How Long Does PCP Stay In Your System?

PCP stands for phenylcyclohexyl piperidine. It is more well-known by its street names – angel dust, wack, peace pill, and rocket fuel, among others. PCP was initially developed for surgical use as an anesthetic, however, given its side effects, it was discontinued. Today, it is used more often as a recreational drug as it can alter the perception of reality.

PCP has acquired quite a dangerous reputation due to its side effects and long-term effects on the body. Understanding how long it stays in your system, therefore, can be helpful in substance abuse treatments.
Typically, PCP stays in your system anywhere from 1.5 days to 10 days. However, depending on the test, it can be detected for a longer time as well.

How To Get PCP Out Of Your System?

Getting Ketamine out of your system  mainly depends on metabolism. It is quickly metabolized by the liver, and therefore, your liver health is something that plays a role in the same. Moreover, certain other factors like the dosage, method of administration, age, body mass, and overall health play a role in how long it takes for Ketamine to leave your system.

As a recreational drug, Ketamine is highly habit-forming, often leading to addiction and overdose as it overwhelms your body. In the worst cases, this can be fatal as well. While Ketamine abuse rates remain low, as low as 1%, it can lead to physical and psychological dependence. So, if you have been using Ketamine and are unable to quit, help is at hand. Medically supervised detox is something that you can consider as it helps you reduce the medication and manage withdrawal symptoms as well. 

How Long Does PCP Stay in Your Urine?

PCP can be detected in your urine anywhere between 2 – 7 days following the last dose. In case of extended use, this detection window can be longer.
Urine tests are the most commonly used drug tests to detect PCP. They are easy to administer, non-invasive, and cost-effective. However, they are only useful for fairly recent use of the drug.

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How Long Does PCP Stay in Your Hair?

PCP can be detected in your hair follicles for up to 90 days following the last dose.
Hair tests can detect PCP for the longest time as PCP gets deposited in the hair follicles even as the hair grows. While not as commonly used as urine tests, in cases where historical patterns of PCP use need to be analyzed, hair tests are more preferred.

How Long Does PCP Stay in Your Saliva?

PCP can be detected in your saliva for up to 3 days following the last dose.
Saliva tests for PCP are commonly used. However, they are best suited for immediate detection purposes, like with law enforcement. They are the least invasive, easy to administer, and reliable.

How Long Does PCP Stay in Your Blood?

PCP is detectable in your blood for the shortest period of time, only between 1 – 2 days following the last dose.
Blood tests, like saliva tests, are mainly used for immediate detection purposes. In clinical settings, where immediacy and accuracy are most needed, they are best suited to detect the present drug levels in the system.

Test Type	Detection Window
Urine	2-7 days
Hair	90 days
Saliva	3 days
Blood	1 – 2 days

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How Long Does It Take for PCP to Take Effect?

PCP is a rapid-acting drug. When inhaled or injected, it takes effect within 2 – 5 minutes. When ingested orally, it takes effect within 15 – 60 minutes. PCP’s effects last anywhere between 2 – 6 hours. After this, the effects of the drug start to wear off.

Half-Life of PCP

The half-life of PCP ranges between 7 – 16 hours. This refers to the time taken for your body to eliminate the drug by half compared to its original concentration. It takes a few half-lives before PCP is completely eliminated from your body. On average, it can take anywhere between 1.5 days to 10 days for the drug to completely leave your body.
The half-life of PCP can vary from person to person. It depends on dosage, frequency of use, metabolism rates, and overall health, among other things.

Peak Levels of PCP

The peak levels of PCP depend on the route of administration:
When injected through a vein, it peaks within 2 – 5 minutes.
When inhaled, it peaks within 15 – 30 minutes.
When ingested orally, it peaks within 2 – 5 hours.

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Types of PCP Testing

PCP addiction is a dangerous thing. It has been estimated that nearly 6.3 million people are addicted to PCP in the U.S. alone. Therefore, drug testing for PCP has become quite common. The types of PCP testing are varied, it all depends on what the need is.

Urine Tests:

Urine testing is the most common drug testing method used to test PCP, and even for other drugs as well. This is because it is easy to administer and cost-effective. It is also reliable.

Hair Tests:

Hair tests, while not common, have the longest detection window for testing PCP. They are best suited for long-term treatment, as they help analyze historical patterns of drug use.

Saliva Tests:

Saliva tests are also quite commonly used as they are easy to administer and cost-effective. However, given their short detection window, they are mainly suitable for immediate detection purposes.

Blood Tests:

Unlike the other tests on this list, blood tests are invasive, albeit only slightly. They are mostly used in clinical settings to detect PCP as they are very precise.