Phencyclidine (PCP) Toxicology



PCP is a dissociative anesthetic abused for its psychoactive effects, reaching peak popularity in the 1970’s



Wide range of symptoms due to PCP’s dissociative, sympathomimetic, muscarinic and nicotinic properties:

 • Neurological → agitation, confusion, hallucinations, delusions, violent behaviours, seizures, ataxia, muscle rigidity, coma

 • Cardiovascular → hypertension (60%), tachycardia (30%), hyperthermia (2.6-4%) or hypothermia (6.4%) depending on degree of agitation and environmental conditions

 • HEENT → nystagmus (60-90%), miosis

 • Psych → feelings of strength, invulnerability, and violence



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