Abstract
Phencyclidine is now one of the most frequently used main ingredients of “street drug” preparations. Its effects are highly dose dependent and three varieties of acute intoxication have been seen clinically associated with different dosages and routes of administration. Most persons using phencyclidine smoke it sprinkled on parsley in low doses. The presence of horizontal and vertical nystagmus associated with hypertension in a patient who is agitated or comatose are diagnostic of a phencyclidine intoxicated state. Sensory isolation and intravenous administration of diazepam in the event of seizure activity have proved effective in the treatment of acute intoxicated states. Phencyclidine has pronounced behavioral toxicity and several deaths due to this agent have now been documented. It is unknown whether seizure activity or respiratory depression is the primary cause of death in pharmacological overdoses.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- CHEN G., ENSOR C. R., RUSSELL D., BOHNER B. The pharmacology of 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) piperidine-HCl. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1959 Nov;127:241–250. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- DOMINO E. F. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PHENCYCLIDINE (SERNYL), A DRUG WITH AN UNUSUAL SPECTRUM OF PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY. Int Rev Neurobiol. 1964;6:303–347. doi: 10.1016/s0074-7742(08)60772-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Eastman J. W., Cohen S. N. Hypertensive crisis and death associated with phencyclidine poisoning. JAMA. 1975 Mar 24;231(12):1270–1271. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- GREIFENSTEIN F. E., DEVAULT M., YOSHITAKE J., GAJEWSKI J. E. A study of a 1-aryl cyclo hexyl amine for anesthesia. Anesth Analg. 1958 Sep-Oct;37(5):283–294. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Liden C. B., Lovejoy F. H., Jr, Costello C. E. Phencyclidine (Sernylan) poisoning. J Pediatr. 1973 Nov;83(5):844–845. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80385-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stein J. I. Phencyclidine induced psychosis. The need to avoid unnecessary sensory influx. Mil Med. 1973 Sep;138(9):590–591. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]