Phencyclidine: The Dawn Of A New Age Essays -- essays research papers

Phencyclidine The Dawn of a newborn AgeApril, 1956 The pharmaceutical company Parke & amp Davis first synthesize whatthey believe to be the thoroughgoing(a) anesthetic (Souza, 1995). When administered topatients, it causes a completely dissociative state, with no significantrespiratory or cardiovascular depression. Patients appear to be awake, eyesopen, breathing norm in ally. yet be unaware of their surroundings or the proceduresbeing performed upon them (Souza, 1995). Indeed, this is the perfect drug.Unfortunately, like all good things, this one has a darker side. 15% ofpatients awake from their slumber with what appeared to be an acute case ofparanoid schizophrenia (Peterson Stillman, 1978). The drug is health care provider, and to thisday it is the bruise of the underground drug community, and the focal point ofintense scientific research. Parke Davis and alliance did not know how terrible,and wonderful, a discovery they made that day but our world has been changedforeve r because of it. quite possibly for the better.The Dust of AngelsPhencyclidine, more commonly cognize as PCP, is a polycyclic compound belonging tothe arylcyclohexylamine class of chemicals figure 1.0 (Souza 1993). In perfect(a)form, it is a white powder which readily dissolves in water. The cyclohexaminesare cognize for their the potent neurological effects, with PCP being the mostpotent. Almost either variation has been administered to, or abused by, humans atsome succession (Nintey Fifth Congress, 1978). All these compounds have similarpharmacological effects, which vary well according to the amountadministered. Small sexually transmitted diseases produce a drunken state, in which subjects invoice anumbness in the extremities, while some species (like dogs and cats) becomequite excited (Halberstadt, 1995). Intermediate doses have anesthetic andanalgesic effects , with the psychic state resembling sensorial isolation with oneimportant exception the sensory impulses (when tested electrophysiologically)reach the neocortex but "the neuronal signals are grossly distorted"(Halberstadt, 1995). Large doses, especially of PCP, may produce convulsions.Any dose produces cataleptoid muscle effects (Halberstadt, 1995). All thechemicals in this class produce a range a physiological effects, includingtachydardia and hypertension (Halberstadt, 1995). Unlike the othercyclohexamines, however, PCP causes severe "e... ...phy - dont forget thisCarroll, Marilyn. (1992). Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Drugs. New York, N.YChelsea House Publishers.Halberstadt, A.L. (1995). The phencyclidine-glutamate nonplus of schizophrenia.Clinical Neuropharmacology. (Vol. 18) 237-249.Nintey Fifth Congress. (1978). Abuse of dangerous and illicit drugs -psychotropics, phencyclidine (PCP), and pentazocine Hearings before the selectcommittee on narcotics abuse and control offer of representatives. Washington,DC US Government Printing Office.Okuyama, Shigeru. (1994). NE-100, a novel sigma receptor ligand Effect onphencyclidine-induced behaviors in rats, dogs, and monkeys. Life Sciences. (Vol.55) PL133-138Peterson, R.C, & Stillman, R.C. (1978). PCP-Phencylidine Abuse An appraisal.New York, NY National Institute on Drug Abuse.Restak, R.M. (1994). Receptors. New York, N.Y Bantam Books.Souza, Errol B., & Clouet, D., & London, E.D. (1993). Sigma, PCP, and NMDAReceptors. New York, NY National Institute on Drug Abuse.Svensson, T.H. (1995). modal value of action of atypical neuroleptics in relation tothe phencyclidine model of schizophrenia. daybook of Clinical Psychopharmacology.(Vol. 15) 11S-18S