PCP

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PCP may cause psychosis and mania at a significantly higher rate than other dissociatives.[1][2]

It is strongly discouraged to use this substance in high doses or multiple days in a row. Please see this section for more details.

Summary sheet: PCP
PCP
PCP.svg
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names PCP, Angel Dust, Sherman, Sernyl, Wet, Dust, Supergrass, Boat, Tic Tac, Zoom
Substitutive name Phencyclidine
Systematic name 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine
Class Membership
Psychoactive class Dissociative
Chemical class Arylcyclohexylamine
Routes of Administration

WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section.


⇣ Smoked
Dosage
Threshold 1 mg
Light 2 - 4 mg
Common 4 - 8 mg
Strong 8 - 12 mg
Heavy 12 mg+ Heavy doses may result in psychosis and mania.[3]
Duration
Total 4 - 6 hours
Onset 2 - 20 minutes
Come up 20 - 40 minutes
Peak 2 - 3 hours
Offset 1 - 2 hours
After effects 4 - 48 hours
⇣ Oral
Dosage
Threshold 1 mg
Light 3 - 5 mg
Common 5 - 10 mg
Strong 10 - 15 mg
Heavy 15mg+ Heavy doses may result in psychosis and mania.[4]
Duration
Total 4 - 8 hours
Onset 30 - 90 minutes
Come up 40 - 120 minutes
Peak 2 - 3 hours
Offset 1 - 2 hours
After effects 4 - 48 hours



⇣ Insufflated
Dosage
Threshold 1 mg
Light 2 - 4 mg
Common 4 - 8 mg
Strong 8 - 15 mg
Heavy 15mg+ Heavy doses may result in psychosis and mania.[5]
Duration
Total 4 - 6 hours
Onset 3 - 30 minutes
Come up 30 - 90 minutes
Peak 2 - 3 hours
Offset 1 - 2 hours
After effects 4 - 48 hours






DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy.

Interactions
MXE
Caffeine
Opioids
DOx
Amphetamines
MDMA
Cocaine
Alcohol
Benzodiazepines
SSRIs
2C-T-x
ΑMT
5-MeO-xxT
DXM
GHB
GBL
Tramadol
MAOIs

Phencyclidine (also known as PCP, Angel Dust, Sherm, and Sernyl)[6] is a classical dissociative substance of the arylcyclohexylamine class. It is one of the oldest and most notorious dissociatives, known for its potent effects and reputation as an established "street drug" (along with cocaine and heroin).[7] It produces its effects by blocking the NMDA receptor.[8]

First marketed in the 1950s as an anesthetic pharmaceutical drug, PCP was taken off the market in 1965 due to the high rate of hallucinogenic side effects. It emerged as a recreational substance in mid-1967, under the name "The Peace Pill".[9][10] Since this time, a number of synthetic derivatives of PCP (e.g. 3-MeO-PCP, 4-MeO-PCP, MXE) have been sold as dissociative drugs for both recreational and non-medical use.[11]

Subjective effects include motor control loss, pain relief, internal hallucinations, memory suppression, conceptual thinking, euphoria, and depersonalization / dissociation. Routes of administration include oral, smoking, insufflation or injection.[12] The effects are among the most potent and long-lasting in the class. Additionally, PCP is reported to have strong stimulating effects that can promote anxiety and motor activity.

PCP has high abuse potential. Compulsive redosing has been reported, as well as psychological dependence following chronic use (i.e. high dose, repeated administration). Additionally, chronic use has been associated with numerous manifestations of toxicity (see this section for more information).[citation needed] It is highly advised to use harm reduction practices if using this substance.

History and culture

After being discovered in 1926, PCP was developed as a general anesthetic in the 1950s because it could achieve analgesia and anesthesia with minimal cardiovascular and respiratory suppression. It was marketed under the name Sernyl and began to be used in surgical procedures in 1963.[13]

By 1967, it was discontinued due to postoperative dysphoria and hallucinations. After 1967, it was limited to veterinary use. Also in the 1960s, PCP began to be illegally manufactured in laboratories and emerged as a popular street drug in San Francisco. In the 1970s, PCP use became widespread.[13]

Common names

Common street names for PCP are the peace pill, angel dust, sherm sticks, peeps, crystal joints, rocket fuel, sawgrass, zoom, the sheets, and elephant tranquilizer.[13]

Chemistry

PCP, or phencyclidine, is a synthetic dissociative of the arylcyclohexylamine class. 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. PCP is an initialism named from the first letters of the three constituent rings phenyl, cyclohexane and piperidine.

