Addiction Drug Use Hallucinogens How Long Does PCP Stay in Your System? PCP in Your Blood, Urine, Hair, & Saliva By Buddy T Buddy T Facebook Twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 10, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print DEA Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Factors That Affect Detection Time Symptoms of Overdose Getting Help Determining exactly how long PCP is detectable in the body depends on many variables, including which kind of drug test is being used. PCP, also known as angel dust, boat, hog, love boat, embalming fluid, killer weed, rocket fuel, supergrass, wack, ozone, can be detected for a shorter time with some tests but can be "visible" for up to three months in other tests. PCP: Everything You’ve Been Afraid to Ask How Long Does PCP Stay in Your System? The following is an estimated range of times, or detection windows, during which PCP can be detected by various testing methods:Urine: Up to two weeksBlood: Up to 24 hoursSaliva: Up to 48 hoursHair: Up to 90 days Factors That Affect Detection Time The timetable for detecting PCP in the system is also dependent upon each individual's metabolism, body mass, age, hydration level, physical activity, health conditions, and other factors, making it almost impossible to determine an exact time PCP will show up on a drug test. False Positive Testing Certain over-the-counter and prescription drugs may cause a false-positive result for phencyclidine (PCP) in some lab tests, including: Dextromethorphan - Robitussin, Cough DM ER, etc.,Ibuprofen - Advil, MotrilImipramine - Tofranil, anti-depressant, nerve painDiphenhydramine - Benadryl, antihistamineDoxylamine - Unisom, antihistamine, sleep-aid medicationsKetamine - anesthesia-like / may be used prior to colonoscopyLamotrigine - anti-seizureTramadol - pain medicationDesvenlafaxine - Pristiq, anti-depressantVenlafaxine - Effexor, anti-depressant Symptoms of Overdose There is a significant difference between a small amount of PCP compared to a large dosage, in terms of side effects. Therefore, knowing how long PCP remains in your system is important. Even at low dosages, PCP can cause a loss of coordination and numbness throughout your body. On large dosages of PCP, users have been known to become paranoid and disorganized. Some report hearing voices, acting strangely, or become aggressive or violent. PCP can cause an increase in heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Very large dosages of PCP taken orally can cause: Kidney failureMuscle rigidityHeart arrhythmiasSeizuresDeath Because PCP has anesthesia and pain-killing properties, should serious injury occur during intoxication, the user may not readily grasp what has happened. Long-term use of PCP has been found to cause mental health and cognitive problems. Getting Help Some people who use PCP can become dependent upon the drug and develop classic symptoms of addiction such as not being able to get through the day without the drug and not being able to control how much of it that they use. Phencyclidine users can also develop a tolerance to the drug, which means they require larger and larger dosages of it to achieve the same effect, which can have negative health consequences as they take increased amounts of the drug. If you find yourself requiring larger amounts of PCP to reach the same "high" as you once experienced, you could be becoming dependent upon the drug and you may want to seek help in trying to quit. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Unlike alcohol and some other illicit drugs, there are no medications available to treat PCP dependence by reducing the effects of the drug or reducing craving for the drug for those trying to quit. Behavior therapy is currently the only effective treatment for PCP addiction. You may need to enter a residential treatment program so that cravings and any physical or psychiatric symptoms that emerge can be managed. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Abuse S. Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Clinical drug testing in primary care. Technical Assistance Publication (TAP) 32. HHS Publication No.(SMA) 12-4668. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2012: 1-96. Farley TM, Anderson EN, Feller JN. False-positive phencyclidine (PCP) on urine drug screen attributed to desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) use. Case Reports. 2017 Nov 22;2017:bcr-2017. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Substance Use - Phencyclidine (PCP). 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