3-MeO-PCP

3-Methoxyphencyclidine, or 3-MeO-PCP, is a synthetic dissociative of the arylcyclohexylamine class. 3-MeO-PCP contains cyclohexane, a six-member saturated ring, bonded to two additional rings at R₁. One of these rings is a piperidine ring, a nitrogenous six member ring, bonded at its nitrogen group. The other ring is an aromatic phenyl ring, substituted at R₃ with a methoxy group.

3-MeO-PCP is a PCP derivative and structurally analogous to 4-MeO-PCP.

3-MeO-PCP acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist. A specific subtype of glutamate receptor, NMDA (N-Methyl-D-Aspartate), modulates the transmission of electrical signals between neurons in the brain and spinal cord; for the signals to pass, the receptor must be open.

Dissociatives inhibit the normal functioning NMDA receptors by binding to and blocking them. This disruption of neural network activity leads to loss of normal cognitive and affective processing, psychomotor functioning, anesthesia and eventually the equivalent of a "k-hole".

3-MeO-PCP has a Ki of 20 nM for the NMDA receptor, 42 nM for the sigma-1 receptor, 216 nM for the serotonin transporter (SERT), and 2960 nM with H1 receptor ^{[6] [7]} It binds to the NMDA receptor with higher affinity than PCP and has the highest affinity of the three isomeric anisyl-substitutions, followed by 2-MeO-PCP and 4-MeO-PCP.^[8] Like its sister compound PCP and unlike ketamine, 3-MeO-PCP shows a high affinity for inhibiting the relatively unstudied PCP2 glutamate receptor.^{[citation needed]}

Although 3-MeO-PCP was once claimed to possess opioid or dopaminergic activity,^[9] this supposition is contradicted by data showing 3-MeO-PCP to be a potent and selective ligand for the NMDA receptor without appreciable affinity for the µ-opioid receptor or dopamine transporter.^[10] 3-MeO-PCP was preceded by the less potent dissociative 4-MeO-PCP and first became available as a research chemical in 2011.^[5]

3-MeO-PCP is commonly described as being more stimulating and less immobilizing than other dissociatives such as ketamine or MXE.

At lower doses, it can induce sensory enhancements such as color enhancement, acuity enhancement, tactile enhancement, auditory enhancement and bodily control enhancement. At medium to high doses it presents sensory suppressions such as tactile suppression, motor control loss, auditory suppression and acuity suppression.

Based on a large amount of experience reports, it appears to be considerably more likely to induce mania, delusions, and psychosis than other dissociatives (possibly due to its unusually high potency, compulsivity and erratic dose response).

Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.

It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.

Experience reports

Anecdotal reports which describe the effects of this compound within our experience index include:

• Experience:17mg 3-MeO-PCP & Cannabis oil - Terrifying confusion
• Experience:25mg 3-MeO-PCP - Enhanced film experience
• Experience:3-MeO-PCP - Extreme psychosis
• Experience:3-MeO-PCP 14mg Oral - A chill enjoyable evening
• Experience:3-MeO-PCP, LSD, Clonazolam, and Amphetamine - Excessive Amounts and Excessive Confusion

Additional experience reports can be found here:

• Erowid Experience Vaults: 3-MeO-PCP

The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational 3-MeO-PCP use has not been studied in any scientific context and the exact toxic dosage is unknown. This is because 3-MeO-PCP has very short history of human usage.

There is one death involving this substance recorded in the medical literature. In this case, the individual's cause of death was determined to be from a combination of 3-MeO-PCP, amphetamine, and diphenhydramine.^[12]

Dependence and abuse potential

3-MeO-PCP produces dependence with chronic use and has a high potential for abuse. In comparison to other dissociatives, 3-MeO-PCP has been reported to be more likely to produce psychological dependence than other dissociatives. When dependence has developed, cravings and withdrawal effects may occur if one suddenly stops their usage. There are multiple online reports of users becoming seriously dependent on this substance.

Tolerance to many of the effects of 3-MeO-PCP develops with prolonged and repeated use. This results in users having to administer increasingly large doses to achieve the same effects. After that, it takes about 3 - 7 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 1 - 2 weeks to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). 3-MeO-PCP presents cross-tolerance with all dissociatives, meaning that after the consumption of 3-MeO-PCP, all dissociatives will have a reduced effect.

Psychosis

3-MeO-PCP has been reported to cause psychosis, delusions, and mania at a significantly higher rate than other dissociatives such as ketamine, diphenidine, or MXE. There are a large number of experience reports online which describe states of "psychotic delirium, amnesia, mania, and other serious consequences" after abusing 3-MeO-PCP.^[13][14][15] In some cases, it has resulted in hospitalization and occasionally has taken up to a week or more to resolve.^{[16][17][18][19][20]}

• Users should avoid taking 3-MeO-PCP for multiple days in a row or becoming dependent on it as this seems to be the main risk factor in the observed incidences of severe adverse effects.
• The recommended dosage range should not be exceeded as high doses can trigger these effects as well.
• Users should start with extremely low doses and work their way up as slowly as possible. Volumetric liquid dosing should preferably be used due to the drug's potency; most standard milligram scales cannot accurately weigh out doses below 10-15mg.
• Compulsive redosing before one has fully sobered up is not recommended and can result in too high of a dose.