Pharmacology

Further information: NMDA receptor antagonist

PCP acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist. NMDA receptors allow for electrical signals to pass between neurons in the brain and spinal column; for the signals to pass, the receptor must be open. Dissociatives close the NMDA receptors by blocking them. This disconnection of neurons leads to loss of feeling, difficulty moving, and eventually an almost identical equivalent of the notorious “k-hole.”

Unlike ketamine, PCP also shows appreciable affinity for antagonizing the PCP2 glutamate receptor.[14] PCP also acts as a sigma-2 agonist and mild serotonin reuptake inhibitor.[15] It has also been characterized as a potent D2 dopamine agonist but not a dopamine reuptake inhibitor in humans.[16] This D2 dopamine agonism contributes to the infamous stimulation, euphoria, and mania of PCP.

Subjective effects

 
 This subjective effects section is a stub.

As such, it is still in progress and may contain incomplete or wrong information.

You can help by expanding or correcting it.

PCP is considerably more likely to induce psychosis and mania than other dissociatives and is therefore potentially dangerous even in a proper setting. 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 ☠.


Physical effects
 

Visual effects
 

Disconnective effects
 

Cognitive effects
 

Auditory effects
 

Experience reports

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

Additional experience reports can be found here:

Toxicity and harm potential

Further information: Responsible use § Hallucinogens

The long-term use of PCP may lead to schizophrenia-like psychotic episodes, severe lasting memory loss, disorganized thinking, depression, weight loss, liver abnormalities and rhabdomyolysis (skeletal muscle breakdown).[17]

It is very strongly recommended that one use extreme caution and harm reduction practices when using this substance. For example,

  • Users should avoid taking the drug multiple days in a row or becoming addicted to it as this increases the risk of severe adverse effects.
  • The recommended dosage range should not be exceeded as high doses can trigger adverse effects.
  • 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.

Psychosis

PCP has been reported to cause psychosis and mania at a significantly higher rate than other dissociatives such as ketamine, diphenidine, or MXE. Multiple scientific papers describe states of psychosis, mania, and/or delirium occurring after moderate to large doses of the drug were ingested.

In one initial human trial, it was reported that one-sixth of the patients who had received anesthetic doses experienced acute psychosis.[1] In some cases, it took up to a week or more to resolve. Similar results (although less severe) were reported during trials using subanesthetic doses of PCP for pain relief.[18]

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 and DXM.

Neurological effects

Some studies found that, like other NMDA receptor antagonists, PCP can cause brain damage called Olney's lesions in rats.[19][20] Studies conducted on rats showed that high doses of the NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine caused reversible vacuoles to form in certain regions of the rats' brains. All studies of Olney's lesions have only been performed on non-human animals and may not apply to humans.

One unpublished study by Frank Sharp reportedly showed no damage by the NMDA antagonist ketamine (a similar drug) far beyond recreational doses[21] but its validity is controversial since it was never published.

PCP has also been shown to cause schizophrenia-like changes in N-acetylaspartate and N-acetylaspartylglutamate levels in the rat brain, which are detectable both in living rats and upon necropsy examination of brain tissue.[22] It also induces symptoms in humans that mimic schizophrenia.[23]

Urinary tract effects

In terms of its long-term health effects when used repeatedly and excessively for extended periods of time, PCP seems to exhibit almost identical bladder and urinary tract problems to those produced by ketamine.

  • 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 uncontrolled leakage of urine.

Dependence and abuse potential

The chronic use of PCP can be considered highly addictive with a high potential for adverse side effects such as psychosis. In comparison to other dissociatives, PCP has been reported to be more addictive than MXE, diphenidine, ephenidine, and ketamine.

When addiction has developed, cravings and withdrawal effects may occur if a person suddenly stops their usage. There have been multiple reports across the internet of people becoming seriously addicted daily users of this substance so serious precautions and considerations should be taken before trying this substance.

Tolerance to many of the effects of 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). PCP presents cross-tolerance with all dissociatives, meaning that after the consumption of PCP, all dissociatives will have a reduced effect.

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.

