CHLORPROMAZINE VS MEPERIDINE IN THE TREATMENT OF PHENCYCLIDINE PSYCHOSIS

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 46  (2) , 52-54
Abstract
[Phencyclidine (PCP) was developed as a non-narcotic anesthetic agent. Although the drug produced excellent analgesia without cardiac or respiratory depression, it also caused a high rate of postoperative psychiatric symptoms, including schizophrenic-like delusions; hallucinations; mania; aggressive behavior; dyskinetic, catatonic, or stereotyped movements and prolonged psychosis, lasting days to weeks. Some of the symptoms which have made PCP unacceptable as an anesthetic in humans have accounted for its widespread popularity as a drug of abuse.] Patients with phencyclidine psychosis were treated with two 50 mg injections of either chlorpromazine (n = 10) or meperidine (n = 10). The chlorpromazine-treated groups had greater overall improvement. Meperidine may have a role in the emergency treatment of phencyclidine psychosis. Dopaminergic psychosis is apparently mediated by opioids.