Drugs and Behavior Exam 3: PCP and Ketamine

Dissociative Anesthetics

• PCP (Phencyclidine) and ketamine are classified as dissociative anesthetics.

PCP Overview

• Developed in the 1950s as an anesthetic.
• Street names include "Angel dust" and "hog."
• Classified as a Schedule II drug.
• Typically available in powdered or pill form.
• Can be administered orally, intranasally (snorted), injected, or smoked by being applied to tobacco/marijuana.
• Half-life and duration of action range from 7 to 48 hours.
• Effects include feelings of detachment, vertigo, numbness, and a dreamlike state.
• Cognitive disorganization leads to difficulties in concentration and communication.
• Symptoms may mirror schizophrenia.

Ketamine Overview

• Developed as a safer anesthetic alternative to PCP.
• Currently marketed as Ketalar, Ketaset, and Vetalar.
• Classified as a Schedule III drug.
• Street names include "K," "special K," and "cat valium."
• Routes of administration are primarily through injection or oral intake.
• Shorter half-life of 2.5 to 3 hours.
• Low doses produce effects similar to PCP.
• Produces a state known as "K-hole," which can be uplifting or terrifying.
• Potential therapeutic uses include treatment for depression and chronic pain.

Neuropharmacology

• Both PCP and ketamine act as noncompetitive antagonists at NMDA receptors, affecting learning and memory.
• Cognitive deficits arise from the blockade of NMDA receptors in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.
• Both substances stimulate dopamine (DA) cell firing and release in the prefrontal cortex.

Adverse Effects

• Chronic use of PCP or ketamine can lead to urological issues, cognitive deficits, and brain matter abnormalities.
• In animal studies, high doses of ketamine in developing brains resulted in apoptotic cell death.

Unique Forms and Uses

• "Fry," "wet," and "illy" refer to marijuana or tobacco cigarettes dipped in a PCP solution, often mixed with embalming fluid.