This is a list of psychoactive drugs, or drugs that produce psychoactive effects.[1][2][3][4] Psychoactive drugs can be broadly grouped into stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens and entactogens, although not all psychoactive drugs fall neatly into these categories. Many psychoactive drugs are recreational drugs or drugs of misuse, with these drugs generally falling into the categories of euphoriants and hallucinogens.
Stimulants
- Adenosine receptor antagonists (e.g., caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, paraxanthine, istradefylline)
- Catecholamine releasing agents (e.g., amphetamine, methamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, MDMA, mephedrone, cathinone, ephedrine)
- Catecholamine reuptake inhibitors (e.g., methylphenidate, MDPV, cocaine, modafinil, bupropion, atomoxetine)
- GABAA receptor antagonists (e.g., pentylenetetrazol)
- Glycine receptor antagonists (e.g., strychnine)
- Histamine H3 receptor antagonists (e.g., pitolisant)
- Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonists (e.g., arecoline)
- Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists (e.g., nicotine)
- Orexin receptor agonists (e.g., danavorexton, oveporexton)
Depressants
- GABAA receptor agonists (e.g., muscimol, gaboxadol)
- GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators
- Alcohols (e.g., ethanol, tert-amyl alcohol)
- Barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital, thiopental)
- Benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, clonazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, triazolam, temazepam)
- Carbamates (e.g., meprobamate, carisoprodol)
- Inhalants/volatiles (e.g., chloral hydrate, chloroform, diethyl ether, halothane, sevoflurane)
- Neurosteroids (e.g., progesterone, allopregnanolone/brexanolone, zuranolone)
- Nonbenzodiazepines/Z drugs (e.g., zolpidem, zopiclone, eszopiclone, zaleplon)
- Quinazolinones (e.g., methaqualone)
- Others (e.g., etomidate, glutethimide, kava/kavalactones, potassium bromide, propofol)
- GABAB receptor agonists (e.g., GHB/sodium oxybate, GBL, 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD), phenibut)
- Gabapentinoids (α2δ ligands) (e.g., gabapentin, pregabalin, gabapentin enacarbil, phenibut)
- Histamine H1 receptor antagonists (e.g., diphenhydramine, doxylamine, hydroxyzine, doxepin, mirtazapine)
- Melatonin receptor agonists (e.g., melatonin, ramelteon, tasimelteon)
- Opioids (μ-opioid receptor agonists) (e.g., codeine, morphine, heroin, hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, methadone, buprenorphine, kratom)
- Orexin receptor antagonists (e.g., suvorexant, lemborexant, daridorexant, seltorexant)
Hallucinogens
- Psychedelics (serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonists) (e.g., LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-MeO-DMT, 2C-B, ergine)
- Dissociatives (NMDA receptor antagonists) (e.g., ketamine, phencyclidine (PCP), dextromethorphan (DXM), nitrous oxide (N2O))
- Deliriants (muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists) (e.g., scopolamine, atropine, hyoscyamine, diphenhydramine, trihexyphenidyl)
- Oneirogens (e.g., ibogaine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine (THH))
- GABAA receptor agonists (e.g., muscimol, gaboxadol)
- κ-Opioid receptor agonists (e.g., salvinorin A, pentazocine)
- Cannabinoids (cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonists) (e.g., tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), nabilone, JWH-018, JWH-073, HU-210)
- Others (e.g., carbogen, hallucinogenic bolete mushrooms/Lanmaoa asiatica, hallucinogenic fish/ichthyoallyeinotoxism, mad honey, nutmeg)
Others
- Cannabinoids (cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonists) (e.g., tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), nabilone, JWH-018, JWH-073, HU-210)
- Entactogens (serotonin releasing agents) (e.g., MDMA, MDA, methylone, mephedrone, 5-MAPB, 6-APB, MDAI, Borax combo)
- Glucocorticoids (glucocorticoid receptor agonists) (e.g., cortisol/hydrocortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone)
- Nootropics (e.g., piracetam)
- Poppers/alkyl nitrites (e.g., amyl nitrite)
- Others (e.g., blue lotus/blue water lily, brivaracetam, flupirtine, kanna, lacosamide, lasmiditan, perampanel, retigabine (ezogabine), etc.)
Psychiatric drugs
- Antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, TeCAs, SARIs, MAOIs, bupropion)
- Antipsychotics (e.g., typical antipsychotics like chlorpromazine and haloperidol and atypical antipsychotics like quetiapine and aripiprazole)
- Anxiolytics (e.g., azapirones like buspirone and tandospirone, beta blockers like propranolol, etc.)
- Mood stabilizers (e.g., lithium, valproic acid, carbamazepine, lamotrigine)
See also
References
- ↑ Shulgin, Alexander (2021). The Nature of Drugs: History, Pharmacology, and Social Impact, Volume One. Vol. 1. Transform Press. ISBN 978-0-9995472-1-2. OCLC 1202745911.
- ↑ Shulgin, Alexander (2023). The Nature of Drugs: History, Pharmacology, and Social Impact, Volume Two. Vol. 2. Transform Press. ISBN 9780999547250. OCLC 1388539720.
- ↑ Presti, David E. (12 April 2017). "Altered States of Consciousness: Drug‐Induced States". The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness. Wiley. p. 171–186. doi:10.1002/9781119132363.ch12. ISBN 978-0-470-67406-2. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- ↑ Wagner, H.; Silber, K. (1 April 2004). "BIOS Instant Notes in Physiological Psycholo". Taylor & Francis. p. 69–73. doi:10.4324/9780203488256-27. Retrieved 15 May 2026.