PCE Facts
Dissociative;
Description
PCE (eticyclidine) is a synthetic dissociative of the arylcyclohexylamine class. It blocks glutamate signaling in the brain,[1][2] producing deep dissociation from body and environment.
Subjective effects include bodily dissociation, cognitive disconnection, amnesia, perceptual distortion, and emotional numbness. The experience is heavier and more sedating than PCP — lower doses bring detached numbness, higher doses push toward complete mental disconnection and memory loss.
PCE carries high abuse liability — both physical and psychological — and no lethal dose has been established in any species.safety citation needed The substance clears the body slowly, sustaining prolonged glutamate blockade; compulsive redosing prolongs this further and sharply raises the risk of psychosis.[3]
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Starts in 30 – 90 minLasts 4 – 8 hoursAfter-effects 4 – 48 hours
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- Moderate
- Chronic toxicity
- Moderate
- Physical dependence
- High
- Psychological dependence
- High
- Withdrawal
- Moderate
- Compulsive redosing
- High
Tolerance
- Builds
- Moderate
- Fully resets after
- 10.5 days
- Carries over to
- dissociatives
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Perception
- Spatial disorientation;
+19 possible, including Vestibular distortion, Visual acuity suppression, Visual haze / noise - Body
- Motor control impairment;
Nystagmus (eye wobbles); Pain suppression; +29 possible, including Dizziness, Heart rate perception changes, Insomnia - Thinking
- Cognitive impairment;
+20 possible, including Confusion, Decision impairment, Information processing suppression - Feeling
- none likely · 8 possible, including Anxiety, Dysphoria, Emotional lability
- Self
- none likely · 9 possible, including Depersonalization, Derealization, Communication suppression
- Time
- none likely · 4 possible, including Temporal disorientation
- Awareness
- none likely · 1 possible
Who shouldn't take it
Combinations61 recorded
Seek help immediately if
- Severe disorientation; unable to move or speak (deep dissociation / "k-hole")
- Complete loss of coordination — cannot stand or walk safely
- Vomiting while incapacitated (choking / aspiration risk)
- Very high blood pressure; fast heart rate
- Slow or shallow breathing at high doses (especially mixed with depressants)
- Unconsciousness; rarely, seizures
What to do
- Move them somewhere safe, away from stairs, water, roads, and sharp edges — they cannot protect themselves
- Place in the recovery position if vomiting or unconscious (aspiration is a key risk)
- Stay with them and reassure calmly; keep the environment quiet
- If breathing is slow/shallow or they are unresponsive, call emergency services
- Do not let them wander; do not leave them alone
- Be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR
Effects wear off with time in a safe, monitored setting. The main dangers are physical injury and aspiration while incapacitated, and respiratory depression when combined with other depressants — not the dissociation itself.
988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE
References
- [1]^Maragos WF, Penney JB, Young AB (1988) Anatomic correlation of NMDA and 3H-TCP-labeled receptors in rat brain — Journal of Neuroscience doi:10.1523/jneurosci.08-02-00493.1988
- [2]^Jentsch JD, Roth RH (1999) The neuropsychopharmacology of phencyclidine: from NMDA receptor hypofunction to the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia. — Neuropsychopharmacology doi:10.1016/s0893-133x(98)00060-8
- [3]^Chakrabarti S, Law FC (1983) The dispositional kinetics of phencyclidine and its N-ethylamine analogue in rats. — European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics PMID:6673975