Due to the risk of psychosis, it is not recommended to combine this substance with other substances, especially stimulants, psychedelics, or other dissociatives like MXE. Independent research should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.

It is strongly advised to use harm reduction practices when using this substance.

Urinary tract effects

In terms of its long-term health effects when used repeatedly and excessively for extended periods of time, 3-MeO-PCP seems to exhibit almost identical bladder and urinary tract problems to those found within ketamine, but to a lesser extent. This is possibly because 3-MeO-PCP is far more potent than ketamine so significantly less of drug needs to be consumed. Increased urinary tract effects will compound with usage of other drugs like amphetamine even if the drugs are not simultaneously used.^{[citation needed]} Symptoms of ketamine-induced cystitis can become extremely serious and can be described as:

• Urinary frequency - Urinary frequency is the need to empty the bladder every few minutes.
• Urinary urgency - This can be described as a sudden, compelling need to urinate.
• Urinary pressure - This is experienced as a constant sensation of fullness in the bladder that is unrelieved by urination.
• Pelvic and bladder pain - Pain can develop suddenly and severely, particularly as the bladder fills with urine.
• Hematuria - Hematuria is visible blood in the urine.
• Incontinence - This is the leakage of urine.

These effects can be mitigated by refraining from using 3-MeO-PCP regularly (on a daily or weekly basis) and manually limiting one's usage of the substance.

Dangerous interactions

Warning: Many psychoactive substances that are reasonably safe to use on their own can suddenly become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with certain other substances. The following list provides some known dangerous interactions (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them).

Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.

• Stimulants - Both stimulants and dissociatives carry the risk of adverse psychological reactions like anxiety, mania, delusions and psychosis and these risks are exacerbated when the two substances are combined.
• Depressants - Because both depress the respiratory system, this combination can result in an increased risk of suddenly falling unconscious, vomiting and choking to death from the resulting suffocation. If nausea or vomiting occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the recovery position or have a friend move them into it.
• MDMA: 3-MeO-PCP acts as a mild serotonin releasing agent and could interact negatively with the serotonin release of MDMA

• Austria: 3-MeO-PCP is illegal to possess, produce and sell under the NPSG (Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz Österreich).^{[citation needed]}
• Brazil: As of May 17, 2018, 3-MeO-PCP has been added to Portaria SVS/MS nº 344. Possession, distribution and use of this substance is now considered illegal.^[21]
• Germany: On November 21, 2015, 3-MeO-PCP was added to "Anlage II" of the controlled substance act ("BtMG"), making it illegal to produce, sell or possess.^[22]
• Denmark: As of August 25th, 2015, all MeO-PCP isomers (including 3-MeO-PCP) were added to the list of illegal substances in Denmark.^[23]
• Sweden: Sweden's public health agency suggested classifying 3-MeO-PCP as a hazardous substance on November 10, 2014.^[24]
• Switzerland: 3-MeO-PCP is a controlled substance specifically named under Verzeichnis E.^[25]
• Turkey: 3-MeO-PCP is a classed as drug and is illegal to possess, produce, supply, or import.^{[26] [27]}
• United Kingdom: 3-MeO-PCP is a class B drug in the UK and is illegal to possess, produce, supply, or import. As a derivative of 1-Phenylcyclohexylamine where the amine has been replaced with a 1-piperidyl group, further substituted in the phenyl ring with an alkoxy substituent, it is covered by the arylcyclohexylamine generic clause added to the Misuse of Drugs Act by S.I. 2013/239, which came into effect on the 26th February 2013.^[28]
• United States: 3-MeO-PCP is not a controlled substance in the United States but possession or distribution of 3-MeO-PCP for human use could potentially be prosecuted under the Federal Analogue Act due to its structural and pharmacological similarities to PCP.
• Czech Republic: 3-MeO-PCP is a Schedule I controlled substance.^[29]
• The Netherlands: 3-MeO-PCP is a Schedule I controlled substance.^[30]
• Italy: 3-MeO-PCP is a Schedule I controlled substance.^[31]

• Responsible use
  • Volumetric dosing
• Research chemical
• Dissociative
• Arylcyclohexylamine
• 4-MeO-PCP
• PCP

• 3-MeO-PCP (Wikipedia)
• 3-MeO-PCP (Erowid Vault)
• 3-MeO-PCP (Isomer Design)

Discussion and Media

• The Big & Dandy 3-MeO-PCP Thread (Bluelight)
• Interview with a Ketamine Chemist (VICE)

• Morris, H., & Wallach, J. (2014). From PCP to MXE: A comprehensive review of the non-medical use of dissociative drugs. Drug Testing and Analysis, 6(7–8), 614–632. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.1620