Hemoperfusion of phencyclidine in the dog

Experiments were conducted to determine whether charcoal hemoperfusion (HP) would be useful in severe phencyclidine (PCP) overdose. Dogs were given a single 5 mg/kg injection of PCP. In 6 experiments HP for 2.5 hours was done; and in 6 control experiments, the extracorporeal circuit contained no HP cartridge. The number of seizures, symptoms, duration of coma, and PCP concentrations in the tissues of HP dogs were not different from control. PCP clearance by HP was 67 +/- 16.5 ml/min. PCP recovery by HP was 2.25 +/- 0.25 mg (2.0% of the administered dose). Urinary excretion of PCP was 1.33 +/- 0.46 mg (1.2% of the dose). Volume of distribution of PCP was 21.8 +/- 1.7 L/kg. Due to the high volume of distribution, high lipid solubility and low plasma levels of PCP, HP was not effective in managing PCP overdose in the dog.