Phencyclidine: Detection and Measurement of Toxic Precursors and Analogs in Illicit Samples

From PCP to MXE: a comprehensive review of the non‐medical use of dissociative drugs

“…[48,49] The scheduling of PCP may have hastened the appearance of analogues on the illicit market. [55] However, PCC is more toxic than PCP [56] and a report exists of an incorrectly synthesized batch of PCP resulting in severe adverse responses including abdominal cramps, vomiting, and in the worst cases coma and death. [50] Accordingly, PCP remains the most widely available arylcyclohexylamine and no reports of first-generation PCP analogues appearing on the street were found later than the late 1990s.…”

“…[51,52] 1-Piperidinocyclohexanecarbonitrile (PCC) PCC has occasionally been described as an analogue of PCP, though it is more aptly titled a precursor and contaminant. [56,57] PCC and another PCP precursor PCA were placed into Schedule II of the CSA on 17 May 1978 becoming the first drug precursors to be scheduled in the US CSA. [38,53,54] PCC also often contributes to the characteristic odour of illicit PCP along with various solvents.…”

“…[67] A 1977 article in the Detroit Free Press reported an unconfirmed non-fatal PCE overdose along with detection of 28 PCE samples by the Michigan State Crime lab and seizure of 300 PCE tablets. [56,[71][72][73][74][75] Most recently 15 ounces of PCE were uncovered in a Pennsylvania clandestine laboratory in 1991. [68] Within a week of this report, two deaths involving PCE occurred in Wayne County and were described in the toxicological literature.…”

“…PCC has been alleged to be psychoactive [38,50] and induces rotarod impairment in mice, a property correlating with arylcyclohexylamine potency, with about a fourth of the potency of PCP. [55] However, PCC is more toxic than PCP [56] and a report exists of an incorrectly synthesized batch of PCP resulting in severe adverse responses including abdominal cramps, vomiting, and in the worst cases coma and death. [57] Handling PCC has reportedly resulted in physical toxicity and psychosis.…”

“…[44,53] A portion of the reported symptoms likely result from thermal and metabolic liberation of hydrogen cyanide. [56,57] PCC and another PCP precursor PCA were placed into Schedule II of the CSA on 17 May 1978 becoming the first drug precursors to be scheduled in the US CSA. [58] This practice should be discouraged as it has been unsuccessful at limiting illicit production and has the potential to disrupt legitimate research.…”