Miscellaneous Hallucinogens

Question 1

Phencyclidine

Answer 1

• called dissociative anaesthetics
• produce total amnesia but at lower doses can produce an out of body experience (feeling of detachment) - it can also produce analgesia and amnesia
• develope din 1926 but not marketed until the 50s under the trade name Sernyl
• it has desirable effects like anaesthetic but it has more undesirable effects of hallucinogens and seizures so its been removed form human use (was used with veterinarians but now removed from that too)
• common street names: PCP, angel dust, and horse tranks
• can be taken in the form of a powder (added to cannabis cigarettes and smoked) or snorted
• doses of 1-10mg there is euphoria, numbness, loss of motor control, catatonia and fixed stare, mood changes from no emotion to emotional outbursts etc.
• effects last 4-6hrs but may persist for days
• larger doses produce psychosis and convulsions and bad trips tend to be frequent (about 80%)
• tolerance and physical dependence have rarely been noted in humans but have been noted in monkeys - but this is probably based on the infrequency with which humans subject themselves to sufficient dosing

Question 2

Ketamine

Answer 2

• common street names: Special K or CAT
• maybe in a powder or liquid form and is taken orally, snorted, injected or smoked
• effects are similar to PCP but they have a shorter duration of 2hrs
• when users feel the effects they describe it as entering the “K-hole”
• been suggested that ketamine may provide a useful model of psychosis and schizophrenia
• ketamine is a fast-acting antidepressant and its effect when the typical antidepressants are unresponsive - this has led to the rethinking of depression and putting an emphasis on the role of glutamate and not on serotonin and norepinephrine

Question 3

Phencyclidine and Ketamine - how they work

Answer 3

• they bind to the sigma opiate receptors to produce hallucinogenic effects
• the antagonism of glutamate receptors is also thought to produce an increase in dopaminergic activity in the brain reward system to produce the drug’s rewarding effects

Question 4

Dextromethorphan

Answer 4

• common cough suppressant which blocks glutamate receptors (like PCP and ketamine) and binds to the sigma-opiate receptors
• it’s less potent than PCP & ketamine but probably bc it takes a larger dose of this to feel the hallucinogenic effects
• abuse of this drug occurs among younger people and recreational use of this drug is known as “chug-a-tussin” (bc Robitussin is the main form of abuse), skittling, dexing or Triple C’s (Coricidin, Cough and Cold)
• 15-30mg is the medical dose
• 200mg produces euphoric effects
• 400mg produces more intense euphoria and closed-eyed hallucinations
• 600mg produces strong alterations in consciousness and psychotic-like reactions
• recreational use of over the counter drugs like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), dimenhydrinate (Gravol) and guaifenesin (expectorant in cough medications)
• this drug may actually protect against some of the neurotoxic effects of MDMA

Question 5

Thujone

Answer 5

• naturally occurring substance in plants like sage and wormwood
• wormwood is used to create Absinthe and has a menthol odour
• it’s known that thujone is a GABA antagonist and since GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter blocking its action increases neural activity which may produce convulsions
• Absinthe is known as the Green Fairy (la fee verte) - it has a high alcohol content (50-75%) and its a green colour