Rick, Nancy, et al.,
In a message dated 8/15/99 10:24:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> I don't have the cite in front of me, Nancy, but I _do_ recall reading
> some years ago about a drug in use by anestheologists that was found to
> have this effect in a fairly significant number of cases. As I recall, the
> drug worked as a hypnotic and amnesia inducing drug--it didn't render the
> patient unconscious during surgery, but it did block later memories of the
> experience--and in some cases, the "blocking" action failed. There was
> even a book written about that time (by Robin Cook???) that dealt with a
> similar, but more "sinister" drug that was probably based on an
> exaggeration of the actual drug itself.
You may be thinking of ketamine hydorchloride. We used this agent as the
primary anesthetic for neurosurgery on lower primates, and it has also been
in use for pediatric purposes as well. The use of this drug was controversial
years ago, and still carries stigma with some IRB's. I believe it is
preferred by some for its reduced cardiovascular side effects when compared
with other agents.
I note with a quick web search that it is now mixed with street drugs for
recreational purposes (hypnotic, dissociative, and hallucinatory effects). .
. .hummmm, I recall a couple of fellow grad students (no names mentioned, of
course) who conducted unsanctioned experiments with ketamine (for noble
scientific purposes only, of course) back in the early 80's. Also, seems to
be used now as an analgesic for chronic pain.
Sandra NR
Medscape site on ketamine:
<A
HREF="http://www.medscape.com/FirstDataBank/cfdocs/fdb_genframe.cfm?qt=lbl&gnn
=Ketamine%20Hcl%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&hicl_seq
no=1555">Drugs: Generic Drug Queries-Ketamine hydrochloride</A>
<A
HREF="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=10407522&form=6&;
db=m&Dopt=b">
ketamine1</A>
<A
HREF="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=10389951&form=6&;
db=m&Dopt=b">ketamine2</A>
<A
HREF="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=10364866&form=6&;
db=m&Dopt=b">ketamine3</A>
<A
HREF="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=10356431&form=6&;
db=m&Dopt=b">ketamine4</A>
<A
HREF="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=10355218&form=6&;
db=m&Dopt=b">ketamine5</A>
These are non-scientific sites:
<A
HREF="http://www.nursing.uiowa.edu/sites/AdultPain/Adjuvant/Ketamnt.htm">Ketam
ine Hydrochloride - Patient & Family Version - Adult </A>
<A HREF="http://www.drugfreeamerica.org/specialk.html">Special K</A>
<A HREF="http://www.pcb.co.za/users/ravesafe/ketamine.htm">RaveSafe
Information on Ketamine</A>
Apparently The University of Michigan has now removed ketamine from its
anesthesia list:
<A
HREF="http://www.medscape.com/SCP/DBT/1997/v09.n07/d3045.golembiowski/d3045.go
lembiowski.html#Int">Cost-Containment Strategies for Anesthesia Drugs</A>
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*
Sandra Nagel Randall, Ph.D.
Wayne County Community College District, MI
Department of Human and Community Development
22265 Carleton Ave.
Southfield, MI 48034
Athabasca University, Alberta, Canada
Biopsychology Consultant
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Off: 248-948-8162
Fax: 248-948-5090
<A
HREF="http://members.aol.com/snrandall">http://members.aol.com/snrandall</A>
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*****
