Psychedelics are a type of drug found in nature and created in laboratories that cause altered perceptions of reality. The molecules which create these psychedelic effects can be broadly categorized into two different groups:
- Tryptamines, such as LSD and psilocybin
- Phenylethylamines, like MDMA and mescaline
We’ve investigated some of the similarities and differences between tryptamines and phenylethylamines below.
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What Are Tryptamines and Phenylethylamines?
Tryptamines
Tryptamines are a group of molecules with similar chemical structures produced naturally in the human body. They form in the brain and gut from the amino acid tryptophan, and they are well-known for producing psychedelic effects.
The most widely recognized tryptamine is LSD – a lab-made molecule based on ergot fungus. They are also widespread throughout nature in various psychedelic plants and fungi, like:
- Psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms
- DMT, found in the Psychotria viridis shrub and used to make the Amazonian medicinal brew Ayahuasca
Various foods, such as cheese, bananas, and tomatoes, are also sources of tryptamines. But because the gut rapidly breaks down tryptamines in food, they don’t have any psychoactive effects.
Over the past ten years, several new synthetic tryptamines based on the molecular structures of LSD and DMT have found their way into the drugs market. These novel compounds are called new psychoactive substances (NPS), and they include:
- 1P-LSD
- 4-ACO-DMT
- 4-HO-DiPT
- 4-HO-MET
- 5-MeO-DMT
- 5-MeO-MiPT
- 5-MeO-DALT
Phenylethylamines
Phenylethylamines are a group of molecules with a common structure based on phenylethylamine (also known as PEA). PEA is produced naturally in the body from the amino acid L-phenylalanine and acts as a central nervous stimulant, increasing heart rate and energy. Phenylethylamine drugs tend to be stimulants but can also have psychedelic effects.
Because of their stimulant properties, synthetic phenylethylamines have held a long-standing association with party and rave scenes. The most well-known of these drugs include:
- MDMA
- Amphetamine (“speed”)
- 2C-B
Like tryptamines, phenethylamines are widespread throughout nature. For example, PEA is found in cacao beans, explaining why chocolate can sometimes be energizing. The phenylethylamine mescaline is found in the psychedelic San Pedro and peyote cacti, and is responsible for their mind-altering effects.
Similar to tryptamines, underground laboratories have also developed several NPS based on phenylethylamine structures. These tend to have stimulating and psychedelic effects. Some of these include:
- The 2C family, e.g., 2C-B, 2C-E, 2C-I
- P-methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA)
- The D series, e.g., DOI, DOC
- The 25-NBOMe series e.g. 25I-NMBOMe, 25F-NMBOMe
- Benzodifurans, e.g., Bromo-Dragonfly
How Do Tryptamines vs. Phenethylamines Feel?
Although more common in tryptamines, both tryptamines and phenethylamines can have classic psychedelic effects. These effects are:
- Visual hallucinations
- An altered sense of time
- Confused thought
- Increased laughter
- Synesthesia – senses become muddled, such as “hearing colors.”
- Music seems more intense
- Increased creativity
One study compared the effects of LSD with 2C-B and found users generally found the psychedelic effects of 2C-B to be more manageable than with LSD. For example, they found the experience on 2C-B less confusing and mentally challenging than LSD.
The phenylethylamines, MDMA, mescaline, and 2C-B specifically belong to a category of drugs called entactogens. Entactogens are drugs that create feelings of empathy, emotional openness, and increased affection toward other people. Although it’s often not categorized as an entactogen, people can also experience entactogenic effects with psilocybin.
What Is the Biology of Tryptamines vs. Phenyethylamines?
How Do Tryptamines Work?
Tryptamines act on the same sites as the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. Serotonin plays an essential role in regulating mood, sleep, and digestion, so by mimicking serotonin’s effects, tryptamine drugs also affect these functions. The primary serotonin site that tryptamines act on is called the 5-HT2A receptor, which many scientists believe is responsible for visual hallucinations.
