16 Glossary

used at Erowid with the permission of author William White

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3HM: 3-hydroxymorphinan, a metabolite of DXM.
3MM: 3-methoxymorphinan, a metabolite of DXM.
AMPA: A subtype of ion channel excitatory amino acid receptors.
APAP: Acetaminophen / paracetamol.
Agent Lemon: A process for extracting DXM from syrups into DXM citrate; also the DXM citrate extraction.
CEV: Closed-eye visuals.
CNS: Central nervous system.
CYA: Cover Your Ass.
CYP: Cytochrome P450.
DEA: Drug Enforcement Agency.
DTG: A sigma/NMDA ligand used in research.
DXM: Dextromethorphan.
DXO: Dextrorphan.
DZ: Dizocilpine (q.v.).
EAA: Excitatory Amino Acid.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Question(s); also refers to a document answering those questions.
GABA: Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, a neuroreceptor type and neurotransmitter.
GHB: Gamma-Hydroxy Butyrate.
IM: Intramuscular.
IP: Intraperitoneal.
IUPAC: International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
IV: Intravenous.
LD50: Lethal dose for 50% of a given population (usually lab rats).
LTP: Long-Term Potentiation (of synaptic weight).
Lilliputian hallucinations: Sensations or hallucinations of mistaken size, where objects are either too large or too small, or both; occurs on dissociatives, during temporal lobe seizures, and high fever.
MAOI: Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor. A drug which inhibits the enzyme MAO.
MDMA: Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy).
MK801: Dizocilpine (q.v.).
NAN: NMDA Antagonist Neurotoxicity, i.e., neurotoxicity caused by blockade of NMDA receptors.
NH4OH: Ammonium hydroxide.
NMDA: N-methyl-D-aspartate, a type of excitatory amino acid receptor.
NRH: NMDA Receptor Hypofunction, another term for NAN.
NT: Neurotransmitter.
NaOH: Sodium hydroxide (lye).
OEV: Open-eye visuals.
OTC: Over the Counter, i.e., a drug available without prescription on drugstore shelves.
P450: Cytochrome P450, an enzyme family.
PC: Posterior Cingulate.
PCP: 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine, phencyclidine; a widely available illegal dissociative.
PGP: Pretty Good Privacy, an encryption scheme.
PPA: phenylpropanolamine, a decongestant.
PPP: A sigma/NMDA ligand used in research.
RC: Retrosplenial Cortex.
SWAG: Scientific Wild-Assed Guess.
TCP: A sigma/NMDA ligand used in research.
THC: Tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana.
Usenet: A "virtual network" of computers in which articles (documents) posted in a given newsgroup are propagated to all other computers.
VGAC: Voltage-gated anion channel.
VGCC: Voltage-gated cation channel.
VGIC: Voltage-gated ion channel.
WoD: War on Drugs.
YMMV: Your mileage may vary (i.e., your experiences may be different from those listed).
acetaminophen: APAP, paracetamol; an over-the-counter painkiller which is toxic in high doses.
acid-base extraction: A process for extracting desired chemicals (usually alkaloids) from unwanted impurities through the use of acids and bases to change the solubility of the desired chemicals in polar and nonpolar solvents (e.g., water and naptha).
agonist: Activator; an agonist at a given neuroreceptor activates that receptor.
alkaline: Having a pH above 7; basic. Lye and baking soda are both alkaline.
ammonia: Technically NH3, a gas, but "household ammonia" is actually ammonium hydroxide (q.v.).
ammonium hydroxide: NH4OH; a basic solution of ammonia gas in water.
amotivational syndrome: A syndrome characterized by lack of motivation, apathy, lethargy, etc., and which may be linked to use of marijuana or other drugs (this is highly debatable).
amphetamine: Speed (though this usually refers to methamphetamine, q.v.). A potent stimulant used recreationally which is illegal in most countries.
analgesic: A substance which relieves pain.
angeldustin: Endopsychosin (q.v.).
antagonist: Blocker; an antagonist at a given receptor blocks or lowers the activity of that receptor.
antihistamine: A drug which blocks histamine, typically used to treat allergic reactions.
aspartate: An excitatory amino acid.
basic: Having a pH above 7; opposite of acidic.
binding: site A location (on a receptor or other structure) where a given chemical attatches itself.
biogenic amine: A family of neurotransmitters (consisting of serotonin, acetylcholine, histamine, dopamine, and noradrenaline).
blockade: Blockage of.
bupropion: An atypical antidepressant which blocks the reuptake of dopamine.
chlorpheniramine: An antihistamine.
