The competitive excitatory amino acid antagonist cis-4-phosphonomethyl-2-piperidine-carboxylic acid (CGS 19755) increased the latency for monkeys to remove their tails from warm water (analgesia); larger doses produced ataxia, loss of righting, salivation, and eliminated reactivity to stimulation (anesthesia). CGS 19755 decreased tidal volume and had little effect on frequency of respiration. Although longer lasting, the effects of CGS 19755 were similar to the effects of ketamine, suggesting these effects result from actions at the NMDA receptor complex.