Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Injury after Use of 3-Methyl-PCP: A Case Report.
Aaron B Deutsch, Natalie E Ebeling-Koning, Alex J Krotulski, Sara E Walton, Kenneth D Katz
Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology April 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s13181-026-01122-y via PubMed
Summary
A 29-year-old man overdosed on 3-methyl-PCP, a novel dissociative anesthetic, and arrived at the emergency department with encephalopathy, tachycardia, hypertension, nystagmus, and diaphoresis. Laboratory tests showed severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury. The patient reported obtaining the drug online, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry confirmed 3-methyl-PCP in the drug product and biological specimens. This first laboratory-confirmed case demonstrates that 3-methyl-PCP can cause severe injury and highlights the public health risks of rapidly emerging, unregulated dissociative synthetic anesthetics. Early warning systems like the CSFRE NPS Discovery Program are critical for timely clinical response and public health protection.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 29-year-old man who overdosed on 3-methyl-PCP |
| Keywords | 3-methyl-pcp Acute kidney injury Drug-induced nephrotoxicity Myotoxicity Rhabdomyolysis |
| Key finding | First laboratory-confirmed use of 3-methyl-PCP resulted in severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury. |
Abstract
Dissociative agents, such as phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine, belong to the arylcyclohexylamine class. During illicit synthesis, numerous analogs of PCP can be produced. To date, over 60 psychoactive "designer" derivatives have been identified, and most are undetectable by standard drug testing. This case describes the first laboratory-confirmed use of 3-methyl-PCP, a novel arylcyclohexylamine dissociative anesthetic. A 29-year-old man presented to the emergency department after a drug overdose experiencing encephalopathy, tachycardia, hypertension, nystagmus and diaphoresis. Diagnostics revealed severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury. During hospitalization, the patient disclosed the use of 3-methyl-PCP obtained online. The drug product and biological specimens were sent to the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) for comprehensive drug testing, which confirmed the presence of 3-methyl-PCP using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This confirmed case of 3-methyl-PCP intoxication not only demonstrates the potential for severe injury, but also the public health risks of rapidly emerging and unregulated dissociative synthetic anesthetics. Entities such as the CSFRE NPS Discovery Program's early drug warning system can prove critical for both timely clinical response and public health protection.