competitive antagonist: An antagonist that works by competing with the neurotransmitter for the same binding site.
cross-tolerance: A phenomenon in which tolerance to one drug induces tolerance to another; LSD and psilocybe mushrooms show cross-tolerance.
cytochrome: A type of enzyme.
decongestant: A drug which relieves congestion.
demethylation: Removal of a methyl group.
dextromethorphan: The subject of this text; a cough suppressant and dissociative.
diphenhydramine: An antihistamine.
dissociation: As used in this text, refers to a condition by which certain mental functions are dissociated or "separated" from others, to varying degree; in particular refers to the dissociation of sensory input and emotion from consciousness and memory.
dissociative: A sigma/NMDA ligand drug which induces dissociation; derives from "dissociative anaesthetic" (q.v.).
dissociative anaesthetic: A drug which induces anaesthesia via dissociation of the conscious mind from sensory input.
dizocilpine: MK801, DZ; a dissociative.
downregulation: A process in which the number or activity of receptors decreases, typically in response to abnormally high activity (e.g., from a drug).
dysphoria: The opposite of euphoria; a feeling of emotional or mental discomfort.
ego annihilation: The loss of sense of self-awareness and/or self-identity that occurs on many psychedelics.
eidetic imagery: As used in this text, refers to abnormally vivid, often fully realistic, imagination.
endopsychosin: A proposed endogenous (produced by the body) neurotransmitter or ligand for the sigma and NMDA open channel sites. The body's own PCP.
enzyme: A chemical produced within the body which degrades or changes substances or increases the rate of a given reaction.
ethnobotanical: A plant used by humans; often refers to a drug plant.
excitotoxic rebound: A process by which removal of a drug which suppresses neural activity causes a "rebound" during which too much neural activity occurs; during this rebound, neurons can suffer damage or die.
excitotoxicity: Toxicity to nerve cells and processes resulting from too much activity.
expectorant: A drug which increases production of, and thins, the phlegm (mucus) production.
finger: An Internet protocol which allows one to check a user's login information.
flanging: As used in this text, a phenomenon of sensory perception in which sensory data seems to be split up into obvious "frames", often with an echo effect. Nitrous oxide is well known for auditory flanging.
free base: The "free" base form of an alkaloid, i.e., not paired with an acid molecule. The free base (or freebase) form of an alkaloid can usually be vaporized and inhaled (this is called "freebasing" the drug).
full agonist: An agonist which fully activates a given receptor.
gelcap: A capsule formed of a gel material, sometimes gelatin but commonly a synthetic polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer.
glutamate: An excitatory amino acid; also a term for an excitatory amino acid receptor.
guaifenesin: An expectorant.
haloperidol: An antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia which also has sigma activity.
harmaline: A plant-derived MAOI.
harmine: A plant-derived MAOI.
hippocampus: A seahorse-shaped formation in the limbic system which is involved in the storage of memory for intermediate periods and the consolidation of those memories into permanent form.
histamine: A neurotransmitter (in the brain; in the body, histamine initiates an allergic reaction).
hypoxia: Lack of oxygen.
ion channel: A structure which lets ions enter or leave a cell; ion channels are sometimes paired with neuroreceptors which open or close the channel depending on the presence of a neurotransmitter.
ionotropic receptor: An ion channel receptor.
irreversible antagonist: An antagonist which binds permanently with a receptor, effectively destroying it.
ischemia: Cutoff of blood (typically due to artery blockage or damage).
ketamine: A dissociative anaesthetic used in animals, children, and burn victims; also used recreationally.
ligand: A chemical which binds somewhere; e.g., a "sigma ligand" is a drug which binds to sigma receptors somewhere. Ligands can be agonists or antagonists (or neither).
lye: Sodium hydroxide.
meclizine: An anticholinergic (i.e., drug which blocks acetylcholine receptors) used to prevent or treat nausea.
metabolism: Transformation of a chemical by the body; metabolism of a drug usually results in a form which can be more easily excreted.
metabolite: A product of metabolism (transformation by the body) of another drug.
metabotropic receptor: A receptor where activation leads to some change in metabolic processes within the cell, rather than opening or closing of an ion channel (c.f. ionotropic receptor).
methamphetamine: Speed, crank, crystal, etc., a potent and (in most countries) illegal stimulant.
microsome: Refers to one of several membrane-containing structures within a cell; there isn't one structure which is the "microsome", as the term refers to a fraction found after centrifuging a cell sample.
nM: Nanomoles (or nanomolar); a measure of concentration.
