Various factors influence how quickly a person’s body processes phencyclidine (PCP). Generally, the drug’s half-life is 21 hours. Different tests can detect PCP, and it may be detectable for up to 90 days.

PCP was previously an anesthetic, but doctors discontinued its use due to its side effects. It is a dissociative drug, meaning it can cause people to feel detached from reality.

PCP is also a common recreational drug. It is a Schedule II drug, which means it is illegal to make or possess. At present, health professionals do not produce or use PCP in the United States. The symptoms and immediate effects of PCP can last for hours or days, depending on dosage and other factors.

Other names for PCP include:

  • angel dust
  • rocket fuel
  • horse or elephant tranquilizer
  • peace pill
  • crystal joints
  • zoom
  • the sheets
  • sawgrass
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PCP’s half-life is approximately 21 hours. A substance’s half-life is the time it takes for a person’s body to reduce a drug by half of its original concentration. The liver is responsible for mostly eliminating PCP in a person’s body.

Detection windows for PCP by type of test are:

  • Urine: 5 to 6 days
  • Hair: 90 days
  • Sweat: 7 to 14 days

However, some urine tests can detect PCP by up to 8 days. Some home drug testing kits can detect PCP in a person’s body up to 2 weeks after they take it.

However, these times can vary significantly with:

  • how long a person has been taking PCP
  • the dosage they took
  • a person’s metabolism

A person’s body can also store PCP in their body fat. The body may then slowly release the stored PCP days or months after taking it.

PCP may feel different from person to person. Feelings can vary widely with the dose a person takes. They may include:

  • euphoria (extreme happiness)
  • anxiety
  • feeling detached from the immediate surroundings
  • drug-induced episodes, such as:
    • paranoia
    • disordered thinking
    • having delusions
  • distorted ability to tell the difference between fantasy and reality
  • having an out-of-body experience (feeling disconnected from the body)
  • feelings of extreme strength or invulnerability
  • having no perception of pain
  • feelings of social and sexual prowess
  • a lack of fear

Higher PCP doses can cause people to become more confused and disorientated.

PCP can also result in long-term health effects. These may include:

  • memory loss
  • problems with speech and thinking
  • loss of appetite
  • anxiety

PCP kicks in at different speeds depending on how a person takes it.

Symptoms appear within 2 to 5 minutes if a person inhales PCP. If they take it orally, it can take 30 to 60 minutes before they have symptoms.

PCP effects may last 4 to 8 hours. Depending on the dose of PCP, some people may still have effects for several hours to 2 days.

However, the body can store PCP in fat cells. In some cases, a person’s body may still release PCP for days or months after they take it. This can cause symptoms to return or come and go.

There does not appear to be any recent scientific research into PCP comedowns. Older research from 2007 found that a comedown can cause:

  • bizarre or unusual behavior
  • depression that lasts for days to weeks
  • drug-induced episodes, where people see or hear things that are not there

Other anecdotal or nonscientific sources suggest that PCP comedowns can feel like hangovers.

PCP does interact with other substances. It may interact with many other drugs, with possible side effects. It has sedative effects, so it may interact with other substances that depress a person’s central nervous system, such as:

  • alcohol
  • benzodiazepine drugs, such as diazepam

This can lead to a person going into a coma.

If a person or someone they know is in immediate danger or experiencing severe PCP symptoms, they should go to an emergency room or call 911 for immediate medical attention. PCP overdoses or dangerous symptoms are treatable, but successful treatment requires professional medical attention and facilities.

If a person is experiencing a substance use crisis, or knows someone else who is, they can get help from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. They can access the helpline by calling or texting 988. It connects people with a trained crisis counselor 24/7.

For help finding substance use and mental health treatment programs, people can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA). The SAMHSA Helpline is 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It provides information about mental health and substance use disorders and helps people reach a qualified healthcare professional in their area.

PCP is a hallucinogenic drug that can have significant effects on a person’s body. Long-term use can lead to serious or fatal complications. It is an illegal drug in the United States.

PCP may stay in a person’s system for days or weeks. However, body fat can store PCP and slowly release it. Sometimes, it can remain in their system for months.

Depending on how a person takes PCP, they may have symptoms within minutes or up to an hour. The effects of PCP often last for up to 8 hours. Some people may still have effects after 2 days. It may interact dangerously or unpredictably with other substances or alcohol in a person’s system.

People who are having or know someone who is having a PCP overdose should always seek immediate emergency medical attention. There are also several resources and ways to get help for people concerned about PCP.