Baby Safety / Compounds / Phencyclidine (PCP)

Is Phencyclidine (PCP) safe for babies and kids?

Very high risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Phencyclidine (PCP) than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is phencyclidine (pcp)?

The IUPAC name is 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine.

Also known as: 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine, PHENCYCLIDINE, Angel dust, Fenciclidina.

IUPAC name
1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine
CAS number
77-10-1
Molecular formula
C17H25N
Molecular weight
243.4 g/mol
SMILES
C1CCC(CC1)(C2=CC=CC=C2)N3CCCCC3
PubChem CID
6468

Risk for babies

Very high risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Phencyclidine (PCP) than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Phencyclidine (PCP), potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Phencyclidine (PCP).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
DEA—Schedule IIno current medical use

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter phencyclidine (pcp)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Phencyclidine (PCP):

  • Therapeutic alternatives (consult prescriber)
    Trade-offs: Drug-specific. Cannot substitute without medical guidance.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is phencyclidine (pcp) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Phencyclidine (PCP) than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What products contain phencyclidine (pcp)?

Phencyclidine (PCP) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to phencyclidine (pcp)?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See Phencyclidine (PCP) in the baby app

Look up products containing phencyclidine (pcp), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. US DEA: Phencyclidine (PCP) — Schedule II Classification, NMDA Receptor Antagonism, Schizophrenia Model Drug, Clinical Toxidrome (Nystagmus, Dissociation, Analgesia, Agitation), and Veterinary Sernylan History (2022) (2022) — regulatory
  2. Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies: Phencyclidine and Ketamine — NMDA Antagonist Toxidrome, Nystagmus Triad, Hyperthermia Risk with Physical Restraint, Benzodiazepine Management, and Differential Diagnosis from Excited Delirium (11th Ed., 2019) (2019) — academic

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →