phencyclidine

Phencyclidine (PCP) is a dissociative anesthetic and hallucinogenic drug originally developed in the 1950s by Parke-Davis. It functions primarily as a non-competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, binding to a specific site within the ion channel to block the flow of ions. While initially investigated for human anesthesia under the brand name Sernyl, its clinical use was discontinued in 1965 due to severe adverse effects, including post-operative delirium, hallucinations, and agitation. It remained in use as a veterinary anesthetic (Sernylan) until the late 1970s. Today, PCP is primarily known as a drug of abuse, often referred to as Angel Dust, and is used in neuroscientific research to model symptoms of schizophrenia due to its ability to induce both positive and negative symptoms of the disorder.

Brand names

SernylSernylan

Other names

PCPAngel Dust1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine