DRE: Dissociative Anesthetic

Question 1

Give a brief description of dissociative anesthetics

Answer 1

1. Drugs that inhibit pain by cutting off or dissociating brain’s perception of pain
2. Induce a state of sedation, immobility, amnesia, and analgesia

Question 2

what is PCP short for

Answer 2

1. Phenyl Cyclohexyl Piperidine

Question 3

Provide a description of Ketamine

Answer 3

1. Analog of PCP
2. Brand names: Ketalar, Ketaject, Vetalar, and Vetamine
3. Methoxetamine – analog of Ketamine
   a. A research chemical, not currently approved for human or animal use
   b. Similar abuse profile to Ketamine and can cause pain suppression, tachycardia, hypertension, and altered perception and memory

Question 4

Define Psychotomimetic

Answer 4

1. Produces effects that mimic psychosis or “craziness.”

2. When psychosis remains long after the drug dissipates, the effects are then called psychotogenic (causes craziness).

Question 5

Onset and Duration of PCP and its Analogs

Answer 5

Smoked 1–5 minutes
Injected 1–5 minutes
Snorted 2–3 minutes
Ingested (Oral) 30–60 minutes

Peak Effects Generally in 15–30 minutes
Duration 4–6 hours

Question 6

Onset and Duration of Ketamine

Answer 6

Method Onset Duration
Smoked Within seconds Varies
Injected 1-5 minutes 30-45 minutes
Snorted 5-10 minutes 45-60 minutes
Ingested (Oral) 5-20 minutes 1-2 hours

Question 7

Onset and Duration of Effects for DXM

Answer 7

• Rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and peak plasma concentrations are reached in approximately 2.5 hours
• DXM is widely distributed and is rapidly and extensively metabolized by the liver
• DXM exerts its antitussive effects within 15 – 30 minutes of oral administration
• The duration of action is approximately 3 – 6 hours with conventional dosage forms

Question 8

DXM Plateau Effects

Answer 8

1. 1st plateau: mild inebriation
2. 2nd plateau: an effect similar to alcohol intoxication with mild hallucinations. Speech can become slurred and short-term memory may be temporarily impaired.
3. 3rd plateau: an altered state of consciousness where the abuser’s senses, particularly vision, can become impaired.
4. 4th plateau: Mind and body dissociation or an “out of body” experience. Abusers can lose some or all contact with his or her senses. The effects at this level are comparable to PCP.
5. Other effects include: blurred vision, body itching, rash, sweating, fever, hypertension, shallow respiration, diarrhea, toxic psychosis, and an increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.
6. Acute dose between 250-1500mg

Question 9

General Indicators under Dissociative Anesthetics

Answer 9

• Blank stare
• Confusion
• Chemical odor (PCP)
• Cyclic behavior (PCP)

Question 10

1. What was the original purpose for which PCP was first patented and marketed?

Answer 10

It was developed in the 1950’s as an intravenous anesthetic.

Question 11

2. Why do many PCP smokers prefer to adulterate mentholated cigarettes with PCP?

Answer 11

PCP smoke is very hot, so users will cool it through the use of mentholated cigarettes.

Question 12

3. What is Ketamine?

Answer 12

An analog of PCP used as a surgical anesthetic, both for animals and humans, especially children.

Question 13

4. What does the term “dissociative anesthetic” mean?

Answer 13

A dissociative anesthetic inhibits pain by cutting off (or dissociating) the brain’s perception of the pain. PCP and its analogs are considered dissociative anesthetics.

Question 14

5. “Phencyclidine” is a contraction of what three words?

Answer 14

Phenyl Cyclohexyl Piperidine