naloxone: An opiate receptor antagonist used to treate opiate overdoses.
naptha: A low boiling nonpolar fraction derived from petroleum distillation; typically includes pentane, hexane, heptane, and derivatives thereof.
neuropeptide: A peptide (short chain of amino acids) neurotransmitter.
neurotoxic: Toxic to neurons or neural processes.
noncompetitive antagonist: An antagonist at a given receptor which doesn't bind to the same site as the neurotransmitter (c.f., competitive antagonist).
nootropic: Capable of enhancing mental function. "Smart drug".
noscapine: A cough suppressant derived from opium.
pH: An indication of the acidity of alkalinity of a substance.
paracetamol: Acetaminopen (q.v.).
partial agonist: An agonist which partially activates a given receptor; may behave as an antagonist in the presence of enough neurotransmitter.
pentazocine: An opiate with strong sigma agonist properties.
perforant path: One of the neural pathways in limbic system which carries hippocampal signals.
pharmacokinetic: Refering to the metabolism of a given drug.
pharmacological: Refering to the action (including the neuroreceptor binding) of a given drug.
phencyclidine: PCP; an illegal dissociative commonly available ("angel dust", "greens", "hog", etc.).
phenyleprine: A decongestant typically found only with antihistamines.
phenylpropanolamine: A decongestant and appetite suppressant.
phosphene: A light or pattern which appears in the field of vision with eyes closed (and occasionally open). Phosphenes seem to come from the back of the eyelids, but are actually a result of slight but harmless abnormalities in retinal and visual processing networks.
photophobia: Literally "fear of light"; refers to discomfort from too much light.
plateau: As used in the FAQ, refers to a given dosage range of DXM in which the strength of the effects change but the character of the effects do not.
polistirex: A time-release polymer compound.
polyamine: A chemical with more than one amine group; the polyamine site on the NMDA receptor will bind with several polyamines.
polymorphism: Having multiple forms. Genetic polymorphism of an enzyme (such as P450) means that there are genetically based differences in forms of that receptor.
posterior cingulate: The posterior (rear) region of the cingulate cortex, a distinct part of the cerebral cortex located in the temporal lobe.
pseudoephedrine: A decongestant.
psychedelic: A drug eliciting or producing altered states of consciousness, mind, and/or perception.
psychoactive: Having effects on the mind.
psychonaut: Someone who explores consciousness, the mind, and "inner space" through the use of meditation, drugs, sensory deprivation, and other methods.
psychotomimetic: Literally, "psychosis mimicking". The "approved" medical term for any drug which has psychedelic effects (although not necessarily pleasant ones).
receptor: A structure on or inside a cell which receives a chemical signal.
reregulation: A process in which the number or activity of receptors changes, typically in response to an abnormally high or low level of activity at that receptor. c.f., upregulation, downregulation.
retrosplenial cortex: A section of the temporal cortex which is involved in limbic pathways and may be damaged by high doses of dissociatives.
reuptake: The process by which used neurotransmitters are taken back into cells to be recycled or destroyed.
self-titration: Adjusting the dosage of a drug onesself to achieve a given effect. Cigarette smokers quickly become adept at self-titrating nicotine levels to maintain a particular level of nicotine in the blood and brain.
sensorium: One's sensory environment.
sodium hydroxide: NaOH, lye. A base.
spontaneous memory: The sudden and unexpected recall of a memory episode.
spoonerism: Swapping the first letter or syllable of adjacent or near-adjacent words, often resulting in equally valid words, e.g., "I made a spoonerism" to "I spade a moonerism".
sympathetic: Referring to the subset of the peripheral nervous system activated in "fight or flight" behaviours.
sympathomimetic: Mimicking or potentiating sympathetic nervous system activity.
synesthesia: Perceiving sensory data of one sense with another, e.g., seeing sounds or hearing colors.
tachycardia: Fast heart rate.
tartrazine: A dye commonly found in some cough syrups; some people are allergic to tartrazine.
tetrodotoxin: An ion channel blocker; also the active ingredient in "zombie potion".
tryptophan: An amino acid and the precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin.
tyrosine: An amino acid and the precursor to the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline.
upregulation: A process in which the number or activity of receptors increases, typically in response to abnormally low activity (e.g., from an antagonist drug).
vasoconstriction: Constriction of blood vessels.
vasopressin: A neuropeptide which has peripheral effects on blood vessels and kidney action, and which may also be a nootropic.
vestibular: Refers to signals from the middle ear; vestibular sensations include floating, low-frequency vibrating, and similar sensations.