What are common side effects of dissociative anesthetics?

Dissociative anesthetics, such as ketamine and PCP, can produce various physiological and psychological effects. Among these, one common side effect is the sensation of feeling warm to the touch and experiencing sweating. This effect is linked to the drug's influence on the body's thermoregulation and can result in increased peripheral blood flow, leading to a perception of warmth. Sweating is another typical response when the body is processing the dissociative effects, often due to heightened sensory experiences and altered perception of body temperature.

While the other options, like rapid heartbeat, nausea, and heightened alertness may also occur in some contexts or with different substances, they are not the most characteristic side effects of dissociative anesthetics. Instead, the distinct experience of warmth and sweating aligns closely with the pharmacological impacts observed with these drugs. This understanding can help in recognizing the unique effects associated with dissociative anesthetics in both clinical and illicit environments.