Phencyclidine overdose

Definition:

Poisoning from an overdose of phencyclidine.

Alternative Names:

PCP; Angel Dust; Sernyl

Poisonous Ingredient:

phencyclidine

Where Found:

PCP
Sernyl

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms:

body as a whole
- uncontrolled movement
- convulsions
- incoordination
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- nystagmus (side-to-side eye movements)
heart and blood vessels
- high blood pressure
nervous system
- agitation (hyperexcitability, violent behavior)
- coma
- altered state of consciousness
- hallucinations
- psychosis
- catatonic (patient does not talk, move, or react) trance

Home Treatment:

DO NOT INDUCE EMESIS (VOMITING) UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY Poison Control.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength if known)
the time it was swallowed
the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Use gastric lavage.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome depends on the amount of PCP in the body, the time from the ingestion until medical treatment, and other factors. Recovery from the psychotic state may take several weeks in a quiet, darkened room.

Review Date: 1/8/2002
Reviewed By: Victoria Kennedy, RN, A.D.A.M. editorial.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.