  • MXE - There are no reports available about this combination.
  • Caffeine - Details of this combination are not well understood but PCP generally interacts in an unpredictable manner.
  • Opioids - PCP can reduce opioid tolerance, increasing the risk of overdose.
  • DOx - Details of this combination are not well understood but PCP generally interacts in an unpredictable manner.
  • Amphetamines - This combination can easily lead to hypermanic states.
  • MDMA - This combination can easily lead to hypermanic states.
  • Cocaine - This combination can easily lead to hypermanic states.
  • Alcohol - Details of this combination are not well understood but PCP generally interacts in an unpredictable manner.
  • Benzodiazepines - Both substances potentiate the ataxia and sedation caused by the other and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. While unconscious, vomit aspiration is a risk if not placed in the recovery position. Memory blackouts are likely.
  • SSRIs - Details of this combination are not well understood but PCP generally interacts in an unpredictable manner.
  • 2C-T-x
  • ΑMT
  • 5-MeO-xxT
  • DXM
  • GHB - Details of this combination are not well understood but PCP generally interacts in an unpredictable manner.
  • GBL - Details of this combination are not well understood but PCP generally interacts in an unpredictable manner.
  • Tramadol
  • MAOIs - Little information exists about this combination.

Legal status

Internationally, PCP is a Schedule II substance under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances.[24]

  • Austria - PCP is illegal to possess, produce and sell under the SMG (Suchtmittelgesetz Österreich).[citation needed]
  • Canada - PCP is controlled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act as a Schedule I substance.[25]
  • Czech Republic: PCP is a Schedule II [26] (List 5) substance. Sold exclusively with a prescription "marked with a blue stripe running from the lower left corner to the upper right corner" (§ 1, e), 2. of Nařízení vlády č. 463/2013 Sb.) [27]
  • Germany - PCP is controlled under BtMG Anlage I, making it illegal to manufacture, import, possess, sell, or transfer it without a license.[28]
  • New Zealand - PCP is Schedule I (class A) in New Zealand.[citation needed]
  • Poland - PCP is listed under "Wykaz środków odurzających i substancji psychotropowych[" (II-P group) in Poland, and is illegal to posses, sell and manufacture.[29]
  • Portugal - PCP is a Table-II-A substance under Decree-Law 15/93: Anti-Drug Legislation. PCP was decriminalized for personal use by Law 30/2000, but consumption or possession is still prohibited. The substance is liable to be seized and the possessor can be referred to mandatory treatment.[30][31]
  • Switzerland: - PCP is a controlled substance specifically named under Verzeichnis A. Medicinal use is permitted.[32]
  • United Kingdom - PCP is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act as a Schedule II Class A drug, making it illegal to possess without a prescription.[33]
  • United States - PCP is controlled under the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule II controlled substance, making it illegal to possess without a prescription.[34][35]

