When was pcp created

It is now illegal in the United States. In its pure form, PCP is a white crystalline powder. It dissolves quickly in liquids but has a distinctive, bitter chemical taste. Most PCP sold in the United States comes as a white or colored powder or liquid and is added to leafy substances such as oregano, mint, or marijuana and smoked.

PCP also can be sold in pill, tablet, or capsule form to be swallowed. In some cases, PCP users snort the drug or mix it with a liquid and inject it with a syringe.

Originally developed in the s as a surgical anesthetic, the drug was soon discontinued after it was found to cause agitation and mania, hallucinations, and irrational thinking in patients following its use. 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. An overdose can be life-threatening. PCP appeared on the market in the s as an anesthetic and tranquilizer known as Sernyl.

It was discontinued in and limited to veterinary use only. It is now a Schedule II controlled substance in the U. A person may be imprisoned for making, distributing, possessing, and using it.

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. PCP is a white crystalline, bitter-tasting powder that quickly dissolves in water or alcohol.

It is also found in tablet or capsule form. Users may smoke, snort, swallow, or inject PCP. 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. PCP affects multiple neurotransmitter systems in the brain. It inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. It also inhibits the action of glutamate by blocking NMDA receptors, which are responsible for pain sensation, emotions, learning, and memory functions.

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. However, because the drug is made illegally in uncontrolled conditions, there is no way of knowing how much is being taken, or what the effect will be.

Children require continuous monitoring to note fluctuations in consciousness, cardiorespiratory stability, and for suction of excess oral secretions. Mildly intoxicated patients should return to normal functioning four to eight hours after ingestion, whereas larger ingestions may require weeks.

Infants have been reported to need from 48 hours to four days to recover. Finally, it is important to investigate the source of intoxication, whether it be in an adult who is unknowingly inhaling PCPlaced marijuana cigarettes, or more tragically, a child who is unwillingly exposed to secondhand smoke. In conclusion, phencyclidine is a unique, paradoxical drug that produces central nervous system depression and peripheral and central nervous system stimulation. Hallmark clinical findings of PCP intoxication are nystagmus, hypertension and a mental status, which is often described as dissociative anesthesia.

In higher doses patients become unconscious and can succumb to pulmonary aspiration and cardiovascular collapse. The most disturbing behavioral effects of PCP are violent, aggressive and bizarre behavior with self-mutilation tendencies. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Cal J Emerg Med. Author information Copyright and License information Disclaimer. This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Pharmacology of Phencyclidine PCP in the central nervous system. Open in a separate window.

Neuropsychiatric and clinical effects of PCP at different doses. Estimated ingested amount Clinical effects 2—5 mg Stage I Unpredictable, drunk, euphoric, disoriented, combativeness, rage obscenity. Alternating periods of lethargy and fearful agitation: waxing and waning. Decreased but intact pain perception, midpoint pupils, nystagmus, ataxia differentiates PCP from stimulants. Diagnosis Phencyclidine intoxication is a diagnosis that must be suspected clinically so that the appropriate tests are ordered for confirmation.

Management The management of PCP intoxication begins just as any other intoxication would. Disposition Patients with rhabdomyolysis, hyperthermia, altered mental status, seizures, significant injuries, or pediatric age require hospitalization.

SUMMARY In conclusion, phencyclidine is a unique, paradoxical drug that produces central nervous system depression and peripheral and central nervous system stimulation. Department of Health and Human Services—3. Animal models of intravenous phencyclinoid self-administration. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. In: Haddad LM, editor. Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. Philadelphia, USA: W. Saunders; Phencyclidine: patterns seen in street drug analysis. Clin Toxicol. Role of the primary care physician in problems of substance abuse.

Arch Intern Med. Olmedo R. Phencyclidine and Ketamine. In: Goldfrank LR, editor. Drug Alcohol Depend. Acute phencyclidine intoxication: incidence of clinical findings in 1, cases.

Ann Emerg Med. PCP intoxication in young children and infants. Clin Pediatr Phila ; 19 — Phencyclidine disposition after intravenous and oral doses. Clin Pharmacol Ther. Users snort PCP powder, swallow tablets and capsules, or smoke the drug by applying it in powder form to a leafy substance such as marijuana, mint, parsley, or oregano. In addition, users increasingly are dipping marijuana or tobacco cigarettes in liquid PCP and smoking them.

Individuals of all ages use PCP. The survey also revealed that many teenagers and young adults use PCP, individuals aged 12 to 17 and , individuals aged 18 to 25 used the drug at least once.

PCP use among high school students is a particular concern. More than 3 percent of high school seniors in the United States used the drug at least once in their lifetime, and more than 1 percent used the drug in the past year, according to the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future Survey.

PCP is an addictive drug; its use often results in psychological dependence, craving, and compulsive behavior. PCP produces unpleasant psychological effects, and users often become violent or suicidal. PCP poses particular risks for young people. Even moderate use of the drug can negatively affect the hormones associated with normal growth and development.