PCP and Ketamine Flashcards
What properties constitute a dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen?
- “depressant” (sedative, pain)
- “hallucinogen” (dissociative)
- stimulant (euphoric, numbing)
What are designer drugs?
- designed for surgery
- Phencyclidine and ketamine
How is ketamine taken?
- insuffation, inhalation, injection (10-60 min)
- ingestion (2hr)
How is phenylcyclidine taken?
- insufflation (1 min) or inhalation (5 min)
What is embalming fluid?
a yellowish oil solution of phencyclidine that cigarettes or joints are dipped in
What is Angel dust?
phencyclidine crystals ground and sprinkled on herbs and smoked
What are killer joints (sherms)?
phencyclidine mixed with marijuana
What biological effects occur from a low dosage of PCP or ketamine?
- serotonin and dopamine affects
- reuptake inhibitor
- partial agonist to 5-HT 2a and D2
What biological effects occur from a high dosage of PCP or ketamine?
- acetylcholine affected
- antagonist
- nicotinic: muscle contractions
- muscarinic: memory deficits, arousal, analgesia
What biological effects occur from either a high dose or low dose of PCP or ketamine?
- antagonist
- disrupts long term potentiation resulting in disordered learning
What is long term potentiation?
lasting strengthening of synaptic connections due to repeated firing
Are the effects of PCP and ketamine dose dependent?
yes
What effects occur at a low dose of PCP or ketamine?
- anesthetic
- drunk-like state, numbness in extremities
What effects occur at a moderate dose of PCP or ketamine?
- depressant effects
- disconnectedness from the environment, dissociativeness from body/body distortion
What effects occur at a high dose of PCP or ketamine?
- sympathomimetic, hallucinations, stimulant effects
- lingering schizophrenia-like symptoms for up to 2 months
- ketamine: “keyhole” experience
What does the appearance of schizophrenia-like symptoms from high dose of PCP or ketamine support?
supports “glutamate hypothesis” of schizophrenia
Why does PCP and ketamine cause “superhuman” strength?
- analgesia allows for excessive exertion that may result in injury
What is megalomania?
delusional fantasies of omnipotence, power, perception, and the belief in a “god-like” status
Why can PCP and ketamine result in long-term depression?
- chronic antagonism of glutamate receptors leads to deficits in memory, speech, logic, and MDD-like symptoms
Does PCP and ketamine cause tolerance?
- separation of administration by days prevents tolerance
- prolonged regular intake requires higher doses (accrued)
What does chronic ketamine injection result in?
permanent tolerance to psychedelic effects
Does PCP and ketamine use result in physical dependence?
- PCP: effects on dopaminergic centers (could be associated with brain damage)
- ketamine: none
Does PCP and ketamine result in psychological dependence?
- cravings are observed (related to euphoria)
What is ketamine psychedelic therapy used to treat and what is the result?
- depression
- one dose of ketamine resulted in alleviation of depressive symptoms ithin hours and lasted more than a week
