Psychotropic vs psychedelic or psychoactive vs psychotropic? Get clear definitions of these specialized terms, examples of drugs, and safety precautions.
In day-to-day life, the terms “psychoactives,” “psychedelics,” and “psychotropics” are often used interchangeably. While each type of drug has some effect on the brain, there are differences between them. The psychotropic vs psychedelic or psychoactive classification can be difficult to grasp because many drugs overlap in different categories. For example, all psychedelic drugs are psychoactive, but not all psychoactive drugs are psychedelic.
When it comes to comparing psychoactive and psychotropic drugs, many sources define them as the same thing. This is even true in peer-reviewed academic literature. Other sources note a subtle difference between the two terms.
Psychotropic vs Psychedelic Drugs
What Is a Psychotropic Drug?
Psychotropic drugs are typically used to treat a range of psychiatric disorders. They alter mood, emotional state, and behavior and work by targeting the limbic system, which is responsible for emotional regulation. For this reason, these drugs are used to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia:
- Antidepressants. Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) treat depression and certain anxiety disorders by adjusting brain chemicals such as serotonin.
- Anti-epileptics (or anticonvulsants). Originally developed to control seizures, medications such as lamotrigine (sold under the brand name Lamictal) are also used to stabilize mood, especially in bipolar disorder.
- Mood stabilizers. Doctors prescribe mood stabilizers to manage intense mood swings. Lithium is one of the most well-known examples
- Antipsychotics. These medications treat conditions that involve psychosis, such as schizophrenia and severe bipolar disorder.
While these drugs can be effective in treating neurological and psychiatric illnesses, they come with side effects, such as stomach upset, gastrointestinal problems, sexual dysfunction, anxiety, and depression.
The team at Restore Mental will consider your medical history and discuss any potential risks before prescribing psychotropic medication. Moreover, you should talk to your practitioner if you’re experiencing any side effects. In many cases, our physicians can prescribe a different medication that may be a better chemical fit for the individual.
Some scientific sources make no distinction between these two classes of drugs. But for those who accept the difference, psychoactive substances are defined as anything that affects the brain, whereas psychotropic drugs lead to noticeable changes in mood and cognition. Psychotropics are also typically used to treat severe neuropsychiatric conditions like schizophrenia or epilepsy.
What Is a Psychedelic Drug?
Psychedelic drugs are drugs that cause changes in mood, perception, and cognition. They can distort your sense of reality and cause hallucinations. Psychedelic plants have a rich cultural history and have been used by indigenous cultures for thousands of years. They’re known for inducing mystical experiences, and today there are more than 25 million users in the United States. Common psychedelic drugs include:
- LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide). Probably the most well-known type of psychedelic is made from compounds found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.
- Psilocybin. A natural psychedelic found in some mushroom species worldwide.
- Mescaline. It’s a psychedelic compound found in cacti like peyote and San Pedro. Its effects are often described as similar to those of LSD.
- DMT (dimethyltryptamine). This is a strong psychedelic found in many plants and also produced in labs. It is a main psychoactive ingredient in ayahuasca.
- 2C-B (4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine). Some say it has both psychedelic effects and can make users feel more emotionally open.
While researchers are currently studying psychedelics for potential therapeutic applications, in rare cases, they can lead to schizophrenia and schizophrenic-type disorders in genetically predisposed people. Evidence suggests that psychedelics have a low potential for addiction and are generally considered safe in low doses for healthy individuals. However, these drugs are illegal in most countries and still involve safety risks.
Psychedelic drugs can induce psychotic breaks. The problem is, there’s no way of knowing if you are genetically predisposed to schizophrenia or psychosis before taking these drugs. Moreover, the drugs may not be regulated, certainly not if purchased on the street. Other chemicals may be present or the dosing may be high. Consequently, a person who takes a drug and seems to tolerate it well one time might not tolerate the same drug another time, because other chemicals may be present or the dosing may be different.
Understanding the Psychoactive Meaning
Psychoactive drugs are drugs that affect the brain in any way. They can lead to changes in a person’s mental state, but don’t necessarily get them high. Some sources define psychoactive as anything that crosses the blood-brain barrier, including caffeine, nicotine, and many other types of mild drugs. Psychoactive drugs don’t necessarily induce noticeable changes to a person’s mental state, although they can. According to the United Nations World Drug Report, 316 million people (an estimated 6%) used psychoactive drugs as of 2023 globally.
Psychoactive drugs can be divided into four major categories: stimulants, depressants, opiates and hallucinogens.
Stimulants
Stimulants are substances that increase activity in the brain and body—in other words, they have an excitatory effect. Their effects range from helping keep you awake and alert to increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. Examples of stimulants include caffeine and nicotine. They also include illicit drugs like cocaine, speed and methamphetamines. Stimulants, especially those that are illegal like meth, can be highly addictive.
Stimulants work by interacting with certain neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) that relay messages between nerve cells. For instance, caffeine binds to adenosine receptors in the brain, preventing them from having their usual sleep-inducing effect. In general, stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy levels, by inhibiting the effects of sleep pressure.
Depressants
Depressant substances slow down the central nervous system. They work by affecting neurotransmitters that regulate mood and cognition. As a result, patients may experience drowsiness, impaired cognition and even the feeling of being high. Common examples of depressants include alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines. Barbiturates may be prescribed for insomnia or sleep disorders, while benzodiazepines are often prescribed to treat anxiety.
While some of these substances have therapeutic uses, they have the potential for abuse. Overuse may lead to addiction and other serious health problems. Depressant drugs are dangerous when combined with other substances like opioids or Valium. Each drug can amplify the other’s effects and lead to respiratory failure.
Opiates
Opiates are a class of drugs that includes both legal drugs like oxycodone and hydrocodone and illegal drugs like heroin. Opiates work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, reducing pain signals, and creating a feeling of euphoria, which is why they may lead to addiction, tolerance and physical dependence.
Opiates are extremely addictive. Opiate overdose drives the high rate of drug-related deaths in the U.S. Opioids like heroin target the brain’s reward center, which is located near the brain’s controls for respiratory function. Even a slight increase in dose suppresses the respiratory system, resulting in slow or even stopped breathing. Since 1999, more than 105,000 U.S. adults have died as a result of an opioid overdose.
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens are a class of drugs that produce changes in perception, mood and thought. Commonly used hallucinogens include LSD, magic mushrooms and ketamine. These drugs cause the user to see, feel or hear things that aren’t actually there. Some users report feeling more open and connected to others, while others may feel terrified or out of control. Hallucinogens are also referred to as psychedelics, falling under the broader category of psychoactive drugs.
Precautions
While psychoactives, psychedelics, and psychotropics have therapeutic benefits when used under professional supervision, they also all have potential for causing harm. Because of their cognitive effects, using them may lead to accidents or serious injuries. Moreover, some of these drugs, while often prescribed, have a high potential for abuse. Opiates like heroin, stimulants like meth, and depressants like alcohol pose a high risk for addiction and physical dependency.
Need Help?
While the difference between psychoactive vs. psychotropic or psychotropic vs. psychedelic isn’t always clear, each of these drug classes carries the potential for abuse and harm. If you or someone you know is suffering from the negative health effects of any of these drugs, contact Restore Mental Health today.
