Author: John Carter

List of All Common Dissociative Drugs & Their Effects

As for the Ketamine overdose, benzodiazepines are widely used in cases of agitation, while glycopyrrolate is applied when a considerable amount of salivary secretions appear. For the DXM overdose, stomach pumping and exercises for even breathing are needed. Nitrous Oxide becomes dangerous and unpredictable if taken together with other drugs, alcohol, or nicotine. Finally, if it is clear that one has overdosed from Salvia, antipsychotics may be prescribed. Salvia divinorum is a naturally-occurring plant that is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America.

In an emergency? Need treatment?

Impatient users may take a second dose before the first one has time to kick in, leading to an overdose. DXM (dextromethorphan) is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter cough medicines. In low doses, it’s a safe and effective antitussive agent (a substance that prevents coughing), but it’s a potent dissociative psychedelic in higher doses. The main feeling shared by all dissociatives is the detachment from the self or from the environment.

How do psychedelic and dissociative drugs affect pregnancy?

1. For that reason, knowing the symptoms, one can start rehabilitation before the problem becomes too serious.
2. These surveys use the terms “hallucinogen” and “hallucinogen use disorder” and data from those surveys are reported below.
3. Olney’s lesions are known to occur with high dose or long-term use of NMDA antagonists, including ketamine and PCP.
4. Long-term consequences are more likely with habitual use of dissociative drugs.
5. Its legal status means it is available for medical use under strict regulation but is illegal for non-prescribed use.
6. Some dissociatives, such as ketamine, show promise as a treatment for depression and PTSD.

If nerve cells do not release enough of glutamate or, on the contrary, release more glutamate than needed, the effect of a particular drug would differ as well. In some cases, taking these drugs can also cause seizures, muscle contractions, extreme aggressive or violent behavior, or psychosis. Those who take ketamine in high doses can be at risk for amnesia and a complete loss of their senses, which may feel like a near-death experience. Physical dependence occurs when a person’s body adapts to the dissociatives and gets used to functioning with the drugs in their system. Drugs that affect a person’s mental state (psychoactive drugs) can also have different effects depending on a person’s mood (often called the ‘set’) or the environment they are in (the ‘setting’).

Challenging Experiences for Participants

Patients who want to undergo dissociative drug addiction treatment safely can go to a rehab center, as it will provide patients with various stages of treatment and medication or drug interventions. Specialists at these centers will also create a relapse prevention plan for a more successful recovery. Furthermore, during the Covid-19 pandemic, there are online Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

What is psychedelic-assisted therapy?

Upper-class “laughing gas” parties were reported in Great Britain as early as 1799. Ketamine was invented to replace PCP as an anesthetic agent during surgeries. Chemically, ketamine is a member of the arylcyclohexylamine family, many of which are both dissociative and hallucinogenic.

This dissociative drug is not controlled under the Federal Controlled Substances Act but is banned or regulated in several states. This drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as an anesthetic and, more recently, in a nasal spray form (esketamine) for treatment-resistant depression. Addiction Resource does not offer medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice. Only trained and licensed medical professionals can provide such services. If you or anyone you know is undergoing a severe health crisis, call a doctor or 911 immediately.

How many people use hallucinogens*?

If you or someone you know shows signs of dissociative drug abuse, they must get treatment immediately. People may develop certain mental health issues after active dissociative drug use. If you or someone you know is going through a struggle with dissociative drugs, please seek help from your healthcare provider immediately. You might also find it helpful to learn about the signs of addiction and potential treatments for managing abuse to combat the effects. Dissociative drugs belong to the class of hallucinogens and also share some effects with the common representatives of that class.

This might include craving dissociatives and finding it very difficult to stop using them. The individual effects and toxicity of each dissociative can vary greatly between each person using them. Sometimes the dissociated feeling goes away as the deliriant effect starts to kick, as is the case with datura. This substance is called laughing gas because users have a tendency to burst out in hysterical laughter. This emerges spontaneously as a result of the intense confusion and euphoria. People lose touch with who they are and where they are — but don’t care because of how dissociated from the self they’ve become.

Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center. No one should assume the information provided on Addiction Resource as authoritative and should always defer to the advice and care provided by a medical doctor. First and foremost, one should remember that there is a risk of overdose from any dissociative drug. While some medications are likely to cause severe overdose, others have milder symptoms.