Page 436 - Veterinary Toxicology, Basic and Clinical Principles, 3rd Edition

Toxicity of Drugs of Abuse Chapter | 22 403

VetBooks.ir D 2 , and shows some affinity for α 1 and α 2 adrenergic Southall, 2003; Volmer, 2005; Anonymous, 2011).
Sernylan was used in dogs and nonhuman primates and
receptors (Nichols, 2004; Volmer, 2005).
was the preferred anesthetic for crocodilians (Ortega,
Clinical Signs 1967; Stunkard and Miller, 1974). Phencyclidine was last
used commercially in the United States in 1978.
General symptoms reported in nonhuman animals include
Phencyclidine is easily synthesized in clandestine lab-
disorientation, mydriasis, depression or excitation, and
oratories. It is available in powdered or crystal form,
vocalization (Volmer, 2005). Behavioral changes reported
which is dissolved in liquids such as water or “embalming
in cats given IP injections of LSD included paw flicking,
fluid” containing formaldehyde and methanol, or it can be
head and body shaking, yawning, chops licking, bizarre
sold as tablets or capsules. Street products range from 5%
sitting and standing positions, falling from their perch,
to 90% purity, and phencyclidine is sometimes substituted
“leaping about,” compulsive scratching at the litter, paw-
for THC, mescaline, LSD, amphetamines, or cocaine.
ing at the water, biting objects in the cage, play behaviors
Phencyclidine is said to have a distinctive odor
including pawing and sniffing objects, tail chasing, “hal-
(Anonymous, 2011). This drug is frequently sold under
lucinatory behavior,” described as tracking, staring at,
the name “PCP,” but other terms include “angel dust” or
batting at, or pouncing on objects that were not apparent
“angel hair,” “boat” or “love boat,” “dummy dust,” “CJ,”
to the observer, frequent defecation and occasionally eme-
“hog” or “hog dust,” “PeaCe Pill,” “rocket fuel,” “star-
sis. Grooming behaviors included rubbing the head with
dust,” “whack,” and “zombie dust.” “Embalming fluid” is
paws, licking, biting and scratching, and were sometimes
added to cigarettes containing tobacco, marijuana or other
“incomplete”—the cat would lick or bite the air or stick
leafy material such as parsley, mint, or oregano. Names
her tongue out. Rage behavior and vocalization were not
for this type of product include “supergrass,” “amp,”
seen in these cats (Jacobs et al., 1977). Based on this
“happy sticks,” “sherm,” and “wet sticks.”
study, one can only imagine the presenting complaint in a
Ketamine is not as readily produced by the amateur
companion animal exposed to LSD.
chemist but is used in veterinary and, less commonly,
human medicine. Ketamine is a racemic mixture of R-
Treatment
ketamine and S-ketamine. Ketamine is labeled for use in
Treatment is based on close observation with supportive cats and nonhuman primates. It is still used by physicians in
and symptomatic care. Because absorption of LSD is rela- pediatrics and in emergency and critical care situations
tively rapid and effects are self-limiting, gastrointestinal where maintaining blood pressure and respiration are chal-
decontamination is unlikely to be beneficial (Riordan lenging. Ketamine is an odorless, flavorless liquid, which is
et al., 2002; Volmer, 2005). Clinical signs sometimes per- often dried and crystallized, then powdered for illicit use.
sist for up to 12 h after ingestion of a large dose. Animals Ketamine can be ingested, injected, insufflated, or placed
should be kept in a quiet, dark room to minimize sensory into tobacco or marijuana cigarettes and smoked and has
stimulation and restraint should be minimized to prevent been used to “spike” drinks. Street names for ketamine
hyperthermia. Laboratory techniques that have been include “cat valium,” “green,” “jet,” “K,” “special K,” or
employed in the detection of LSD include immunoassays, “vitamin K,” “keets,” “kit-kat,” “super acid,” and “super C.”
thin-layer chromatography, HPLC, and LC/MS.
Toxicity
Phencyclidine and Ketamine
Phencyclidine given orally at doses of 2.5 10 mg/kg pro-
Phencyclidine, 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) piperidine, is a duces clinical effects in dogs and doses of 25 mg/kg were
Schedule II synthetic drug with more than 80 known ana- lethal in all of six dogs treated (Kisseberth and Trammel,
logs. One such analog, ketamine or 2((-o-chlorophenyl)- 1990; Volmer, 2005). Given via intramuscular (IM) injec-
2-methylamino)-cyclohexanone HCl, has less than 1/10th tion, 2 mg/kg caused muscular incoordination, 5 mg/kg
the potency of phencyclidine and is a Schedule III drug. caused immobilization and convulsions in 1/5 of dogs,
Phencyclidine was originally used as an anesthetic under and 15 mg/kg caused convulsions in 2/2 dogs treated
the trade names Sernyl for human patients and later (Ortega, 1967).
Sernylan for veterinary patients. Sernyl, given IV, pro- Ketamine has a high therapeutic index in domestic
duces decreased response to nociceptive stimuli with mammals. The sedative dose in cats is 20 mg/kg IM.
insignificant respiratory and cardiac depression and no Doses of 5 10 mg/kg IM have produced convulsive sei-
loss of corneal, papillary, or other reflexes (Branson, zures in dogs. IV injections of 2 mg/kg produce ataxia in
2001). However, Sernyl was associated with postoperative sheep and dissociative analgesia in cattle. Doses of
psychosis, dysphoria, delirium, violent behavior, and hal- 5 15 mg/kg IV caused struggling and vocalization in
lucinations (Kisseberth and Trammel, 1990; Pestaner and goats (Branson, 2001). The approximate LD 50 for