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

Phencyclidine The Dawn of a New AgeApril, 1956 The pharmaceutical company Parke & Davis first synthesize whatthey recollect to be the perfect anesthetic (Souza, 1995). When administered topatients, it causes a completely dissociative state, with no significantrespiratory or cardiovascular depression. Patients appear to be awake, eyesopen, eupnoeic normally.but are 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 caregiver, and to thisday it is the scourge of the underground drug community, and the focal point ofintense scientific research. Parke Davis and Company did not know how terrible,and wonderful, a discovery they made that day but our world has been changedforever because of it.quite possibly f or the better.The Dust of AngelsPhencyclidine, more commonly known as PCP, is a polycyclic compound belonging tothe arylcyclohexylamine class of chemicals figure 1.0 (Souza 1993). In pureform, it is a white powder which readily dissolves in water. The cyclohexaminesare known for their the potent neurological effects, with PCP being the mostpotent. Almost every variation has been administered to, or abused by, humans at around time (Nintey Fifth Congress, 1978). All these compounds have sympatheticpharmacological effects, which vary considerably according to the amountadministered. Small processs produce a drunken state, in which subjects report 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 sensory isolation with oneimportant excommunication 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 unforgiving "e... ...phy - dont forget thisCarroll, Marilyn. (1992). Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Drugs. New York, N.YChelsea House Publishers.Halberstadt, A.L. (1995). The phencyclidine-glutamate model of schizophrenia.Clinical Neuropharmacology. (Vol. 18) 237-249.Nintey Fifth Congress. (1978). Abuse of dangerous and illicit drugs -psychotropics, phencyclidine (PCP), and talwin Hearings before the selectcommittee on narcotics abuse and control house of representatives. Washington,DC US Government Printing Office.Okuyama, Shigeru. (1994). NE-100, a novel sigma receptor ligand Effect onphencyclidine-induced beh aviors 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 establish 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). Mode of action of atypical neuroleptics in relation tothe phencyclidine model of schizophrenia. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology.(Vol. 15) 11S-18S