of this scheduling, however, China, the largest producer of the drug, was in favor of international control due to the drug’s propensity to lead to illegal narcotic trafficking. Typically, the drug is found as a


hydrochloride crystalline solid, liquid or pill and can be taken orally, rectally, inhaled and injected. Te highly hydrophilic and lipophilic nature of the drug causes rapid uptake into the bloodstream and brain. Once internalized, the drug is able to affect numerous cellular processes through a wide range of molecular interactions with robust antagonism of receptors responsible for neuronal excitatory synaptic activity. Reduction of this signaling by the mystery drug could be the major contributor to the


sensory deprivation that is observed during clinical anesthesia. Metabolism by the liver, catalyzed by


cytochrome P450 enzymes, is responsible for converting the mystery drug into its major demethylated (“Nor”) and minor (“Dehydronor”) metabolites. Te former antagonizes the same receptor as the parent though its potency is about 3 to 5 times less. An even weaker activity is observed for the “Dehydronor” metabolite which has been implicated in producing rapid antidepressant effects via an alternate molecular target. Te mystery drug, which has a half-life of 2 to 4 hours, can be detected unchanged in urine for approximately 3 days. Both the parent drug and “Nor” metabolite are commonly tested utilizing


The highly hydrophilic and lipophilic nature of the drug causes rapid uptake into the bloodstream and brain.


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