Substance use phencyclidine PCP: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Repeated doses every 10 minutes may be required for adequate sedation. Benzodiazepines are also the first-line treatment for PCP-induced hypertension and seizures. Hyperthermia from PCP toxicity is due to psychomotor agitation and can be successfully treated with benzodiazepines as well. Besides angel dust, other commonly used street names for the drug include ozone, rocket fuel, amp, animal tranquilizer, hog, shermans, wack, crystal, and embalming fluid. If it’s mixed with cannabis, you might hear it called killer joints, fry, lovelies, wets, or waters. It belongs to a class of drugs called hallucinogens that can cause such mind-altering effects as confusion, mood changes, and seeing or hearing things that aren’t there.

It is made illegally in secret laboratories, along with dozens of analogs (drugs that are chemically similar) available on the street. It is thought to be made primarily in the United States (U.S.), mostly in Southern California, but it is distributed across the country. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. PCP affects the way brain cells react to glutamate.

Sedation with medication and physical restraints may be required to control agitation, violent behavior, and psychosis due to PCP intoxication. Placing the patient in a calm environment such as a quiet room with the lights dimmed may be helpful. Benzodiazepines are the preferred medication for chemical sedation in patients with PCP toxicity. Lorazepam 2 to 4 mg intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM), or diazepam 5 to 10 mg IV or IM are recommended.

You might lose the sense of control around the substance and instead develop the need to use it more often to get through your day-to-day routine. 10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication This dependence on the drug is medically known as substance use disorder. It tastes bitter and is made of a white crystalline powder.

In some cases, people mix it with tobacco, various cannabis products, or even mint and oregano. People often dissolve the powder or liquid in alcohol or water. People most often take this drug to chase the high that can make you feel detached from your body. A typical dose is 5 to 10 milligrams, and 10 mg has been reported to cause stupor. The effects are felt 30 to 60 minutes after oral ingestion, or a few minutes after smoking. Immediate effects last 4 to 6 hours, but a return to a normal state can take up to 24 hours.

Continuing Education Activity

PCP is well known for its primary action on the NMDA receptor, an ionotropic glutamate receptor.[47][44] As such, PCP is a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist. Phencyclidine (PCP) is a mind-altering drug that may lead to hallucinations (a profound distortion in a person’s perception of reality). It is considered a dissociative drug, leading to a distortion of sights, colors, sounds, self, and one’s environment.

You might also have tremors and greater activity levels. The behavior of a person using PCP can be dangerous to themselves and to others. It is important for the person to seek help, or for their loved ones to intervene, if possible. Ingesting PCP with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, such as alcohol or prescription tranquilizers, can lead to coma. It also inhibits the action of glutamate by blocking NMDA receptors, which are responsible for pain sensation, emotions, learning, and memory functions. Leafy plants such as mint, parsley or marijuana are often sprayed with the chemical, or a rolled joint is dipped into a PCP solution and then smoked.

Addiction can also develop, as a person builds up a tolerance to the drug. Addiction and related mental health problems make it hard to function socially, financially, and professionally. Poor judgment and reasoning skills, psychosis, paranoia, and self-injurious or violent action may occur in those already prone to these behaviors. The person may develop a type of psychosis similar to that seen in schizophrenia. Interrupting these receptors allows the brain to disconnect from normal sensory experiences, or “reality.” In higher doses, however, it may also excite these receptors. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records.

What Does PCP Do?

Severe PCP poisoning can also occur if an individual, when attempting to conceal the drug from authorities, mistakenly ingests large amounts due to body stuffing or packing. An individual may use PCP because it produces euphoria, psychedelic effects, and a sense of calm. However, they may experience effects that they do not want. The effects of PCP vary, depending upon the amount of active drug taken and how it is taken.

There, your health and safety can be monitored as you recover. Medicines may be used to treat withdrawal symptoms. If you or someone you know overdoses, call poison control at 800‑222‑1222 to speak to an expert. Call 911 or head to the nearest hospital to get medical help right away. Experts have found that programs like cognitive behavioral therapy or talk therapy can be effective for substance addiction. PCP is a psychologically and physically addictive drug.

1. They should be kept in a calm setting and should not be left alone.
2. Dependency is a physical reliance on a substance.
3. If you can, call 911 or head to the nearest hospital.
4. Involving family and friends during counseling can help support you and keep you from going back to using (relapsing).
5. It also acts on the part of the brain in charge of pleasure, causing an intense euphoric rush.
6. Weed laced with PCP may increase the chances of hallucinations or overdose symptoms.

The psychiatric effects vary widely, but it is considered dangerous, and its use has been linked to violent and aggressive actions, psychosis, and a risk of accidental death. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include Micromedex (updated 3 Mar 2024), Cerner Multum™ (updated 4 Mar 2024), ASHP (updated 10 Mar 2024) and others.

What Is PCP?

Patients with mild symptoms can be discharged one to 2 hours after they become symptom-free and have no other medical complications or behavioral issues that need to be addressed. Patients with severe symptoms or medical complications should be admitted to a monitored bed. Patients who are asymptomatic who present to the emergency department after PCP use should be observed for at least 6 hours before being discharged. Psychiatric evaluation should be considered in patients whose medical symptoms/complications have resolved but required further management of behavioral issues. Users of PCP are often brought to emergency rooms because of the drug’s severe psychological effects and violent or suicidal behaviors.

Many times, patients are unable to give a clear history, so it is imperative to attempt to obtain a history from emergency medical personnel, family, friends, and witnesses. Familiarity with the street names for PCP can be helpful as well. People who stop ongoing use of PCP blood alcohol content bac experience drug cravings, increased appetite, headaches, sleepiness, depression, and sweating as common withdrawal symptoms. While studies are looking at options for drug treatment of PCP dependence, there are no specific approved treatments for PCP abuse and addiction.

PCP’s Effects on Your Brain

Glutamate is involved in nearly all of the brain’s vital processes, including learning, forming memories, feeling emotions and experiencing pain. PCP disrupts how the brain’s receptors react to the chemical, according to the Center for Substance AbuseResearch. Phencyclidine, commonly referred to as PCP, causes hallucinatory and dissociative effects. The drug disrupts the way different parts of the brain communicate. It also acts on the part of the brain in charge of pleasure, causing an intense euphoric rush. Most patients survive PCP intoxication with supportive care.

Treatment Options

They’re unable to quit using the drug on their own. The risk of drug addiction is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Some people can develop tolerance and dependency toPCP without becoming addicted.

Treatment with a drug rehabilitation center or addiction professional is recommended. The first step toward withdrawing from PCP is to seek supportive therapy. Toxic psychosis can can you smoke shrooms read this before you do also develop, causing hostility, paranoia, and delusions in users. The effects can be hard to predict, because production and sale are illegal and therefore not controlled.