PCP and Ketamine

Question 1

What properties constitute a dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen?

Answer 1

• “depressant” (sedative, pain)
• “hallucinogen” (dissociative)
• stimulant (euphoric, numbing)

Question 2

What are designer drugs?

Answer 2

• designed for surgery

- Phencyclidine and ketamine

Question 3

How is ketamine taken?

Answer 3

• insuffation, inhalation, injection (10-60 min)

- ingestion (2hr)

Question 4

How is phenylcyclidine taken?

Answer 4

• insufflation (1 min) or inhalation (5 min)

Question 5

What is embalming fluid?

Answer 5

a yellowish oil solution of phencyclidine that cigarettes or joints are dipped in

Question 6

What is Angel dust?

Answer 6

phencyclidine crystals ground and sprinkled on herbs and smoked

Question 7

What are killer joints (sherms)?

Answer 7

phencyclidine mixed with marijuana

Question 8

What biological effects occur from a low dosage of PCP or ketamine?

Answer 8

• serotonin and dopamine affects
• reuptake inhibitor
• partial agonist to 5-HT 2a and D2

Question 9

What biological effects occur from a high dosage of PCP or ketamine?

Answer 9

• acetylcholine affected
• antagonist
• nicotinic: muscle contractions
• muscarinic: memory deficits, arousal, analgesia

Question 10

What biological effects occur from either a high dose or low dose of PCP or ketamine?

Answer 10

• antagonist

- disrupts long term potentiation resulting in disordered learning

Question 11

What is long term potentiation?

Answer 11

lasting strengthening of synaptic connections due to repeated firing

Question 12

Are the effects of PCP and ketamine dose dependent?

Answer 12

yes

Question 13

What effects occur at a low dose of PCP or ketamine?

Answer 13

• anesthetic

- drunk-like state, numbness in extremities

Question 14

What effects occur at a moderate dose of PCP or ketamine?

Answer 14

• depressant effects

- disconnectedness from the environment, dissociativeness from body/body distortion

Question 15

What effects occur at a high dose of PCP or ketamine?

Answer 15

• sympathomimetic, hallucinations, stimulant effects
• lingering schizophrenia-like symptoms for up to 2 months
• ketamine: “keyhole” experience

Question 16

What does the appearance of schizophrenia-like symptoms from high dose of PCP or ketamine support?

Answer 16

supports “glutamate hypothesis” of schizophrenia

Question 17

Why does PCP and ketamine cause “superhuman” strength?

Answer 17

• analgesia allows for excessive exertion that may result in injury

Question 18

What is megalomania?

Answer 18

delusional fantasies of omnipotence, power, perception, and the belief in a “god-like” status

Question 19

Why can PCP and ketamine result in long-term depression?

Answer 19

• chronic antagonism of glutamate receptors leads to deficits in memory, speech, logic, and MDD-like symptoms

Question 20

Does PCP and ketamine cause tolerance?

Answer 20

• separation of administration by days prevents tolerance

- prolonged regular intake requires higher doses (accrued)

Question 21

What does chronic ketamine injection result in?

Answer 21

permanent tolerance to psychedelic effects

Question 22

Does PCP and ketamine use result in physical dependence?

Answer 22

• PCP: effects on dopaminergic centers (could be associated with brain damage)
• ketamine: none

Question 23

Does PCP and ketamine result in psychological dependence?

Answer 23

• cravings are observed (related to euphoria)

Question 24

What is ketamine psychedelic therapy used to treat and what is the result?

Answer 24

• depression

- one dose of ketamine resulted in alleviation of depressive symptoms ithin hours and lasted more than a week

Question 25

What is the biology behind ketamine psychedelic therapy?

Answer 25

• glucocorticoid theory