PCP Facts
Dissociative;
Description
PCP (phencyclidine) — Angel Dust, Wet, Sherman — is a synthetic dissociative of the arylcyclohexylamine class. It blocks glutamate signaling while amplifying dopamine activity, producing dissociation and a distinctly psychosis-like experience.[1]
Subjective effects include dissociation, analgesia, paranoid thoughts, hallucinations, amnesia, and loss of motor coordination. The experience is more agitated and reality-fracturing than Ketamine, with detachment coexisting alongside hostile arousal rather than tranquil withdrawal.
PCP produces dopamine-driven reinforcement and carries a narrow margin between recreational and dangerous doses.[2][3] It accumulates in fat tissue and redistributes unpredictably, with muscle breakdown occurring in roughly 70% of clinical poisoning cases.[3]
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Starts in 20 – 60 minLasts 4 – 8 hoursAfter-effects 12 – 48 hours
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- High
- Chronic toxicity
- High
- Physical dependence
- Low
- Psychological dependence
- Moderate
- Withdrawal
- Mild
- Compulsive redosing
- Moderate
Tolerance
- Builds
- Moderate
- Fully resets after
- Not recorded
- Carries over to
- ketamine;
dextromethorphan; MK-801; methoxetamine
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Perception
- Proprioceptive distortion;
Sensory deprivation; Spatial disorientation; Vestibular distortion; +12 possible, including Double vision, Visual acuity suppression, Visual haze / noise - Body
- Body schema distortion;
Motor control impairment; Nystagmus (eye wobbles); Pain suppression; +28 possible, including Dizziness, Temperature dysregulation, Vasoconstriction - Thinking
- Cognitive impairment;
Confusion; Decision impairment; Information processing suppression; Memory fragmentation; Memory suppression; Thought disorganization; +15 possible, including Analysis suppression, Language suppression, Compulsive redosing urge - Feeling
- none likely · 11 possible, including Paranoia, Anxiety, Dysphoria
- Self
- Depersonalization;
Derealization; +7 possible, including Communication suppression, Social disconnection, Craving - Time
- Temporal disorientation;
+2 possible - Awareness
- none likely · 1 possible
Who shouldn't take it
Combinations68 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]^Seeman P, Ko F, Tallerico T (2005) Dopamine receptor contribution to the action of PCP, LSD and ketamine psychotomimetics — Molecular Psychiatry PMID:15852061
- [2]^Nicholson KL, Mansbach RS, Menniti FS, Balster RL (2007) The phencyclidine-like discriminative stimulus effects and reinforcing properties of the NR2B-selective NMDA antagonist CP-101 606 in rats and rhesus monkeys. — Behavioural Pharmacology PMID:17989511
- [3]