Phencyclidine
Phencyclidine or phenylcyclohexyl piperidine (PCP), also known in its use as a street drug as angel dust among other names, is a dissociative anesthetic mainly used recreationally for its significant mind-altering effects. PCP may cause hallucinations, distorted perceptions of sounds, and violent behavior. As a recreational drug, it is typically smoked, but may be taken by mouth, snorted, or injected. It may also be mixed with cannabis or tobacco.
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Trade names | Sernyl, Sernylan (both discontinued) |
Other names | CI-395; Phenylcyclohexylpiperidine; "Angel dust" |
AHFS/Drugs.com | phencyclidine |
Addiction liability | Variable, reported from low to high |
Routes of administration | Smoking, injection, snorted, by mouth |
Drug class | NMDA receptor antagonists; General anesthetics; Dissociative hallucinogens |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Metabolism | Oxidative hydroxylation in liver by CYP450 enzymes, glucuronidation |
Metabolites | PCHP, PPC, PCAA |
Onset of action | 2–60 min |
Elimination half-life | 7–46 hours |
Duration of action | 6–48 hours |
Excretion | Urine |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.150.427 |
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Formula | C17H25N |
Molar mass | 243.394 g·mol−1 |
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Melting point | 46.5 °C (115.7 °F) |
Boiling point | 136 °C (277 °F) |
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Adverse effects may include seizures, coma, addiction, and an increased risk of suicide. Flashbacks may occur despite stopping usage. Chemically, PCP is a member of the arylcyclohexylamine class, and pharmacologically, it is a dissociative anesthetic. PCP works primarily as an NMDA receptor antagonist.
PCP is most commonly used in the United States. While usage peaked in the US in the 1970s, between 2005 and 2011 an increase in visits to emergency departments as a result of the drug occurred. As of 2017 in the United States, about 1% of people in 12th grade reported using PCP in the prior year while 2.9% of those over the age of 25 reported using it at some point in their lives.