Dissociatives

Overview

Dissociatives (also referred to as dissociative anesthetics) are a class of hallucinogen. Members of this class are characterized by distorted sensory perceptions and feelings of disconnection or detachment from the environment and self. The phenomenology is often described in terms of reducing or blocking signals to the conscious mind from other parts of the central nervous system.[1] PW

Dissociatives, colloquially dissos, are a subclass of hallucinogens that distort perception of sight and sound and produce feelings of detachment – dissociation – from the environment and/or self. Although many kinds of drugs are capable of such an effect, dissociatives are unique in that they do so in such a way that they produce hallucinogenic effects, which may include dissociation, a general decrease in sensory experience, hallucinations, dream-like states or anesthesia.[2] WP

Despite most dissociatives' main mechanism of action being tied to NMDA receptor antagonism, some of these substances, which are nonselective in action and affect the dopamine and/or opioid systems, may be capable of inducing more direct and repeatable euphoria or symptoms which are more akin to the effects of typical "hard drugs" or common drugs of abuse. This is likely why dissociatives are considered to be addictive with a fair to moderate potential for abuse, unlike psychedelics. Despite some dissociatives, such as phencyclidine (PCP) possessing stimulating properties, most dissociatives seem to have a general depressant effect and can produce sedation, respiratory depression, nausea, disorientation, analgesia, anesthesia, ataxia, cognitive and memory impairment as well as amnesia.[3][4] WP

Examples of dissociatives include arylcyclohexylamines like ketamine and phencyclidine (PCP); morphinans like dextromethorphan (DXM); inhalants like nitrous oxide (N₂O); diarylethylamines like diphenidine and N-ethyl-lanicemine; and adamantanes like memantine, among others. WP

References

1. Journal / agency Tamminga, C. A., Tanimoto, K., Kuo, S., Chase, T. N., Contreras, P. C., Rice, K. C., Jackson, A. E., O’Donohue, T. L. PCP-induced alterations in cerebral glucose utilization in rat brain: blockade by metaphit, a PCP-receptor-acylating agent. Synapse (New York, N.Y.). 1987. doi:10.1002/syn.890010514
2. Journal / agency Snyder, Solomon H. Phencyclidine. Nature. 1980. doi:10.1038/285355a0 · PMID 7189825
3. Journal / agency Giannini, AJ; Eighan, MS; Loiselle, RH; Giannini, MC. Comparison of haloperidol and chlorpromazine in the treatment of phencyclidine psychosis. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 1984. doi:10.1002/j.1552-4604.1984.tb01831.x · PMID 6725621
4. Journal / agency Giannini, A. James; Nageotte, Catherine; Loiselle, Robert H.; Malone, Donald A.; Price, William A. Comparison of Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol and Pimozide in the Treatment of Phencyclidine Psychosis: Da-2 Receptor Specificity. Clinical Toxicology. 1984. doi:10.3109/15563658408992586 · PMID 6535849

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