LSD Effects and Characteristics Quiz

Phencyclidine (PCP)

• Some patients experienced adverse reactions during emergence after receiving PCP, including hallucinations, delirium, and agitation.
• PCP is chemically related to ketamine.
• PCP is a dissociative anesthetic drug.

Pharmacokinetics

• Maximum plasma PCP concentrations are observed 5-15 minutes after smoking.

Street Form and Names

• PCP is commonly sold on the street as a powder or tablet.
• It is often mixed with other substances, such as THC, opiates, and other hallucinogens.
• Common street names for PCP include "Angel Dust", "Hog", "Love Boat", and "Peace Pill".

Historical Context

• PCP was marketed as "Sernyl" in the late 1950s.

Adverse Effects

• Some patients suffered from hallucinations, delirium, and agitation for up to 10 days after taking PCP.
• The significant activity reported from early animal studies for PCP is anesthesia.

LSD and Amphetamine

• A potential danger associated with LSD abuse is "bad trips" and flashbacks.
• A characteristic of amphetamine toxicity is hypertension.
• LSD affects the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems by increasing sympathetic activity.
• A common consequence experienced by amphetamine users due to tolerance to some central effects is increased dosage.
• A potential danger for individuals who have previously experienced bad trips and constantly abuse LSD is prolonged anxiety and depression.

Management of Adverse Effects

• A recommended approach for managing adverse effects to hallucinogens is supportive care, including reassurance and relaxation techniques.
• A characteristic of bad trips due to hallucinogen use is intense anxiety and fear.
• A characteristic of flashbacks experienced by hallucinogen users is they can occur without warning and may be triggered by various stimuli.

PCP Toxicity

• The usual fatal dose of PCP is unknown.
• Neurologic signs of PCP at low doses or after chronic administration include numbness, slurred speech, and staggering gait.
• A common manifestation of PCP toxicity is aggression and violent behavior.
• Acute PCP intoxication is typically managed with supportive care and sedation.
• The pH range used for urine acidification in severe PCP intoxication is 5.5-6.5.
• The pKa range of PCP is 8.5-9.5.

LSD

• The usual average dose of LSD is 25-50 μg.
• A common manifestation of LSD abuse is altered perception and hallucinations.
• The reported maximum dose of LSD ingested by chronic users without serious complications is 2,000 μg.
• An interesting element in LSD abuse is that users may exhibit "set" and "setting" dependent effects.

Strychnine

• The mechanism of toxicity of strychnine is competitive inhibition of glycine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
• The recommended treatment for strychnine poisoning is supportive care, including sedation and muscle relaxation.
• The characteristic manifestation of strychnine poisoning in its early stages is muscle stiffness and rigidity.
• Death in strychnine poisoning after several full convulsions is often due to respiratory failure.

Amphetamine Toxicity

• Chlorpromazine reverses hyperthermia, convulsions, and hypertension associated with amphetamine toxicity by blocking dopamine receptors.
• In the management protocol for ingestion of a large amount of amphetamine within 4 hours, activated charcoal is recommended when emesis is contraindicated.
• Haloperidol differs from chlorpromazine in its management of amphetamine toxicity by being more potent and having a faster onset of action.
• The preferred method for managing hyperthermia associated with amphetamine toxicity is external cooling.
• Acidification of the urine enhances renal clearance of amphetamine.