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

Phencyclidine The Dawn of a New AgeApril, 1956 The pharmaceutical company Parke & angstrom unit Davis first synthesize whatthey believe to be the perfect tense 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 normally.but are incognizant 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 role ofparanoid schizophrenia (Peterson Stillman, 1978). The drug is PCP, 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. qu ite possibly for the better.The Dust of AngelsPhencyclidine, more commonly known as PCP, is a polycyclic compound be 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 effect, with PCP being the well-nighpotent. Almost every variation has been administered to, or abused by, humans atsome time (Nintey Fifth Congress, 1978). All these compounds have similarpharmacological effects, which leave considerably according to the amountadministered. Small doses 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 exception the sensory impulses (when time-tested electrophysiologically)reach the neocortex but &q uotthe 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). cyclopedia of Psychoactive medicines. 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 beha viors 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). Mode of action of atypical neuroleptics in relation tothe phencyclidine model of schizophrenia. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology.(Vol. 15) 11S-18S