ABSTRACT
Phencyclidine (phenylcyclohexylpiperidine, PCP) is chemically related to the phenothiazines, and consists of a benzene ring, a cyclohexyl ring, and a piperidine ring (1). Phencyclidine is a synthetic drug and one of a large family of arylcyclohexylamines developed more than 2 0 years ago as possible anesthetic agents with structures different from those of other psychomimetic drugs and neurotransmitters (2,3). More than 30 phencyclidine analogs have been developed through minor modifica tions of the manufacturing process. Many investigators have attempted to classify PCP, and although it is some times classified as an atypical hallucinogen it appears to fall into a class of its own. It produces both (central ner vous system) (CNS) stimulation and depression, halluci nations, analgesia, and cholinergic-like symptoms along with many other effects.
