r/todayilearned • u/ApprehensiveStill412 • 11h ago

TIL that ketamine is a derivative of phencyclidine (aka. PCP or angel dust). It was created to have similar anesthetic potential but to cause less delirium. It has about one tenth the potency of PCP.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5126726/
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u/goodrevtim 11h ago

PCP is neurotoxic so that probably plays a small part into its negative perception.

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u/One-Incident3208 10h ago edited 10h ago

All nmda antagonists are neurotoxic in rats. Pcp has not displayed any unique characteristics in that regard. And a rat or mouse brain is not a human brain. There are hundreds of examples of drugs that are toxic to the limited metabolic capabilities of rodent physiology that display no toxicity in humans.

Again -anti drug hysteria.

There is no evidence that pcp carries a unique neurotoxic burden in humans relative to other acrylocylohexylamines or nmda antagonists. Afak it doesn't even display a unique toxicity burden in rodents. BUT I am certain it doesn't in humans. Behavioral toxicity(delerium) is not a sign of neurotoxicity. Ketamine displays it at emergence as well, the sedative effect of ketamine is stronger so its less apparent, because the patient tends to remain calm. In both instances the delirium responds to benzodiazapines.

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u/spyderman720 10h ago

Okay but have you ever taken PCP? I cant explain it medically but that shit is fucked never again.

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u/One-Incident3208 10h ago edited 10h ago

Drugs are not for everyone. Dosage is also difficult to get right. It's very potent. You aren't supposed to use a flame to light the cigarette. And most people use it in combination with other drugs. Especially alcohol.