A 27-year-old man exits a bar's men's room after smoking an unknown drug. He quickly gets disoriented and aggressive. The man makes jerky, uncontrolled movements with his limbs and strikes a bouncer who attempts to calm him down. When police and emergency medical workers come, he fights off four cops before being subdued, and he seems painless. The patient suffers visual hallucinations at the emergency room, is unable to comply with the questioning, and swings between agitation and drowsiness. He is hypertensive and tachycardic, with vertical nystagmus on examination. The patient refuses to participate in urine toxicology tests. Several hours later, when questioned by the emergency physician, he cannot recall the majority of the preceding events. Which of the following is the primary mechanism of action of the drug most likely used by this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Phencyclidine (PCP) is principally an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, with minor effects on biogenic amine and other receptor reuptake inhibition. It has dissociative and anesthetic properties, but it may also produce psychosis and acute agitation, which can lead to violent trauma. There may also be ataxia, horizontal and vertical nystagmus, and memory loss.

A 27-Year-Old Man Exits a Bar's Men's Room After Smoking