NAME THAT DRUG
BY STEVEN SYKES, PHD Taming the Tiger
abscess treatment and oral surgeries. Tese studies failed to uncover any toxic effects to organs and tissues. However, the drug produced strong feelings of detachment and placed patients in a “dissociative state” and was therefore labeled a dissociative anesthetic. Response to this altered state varied among patients and could lead to agitation, confusion and unrest. Tis “reemergence” phenomenon was also observed once the anesthesia subsided, but could be reduced with the administration of diazepam and other benzodiazepines. In spite of these findings, the symptoms were less severe than those produced by PCP and the mystery drug was considered an adequate replacement anesthetic. Following the approval of the drug
many countries advocate for continued access to this month’s mystery drug for its critical roles in medicine. Advances in medical procedures during the 20th century brought about the discovery of more efficacious and safer anesthesia. For instance, phencyclidine (PCP), which was first discovered in the early 1900s by Victor Maddox of Parke Davis Laboratories, acted as a powerful anesthetic and analgesic without the unwanted effects of respiratory and cardiac depression. Initial testing of PCP on animals revealed a wide range of effects including an intoxicating impairment of rodents, paralyzed rigid state in pigeons, delirium in canines and potent anesthesia in primates. Early on, PCP gained wide clinical acceptance as a safe anesthetic in humans. However, utilization of the drug revealed prolonged post-surgery reactions that included psychosis, hallucinations,
D 66 datia focus
espite increased recreational abuse and considerations for international rescheduling,
schizophrenic-like delirium and paranoia. Consequently, the suitability of PCP in human anesthesia came into question. Soon aſter, derivatives of PCP, including this month’s mystery drug, began to be developed, and while they produced a similar anesthetic state, it manifested during a smaller window of activity. Te first synthesis of our drug was
performed in 1962 by Calvin Stevens, a consultant for Parke Davis. Te drug was among a series of PCP-related compounds also synthesized by Stevens. Initial research revealed the drug was most advantageous to study due to the brief and potent anesthesia produced during animal trials. In 1964, Guenter Corssen and Edward Domino performed the first clinical experiments using the mystery drug. Tis analysis revealed that in humans 1 to 2 mg of the drug given intravenously induced analgesia within 30 to 60 seconds and lasted for approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Tey observed favorable effects of the drug during painful procedures including skin graſting,
for use in humans by the Food and Drug Administration in 1970, the anesthetic was quickly utilized on the batlefield to aid the wounded during the Vietnam War. Soldiers would equip themselves with a vial of the drug and would inject injured comrades intramuscularly for pain relief. Although extremely beneficial in this role, the drug was also part of an extensive list of narcotics that were used by the counter- culture movement to protest the war. Tis led to the recreational abuse of the mystery drug and many psychedelic agents including PCP, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”). Tis month’s mystery drug played a role in prompting the creation of the Drug Enforcement Administration and also helped lead to the development of the classification system that is outlined in the Controlled Substance Act. In 2006, 2012 and 2014, our mystery drug
was critically reviewed by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs for establishing international control despite recommendations by the World Health Organization against this proposal. Many countries were in opposition
Spring 2016
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80