The case of phencyclidine or PCP is a curious case since it is a psychoactive substance that, after being developed as an anesthetic, was discarded due to its side effects. However, some people continue to use it recreationally in various ways. Within the phencyclidine family we find compounds such as thiophene or the better known ketamine.

This recreational drug, besides causing a series of pleasant effects, also brings with it numerous adverse effects due to the fact that its active principle is very unselective. Let’s see through what mechanism this drug acts and what its effects are .

What is phencyclidine

Phencyclidine is a dissociative drug that can be taken orally, intravenously, smoked and inhaled . Commonly known as “angel dust”, it is usually consumed sporadically and spaced out in time. It is not usually taken alone, but is accompanied by other drugs. For example, many people mix it with cocaine or MDMA, modifying or enhancing its effects.

Following the abandonment of its use in humans as it was found to produce too many side effects, phencyclidine has been reduced to the veterinary field. In its purest form, PCP is a perfectly crystalline powder that is easily soluble. The one found in the street, however, can be yellowish or brown forming a kind of paste or conglomerate due to the additives and substances added to it in its illegal production.

Mechanism of action

Phencyclidine is an uncompetitive antagonist of NMDA receptors . This means that it is a substance that prevents the excitation of glutamate receptors, inhibiting them. It also blocks other receptors such as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ion channels and is an opioid gonist.

In this way, acetylcholine-dependent activity is reduced and the production of amines such as serotonin or dopamine is also increased, similar to what happens with ecstasy or MDMA. In addition, phencyclidine is involved in a wide range of intraneuronal processes.

Effects of this drug

The experiences one can expect when taking phencyclidine are multiple. While it is true that they depend on the dose given, they also vary from person to person.

Naturally, interaction with other drugs will also produce specific effects that are not only achieved by phencyclidine.

1. Dissociation

The effect that most people seek through phencyclidine and that is most characteristic of these compounds is dissociation . You feel as if you are detached from your environment, you feel as if your body does not belong to your surroundings. One experiences a sense of remoteness from reality, as if one were seeing life through a screen.

The sense of unreality characteristic of phencyclidine can be fun for some, but for others it can become a terrifying experience in which the individual does not know whether he will ever end up or stay in this state forever.

2. Altered sensitivity

Due to its analgesic effects, phencyclidine produces numerous alterations of touch and proprioception . After consumption, it is possible that the touch may become numb and that sensations that might previously have been painful may become tolerable or even pleasant. You may feel that your own body is weightless, as if it were made of foam and was just as light.

3. Motor impairment

The movements of people affected by phencyclidine are slow and paused . Even if you feel that your body is not heavy, it is very difficult to move it and it is done very slowly. Limbs may become numb and speech may become slurred. Consonants are shuffled and in general articulation can be very difficult. Many times, because one does not perceive one’s weight well and everything seems to go more slowly, the pace of these people when moving is very exaggerated and they seem to do it in slow motion.

4. Ocular alterations

With the consumption of phencyclidine it is easy to observe ocular phenomena that are very characteristic . The usual thing is that the person under the effects of phencyclidine seems to be looking into the void, that he or she has a lost gaze even though it is really present. In addition, involuntary and rapid movements of the eyes may appear, similar to those that occur in the REM phase while we are sleeping, but less frequent and exaggerated.

5. Hallucinations and distortions

At certain doses it is perfectly normal to suffer hallucinations, especially auditory ones . Talking voices, voices talking to each other, etc., are the type of hallucinations that characterize schizophrenic patients. Sometimes it is practically impossible to differentiate the hallucinations of these patients from those of patients who have consumed phencyclidine. In addition to hallucinations, visual perceptual distortions may occur.

6. Emotional disturbances

Consumption can produce a high anxiety during and after having the psychoactive effects of the drug . In some cases the user may experience extreme anxiety that can bring him/her to the brink of an anxiety crisis. In addition, due to the alteration in the production of amines, mood can also vary. Just as one can experience euphoria and a sense of being invincible, there are periods when the individual feels such a low mood that it can recreate the characteristics of a true major depressive episode.

7. Undesirable physiological effects

In addition to the described alterations that may or may not be sought, phencyclidine causes a series of changes in physiological functioning that can be very unpleasant , especially in high consumption. There are drops in blood pressure that can lead to fainting, a drop in heart rate and respiratory depression. This may be accompanied by vomiting, dizziness and spinning sensations, drooling and a complete loss of balance.

At very high doses or dangerous interactions, seizures, coma and even death may occur through accidents caused by the effects of phencyclidine, such as motor clumsiness or feelings of invulnerability.