eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: Cardiac Disease and Critical Care Medicine > Toxicology

Toxicity, Hallucinogens - PCP: Follow-up

Author: Stephan Brenner, MD, MPH, Resident Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine
Coauthor(s): Bill Dribben, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Apr 14, 2009

Follow-up

Further Inpatient Care

  • Admit the patient who has ingested phenylcyclohexyl piperidine (PCP), also known as phencyclidine, to an ICU if evidence of hyperthermia, seizure activity, or rhabdomyolysis is present.

Further Outpatient Care

  • Refer the patient for drug rehabilitation.
  • Because of its long-lasting side effect of inducing or unmasking psychopathologic symptoms, continued outpatient therapy including prolonged use of tranquilizers may be necessary for patients after PCP intoxication.21

Complications

  • The usual street dose of PCP is 1-6 mg and results in mild intoxication. Larger ingestions (6-10 mg) can cause toxic psychoses and signs of sympathetic hyperactivity, including hypertension, rigidity, hyperthermia, tachycardia, and seizure. Very large doses (>200 mg) can result in death. Deaths from the direct effects of PCP intoxication are related to hyperthermia, renal failure, DIC, or rhabdomyolysis.

Patient Education

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Toxicologic urine screening is not 100% specific or sensitive for phencyclidine (PCP) exposure. Diphenhydramine and dextromethorphan may produce false-positive results, and patients with negative test results may exhibit signs of acute PCP intoxication.
  • Condition may be misdiagnosed as a psychiatric disorder; the medical staff may fail to diagnose PCP intoxication and to aggressively treat life-threatening conditions, such as hyperthermia, traumatic injuries, and rhabdomyolysis.
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Ryan J Petersen, MD, to the original writing and development of this article.



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References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

hallucinogens, phenylcylcohexyl piperidine, PCP, PCP overdose, PCP toxicity, PCP poisoning, angel dust, boat, club drugs, crystal, dissociative drug, dust, dusting, elephant tranquilizer, embalming fluid, ethyl-phenylcyclohexylamine, glutamate- -methyl-D-aspartate receptor, hallucinogens, hog, horse tranquilizer, ketamine, little ones, live ones, love boat, NMDA receptor, norketamine, ozone, PCE, PCP, peace pill, phencyclidine, phenyl cyclohexyl piperidine, porker, purple rain, rocket fuel, sherms, TCP, thienyl-cyclohexylpiperidine, tic tac, wack, worm, zombie, zoot, treatment,

crystal super grass, killer joints, super weed, killer weed, krystal joint, KJ, green leaves, illy, wet, hydro, fry, super acid, vitamin K, cat Valium, cat tranquilizer, horse tranquilizer, ket, kit-kat, vetamine, K wire, KFC, keezy, kenny, ketanest, kenfitamine, ketaset, ketalar, kez, kitty, kustard, regretamine, wibble, forgetamine, triple K, wonky, drug rape, date rape, hyperthermia, renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, DIC, rhabdomyolysis, schizophrenia, delusions, hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Stephan Brenner, MD, MPH, Resident Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Bill Dribben, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine
Bill Dribben, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Halim Hennes, MD, MS, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Research Director, Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
Halim Hennes, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Pfizer Inc Stock Investment from financial planner; Avanir Pharma Stock Investment from financial planner ; WebMD Salary and stock Employment and investment from financial planner

Managing Editor

Jeffrey R Tucker, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Connecticut and Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Jeffrey R Tucker, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Massachusetts Medical Society
Disclosure: Merck Salary Employment

CME Editor

Paul D Petry, DO, FACOP, FAAP, Consulting Staff, Freeman Pediatric Care, Freeman Health System
Paul D Petry, DO, FACOP, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Osteopathy, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, and American Osteopathic Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Timothy E Corden, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Co-Director, Policy Core, Injury Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin; Associate Director, PICU, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
Timothy E Corden, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Phi Beta Kappa, Society of Critical Care Medicine, and Wisconsin Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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