucinogens, and others.

Hallucinogenic Substances

Substances that have the ability to significantly alter perception, mood, or thinking. Hallucinogens are also referred to as entheogens because the term hallucinogen implies an association with psychosis where someone might experience hallucinations.

To learn more about the different types of hallucinogenic substances, please read through all tabs before proceeding.

Psychedelic Substances

Substances that trigger an altered state of consciousness in moderate to high doses such as psilocybin. Psychedelics are serotonergic which are substances that stimulate serotonin.

Dissociative Substances

Substances that cause dissociation as well as slight changes in perception such as ketamine. Dissociatives are antiglutamatergic which are substances that prevent glutamate from binding to its receptors during synapses.

Deliriant Substances

Substances that cause extreme confusion or delirium and difficulty controlling one’s actions such as Jimson weed, deadly nightshade, and Benadryl. Deliriants are anticholinergic which are substances that prevent acetylcholine from binding to its receptors during synapses.

Cannibinoid Substances

Substances like THC and CBD found primarily in the cannabis plant which are sometimes classified as hallucinogenic.

Empathogenic Substances

Also known as entactogens are substances, like MDMA, which are sometimes classified as hallucinogenic. They stimulate strong feelings of oneness and empathy. They are chemically similar to both psychedelics and stimulants especially amphetamines.

Note

With the majority of these terms, they are sometimes used interchangeably and some terminology, such as psychoactive, hallucinogenic, and entheogens are inconsistently defined. While MDMA is an empathogen and ketamine is a dissociative, these medicines will be referred to as psychedelics throughout the program as “psychedelic-assisted therapy” is the overarching term applied to this type of therapy which uses hallucinogenic medicines.

Getting to Know the Medicines

Let's explore some of the high-level features of each of the medicines currently used at Numinus for psychedelic-assisted therapy as well as esketamine which is used to treat symptoms of depression.

Ketamine Esketamine MDMA Psilocybin
Molecular Name

2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)-cyclohexanone

 Molecular Name

2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)-cyclohexanone

 Molecular Name

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine

 Molecular Name

4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine
Classification

Arylcyclohexylamine

Dissociative

 Classification

Arylcyclohexylamine

Dissociative

 Classification

Amphetamine derivative

Empathogen, entactogen

 Classification

Tryptamine alkaloid

Psychedelic
Type

Synthetic

 Type

Synthetic

 Type

Synthetic

 Type

Natural (in mushrooms) or synthetic psilocybin
Brand name

Ketalar

 Brand name

Spravato

 Brand name

Generic

 Use

Traditional plant medicine used by various Indigenous Peoples around the world since time immemorial
Routes of Administration

Oral, sublingual (transbuccal), intranasal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, rectal

 Routes of Administration

Intranasal (spray)

 Routes of Administration

Oral, snorted, rectal, injected, smoked

 Routes of Administration

Oral
Duration

2-4 hours

 Duration

2 hours

 Duration

6-8 hours

 Duration

3-6 hours
Indications

  • Anxiety

  • Bipolar disorder

  • Depression

  • Eating disorders

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder

  • Post-traumatic stress

  • Substance use disorder

  • Suicidal ideation

 Indications

  • Treatment-resistant depression

  • Depressive symptoms with major depressive disorder

  • Suicidal thoughts or behaviours

 Indications

  • Alcohol use disorder*

  • Chronic pain*

  • Couples therapy*

  • Eating disorders*

  • End-of-life anxiety or psychological distress*

  • Mood disorders*

  • Post-traumatic stress

  • Social anxiety in adults with autism*

*Under further investigation

 Indications

  • Demoralization in AIDS/HIV survivors*

  • Depression*

  • End-of-life anxiety and psychological distress*

  • Migraines*

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder*

  • Phantom Limb Pain*

  • Substance Use Disorders*

*Under further investigation
Ketamine Esketamine
Molecular Name

2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)-cyclohexanone

 Molecular Name

2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)-cyclohexanone
Classification

Arylcyclohexylamine

Dissociative

 Classification

Arylcyclohexylamine

Dissociative
Type

Synthetic

 Type

Synthetic
Brand name

Ketalar

 Brand name

Spravato
Routes of Administration

Oral, sublingual (transbuccal), intranasal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, rectal

 Routes of Administration

Intranasal (spray)
Duration

2-4 hours

 Duration

2 hours
Indications

  • Anxiety

  • Bipolar disorder

  • Depression

  • Eating disorders

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder

  • Post-traumatic stress

  • Substance use disorder

  • Suicidal ideation

 Indications

  • Treatment-resistant depression

  • Depressive symptoms with major depressive disorder

  • Suicidal thoughts or behaviours
MDMA Psilocybin
Molecular Name

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine

 Molecular Name

4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine
Classification

Amphetamine derivative

Empathogen, entactogen

 Classification

Tryptamine alkaloid

Psychedelic
Type

Synthetic

 Type

Natural (in mushrooms) or synthetic psilocybin
Brand name

Generic

 Use

Traditional plant medicine used by various Indigenous Peoples around the world since time immemorial
Routes of Administration

Oral, snorted, rectal, injected, smoked

 Routes of Administration

Oral
Duration

6-8 hours

 Duration

3-6 hours
Indications

  • Alcohol use disorder*

  • Chronic pain*

  • Couples therapy*

  • Eating disorders*

  • End-of-life anxiety or psychological distress*

  • Mood disorders*

  • Post-traumatic stress

  • Social anxiety in adults with autism*

*Under further investigation

 Indications

  • Demoralization in AIDS/HIV survivors*

  • Depression*

  • End-of-life anxiety and psychological distress*

  • Migraines*

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder*

  • Phantom Limb Pain*

  • Substance Use Disorders*

*Under further investigation

References

Psychedelic.support (N.d.). Little book of psychedelics. https://psychedelic.support/education/free-courses/