See also

External links

Forums

Literature

  • 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

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Luisada, P. V., M. D. (1978), “The Phencyclidine Psychosis: Phenomenology and Treatment.” Phencyclidine (PCP) Abuse: An Appraisal., National Institute on Drug Abuse 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tasman, A., Kay, J., Lieberman, J. A., First, M. B., Riba, M. (5 February 2015). Psychiatry. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781118753361. 
  3. ↑ PCP Psychosis (PsychonautWiki) | https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/3-MeO-PCP#Toxicity_and_harm_potential
  4. ↑ PCP Psychosis (PsychonautWiki) | https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/3-MeO-PCP#Toxicity_and_harm_potential
  5. ↑ 3-MeO-PCP Psychosis (PsychonautWiki) | https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/3-MeO-PCP#Toxicity_and_harm_potential
  6. ↑ PCP Fast Facts | http://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs4/4440/
  7. ↑ Nestler, E. J., Hyman, S. E., Malenka, R. C. (2009). Molecular neuropharmacology: a foundation for clinical neuroscience (2nd ed ed.). McGraw-Hill Medical. ISBN 9780071481274. 
  8. ↑ Kapur, S., Seeman, P. (September 2002). "NMDA receptor antagonists ketamine and PCP have direct effects on the dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2 receptors—implications for models of schizophrenia". Molecular Psychiatry. 7 (8): 837–844. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001093. ISSN 1476-5578. 
  9. ↑ "Peace Pill". Microgram. Bureau of Drug Abuse Control. Jan 1968. 1(3):p1 (Erowid.org) | https://erowid.org/library/periodicals/microgram/microgram_1968_01_v01n03.pdf
  10. ↑ "Sweet Streetfact's Lowdown on Low Dope Highs!". Berkeley Tribe, September 10-16, 1971. p12 (Independent Voices) | https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.28033860?seq=12
  11. ↑ Morris, H., Wallach, J. (August 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. doi:10.1002/dta.1620. ISSN 1942-7611. 
  12. ↑ Abuse, N. I. on D. (2019), Hallucinogens DrugFacts 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Journey, J. D., Bentley, T. P. (2022). "StatPearls". Phencyclidine Toxicity. StatPearls Publishing. 
  14. ↑ Rothman, R. (1 July 1994). "PCP site 2: A high affinity MK-801-insensitive phencyclidine binding site". doi:10.1016/0892-0362(94)90022-1. 
  15. ↑ Roth, B. L., Gibbons, S., Arunotayanun, W., Huang, X.-P., Setola, V., Treble, R., Iversen, L. (19 March 2013). "The Ketamine Analogue Methoxetamine and 3- and 4-Methoxy Analogues of Phencyclidine Are High Affinity and Selective Ligands for the Glutamate NMDA Receptor". PLoS ONE. 8 (3): e59334. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059334. ISSN 1932-6203. 
  16. ↑ Seeman, P., Guan, H.-C., Hirbec, H. (August 2009). "Dopamine D2High receptors stimulated by phencyclidines, lysergic acid diethylamide, salvinorin A, and modafinil". Synapse (New York, N.Y.). 63 (8): 698–704. doi:10.1002/syn.20647. ISSN 1098-2396. 
  17. ↑ Erowid PCP (Phencyclidine) Vault : Effects 
  18. ↑ Tasman, Allan, Jerald Kay, and Jeffrey A. Lieberman. Psychiatry. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2003. Google Books. Wiley. Web. <https://books.google.com/books?id=l2KRBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT4957&lpg=PT4957&dq=Greifenstein+et+al.+1958%29.&source=bl&ots=s5CFdAfMzc&sig=GzsOq_N-V1qtahxyyHnKMJceEj0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwji0pWTjNLKAhUBaD4KHTfqD0sQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=Greifenstein%20et%20al.%201958%29.&f=false>.
  19. ↑ Olney, J. W., Labruyere, J., Price, M. T. (16 June 1989). "Pathological changes induced in cerebrocortical neurons by phencyclidine and related drugs". Science (New York, N.Y.). 244 (4910): 1360–1362. doi:10.1126/science.2660263. ISSN 0036-8075. 
  20. ↑ Hargreaves, R. J., Hill, R. G., Iversen, L. L. (1994). "Neuroprotective NMDA antagonists: the controversy over their potential for adverse effects on cortical neuronal morphology". Acta Neurochirurgica. Supplementum. 60: 15–19. doi:10.1007/978-3-7091-9334-1_4. 
  21. ↑ Grof, S. (2010). The ultimate journey: consciousness and the mystery of death (2. ed ed.). MAPS. ISBN 9780966001976. 
  22. ↑ Reynolds, L. M., Cochran, S. M., Morris, B. J., Pratt, J. A., Reynolds, G. P. (1 March 2005). "Chronic phencyclidine administration induces schizophrenia-like changes in N-acetylaspartate and N-acetylaspartylglutamate in rat brain". Schizophrenia Research. 73 (2–3): 147–152. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2004.02.003. ISSN 0920-9964. 
  23. ↑ Murray, J. B. (May 2002). "Phencyclidine (PCP): a dangerous drug, but useful in schizophrenia research". The Journal of Psychology. 136 (3): 319–327. doi:10.1080/00223980209604159. ISSN 0022-3980. 
  24. ↑ "List of psychotropic substances under international control (Green List)" (PDF) (23rd ed.). International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). August 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2007. 
  25. ↑ Branch, L. S. (2022), Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act 
  26. ↑ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:6b5e9beb-1d9b-11ea-95ab-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_1&format=PDF
  27. ↑ https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2013-463
  28. ↑ Anlage I BtMG - Einzelnorm 
  29. ↑ {Citation | year=2022 | title=Wykaz środków odurzających i substancji psychotropowych | url=https://pl.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wykaz_%C5%9Brodk%C3%B3w_odurzaj%C4%85cych_i_substancji_psychotropowych&oldid=67226458}}
  30. ↑ Decree-Law 15/93: Anti-Drug Legislation https://www.imolin.org/doc/amlid/Portugal_Decree-Law 15 of 1993_Anti-Drug Legislation.pdf#page=35
  31. ↑ Decree-Law 15/93: Anti-Drug Legislation https://www.imolin.org/doc/amlid/Portugal_Decree-Law%2015%20of%201993_Anti-Drug%20Legislation.pdf#page=21
  32. ↑ "Verordnung des EDI über die Verzeichnisse der Betäubungsmittel, psychotropen Stoffe, Vorläuferstoffe und Hilfschemikalien" (in German). Bundeskanzlei [Federal Chancellery of Switzerland]. Retrieved January 1, 2020. 
  33. ↑ Participation, E., Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 
  34. ↑ Drug Enforcement Administration. (2021, August 27). Orange Book. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/orangebook/e_cs_sched.pdf#page=11
  35. ↑ Drug Enforcement Administration. (2020, March). PHENCYCLIDINE. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/pcp.pdf


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