Phencyclidine

**Semantic type:** Organic Chemical|Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** Developed as an anesthetic for humans in 1959. Its use was discontinued due to extreme side effects that included delirium, confusion, visual disturbances, hallucinations and violence; some evidence of long-term memory disorders and schizophrenia-like syndrome has been observed. Phencyclidine, a substance of abuse also know as 'angel dust', can cause physical and psychological distresses, such as coma, seizures, convulsions, respiratory depression, and cardiac problems.

**Synonyms:** - PCP - PHENCYCLIDINE