By mimicking serotonin’s effects, tryptamine drugs can affect mood, sleep, and digestion.
As well as serotonin, scientists have found LSD also works at a site in the brain that usually responds to glutamate – a neurotransmitter associated with learning and memory. The dissociative drug ketamine also interacts with glutamate and is also psychedelic in high doses.
The tryptamines DMT and 5-MeO-DMT specifically activate a protein in the brain called sigma-1. The job of sigma-1 isn’t fully understood, but research has shown it may be useful in helping prevent nerve cells from dying.
How Do Phenylethylamines Work?
Like tryptamines, phenylethylamines also increase the action of serotonin. Similarly, the visual hallucinations associated with certain phenethylamines, such as the 2C family, are also likely because of 5HT-2A.
As well as serotonin, phenylethylamines also increase the action of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine leads to feelings of pleasure, explaining the high associated with phenethylamines. Dopamine also plays an essential role in the brain’s reward system, explaining why certain phenylethylamines can be highly addictive for some users.
Phenylethylamines also increase the action of norepinephrine. Norepinephrine increases activity in the sympathetic nervous system, which is the part of the nervous system that prepares the body for action, explaining why phenylethylamines have a stimulating effect.
What Are the Side Effects of Tryptamines vs. Phenylethylamines?
Side effects of tryptamines include:
- Increased heart rate
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Nausea
- Hallucinogenic persisting perception disorder (HPPD) – ongoing visual hallucinations that occur well after the drug has left the system
- Spiritual emergency – difficulties opening to a new sense of reality
Side effects of phenethylamines include:
- Increased heart rate
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Hyperthermia – dangerously high increase in body temperature
- Hyponatremia – drinking too much water (MDMA-specific risk)
Both tryptamines and phenethylamines can alter somebody’s perception of reality. This effect can cause a bad trip, also known as a psychedelic crisis, where users experience unpleasant hallucinations, paranoia, and anxiety.
Because tryptamines tend to have more classic psychedelic effects, they may be more likely to cause a psychedelic crisis than phenethylamines. However, in most cases, the set and setting (the headspace and physical environment in which people take the drug) can have just as much influence as the drug itself.
For both tryptamines and phenethylamines, the novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are more likely to have dangerous side effects than natural and more researched drugs.
For example, a review of the scientific literature regarding tryptamines and their derivatives showed that many tryptamine NPS can increase heart rate to dangerously high levels. The researchers also showed that the NPS 5-MeO-MiPT is toxic to the kidney.
Another research study into different phenylethylamines NPS highlighted how the 2C and NMBOMes are toxic to cells.
Therapeutic Effects of Tryptamines vs. Phenylethylamines
Researchers have become increasingly interested in using psychedelics as tools in therapy to help treat several mental health disorders.
Tryptamines
Scientists have highlighted how psilocybin-assisted therapy can help people shift their perspectives and thinking patterns more easily. This effect makes psilocybin a helpful tool in treating disorders where patients can get stuck in negative thought loops.
Research has highlighted how psilocybin is effective in treating:
- End-of-life anxiety
- Depression
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Because of DMT’s ability to help regrow damaged nerve cells, scientists are looking to investigate DMT as a treatment for stroke. A study using rats demonstrates that DMT can help repair damage to the brain caused by stroke. However, it’s unclear whether the same effect would occur in humans.
Phenylethylamines
MDMA can decrease activity in the part of the brain associated with stress, the amygdala, and increase activity in the part of the brain associated with logical thinking and reasoning, the prefrontal cortex. This effect has led researchers to investigate MDMA-assisted therapy as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The empathy-enhancing effects of certain phenethylamines mean these drugs may also be helpful in couples counseling.
Summary on Tryptamines vs. Phenylethylamines
Understanding the difference between tryptamines and phenethylamines can offer some insight into how a drug might act based on its chemical structure. However, although it’s easy to pinpoint clear biological differences, the distinction between subjective effects of tryptamines and phenylethylamines is much more variable because of personal differences and the influence of set and setting.
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