spec sheet10 rows
3-HO-PCE (3-hydroxyeticyclidine) is an arylcyclohexylamine of the eticyclidine (PCE) family that produces dissociative, hallucinogenic, and euphoric effects and is presumed to act as an NMDA receptor antagonist. As with other 3-hydroxy arylcyclohexylamines, the phenolic substituent is associated with added opioid-receptor activity, which may contribute sedative properties on top of dissociation. Its metabolism has been characterized in human liver microsomes and authentic urine and hair samples, proceeding through N-dealkylation, deamination, oxidation, and glucuronidation, and paralleling that of the related designer ketamine O-PCE. In silico profiling of PCE and PCP analogs suggests moderate acute toxicity with cardiotoxicity signals, while robust human pharmacological data remain scarce.
- Dissociation
- Analgesia
- Sedation
- Hydroxylated dissociative with possible opioid activity
- Possible respiratory depression from opioid activity
- Disorientation and impaired coordination
- Compulsive redosing
- Unknown potency and margin
Mechanism
It is presumed to antagonize the receptor like other arylcyclohexylamines, producing dissociation. As with 3-HO-PCP, the 3-hydroxyl substitution is thought to confer meaningful mu-opioid receptor activity, which would add sedation, analgesia, and opioid-type risks; human confirmation for this specific compound is limited.
receptor fingerprint
Antagonist
Mu-opioid receptorAgonist
Safetyrisks and cautions, not medical advice
Beyond the usual dissociative risks of disorientation and impaired coordination, possible opioid activity raises the concern of respiratory depression (slowed breathing), especially combined with other depressants like alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids. Human data are minimal, so potency and margin are uncertain. If opioid effects are present, naloxone (a mu-opioid antagonist) could help reverse breathing suppression, but this compound is not well studied. Not medical advice.
Subjective profileweighing the evidence above
Avoid this one. Bolting likely opioid activity onto a dissociative means respiratory depression stacked on top of disorientation and compulsive redosing, and with almost no human data nobody knows where the margin sits. Nothing it offers is worth that combination of risks.
Resources
This entry is here for reference.
Research
- 2023first citedCharacterization of 3-Hydroxyeticyclidine (3-HO-PCE) Metabolism in Human Liver Microsomes and B…
- 2026most recentQualitative and quantitative in silico toxicity profiling of "angel dust": phencyclidine (PCP)…
- 1.Qualitative and quantitative in silico toxicity profiling of "angel dust": phencyclidine (PCP) analogues as new psychoactive substances (3-HO-PCP, 3-MeO-PCP, 4-MeO-PCP, 3-HO-PCE, 3-MeO-PCE, 4-MeO-PCE)
- 2.Characterization of 3-Hydroxyeticyclidine (3-HO-PCE) Metabolism in Human Liver Microsomes and Biological Samples Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry
- 3.Phencyclidine-Like Abuse Liability and Psychosis-Like Neurocognitive Effects of Novel Arylcyclohexylamine Drugs of Abuse in Rodents.
3 listed here; entry last updated August 2026
Reviews
My notesprivate to this device
FAQ
Why is opioid activity relevant here?
The 3-hydroxy group in this family is linked to mu-opioid activity, which can suppress breathing, unlike typical dissociatives.
Does naloxone work on it?
If opioid effects are present, naloxone may reverse breathing suppression, but the compound is poorly studied.
Is it well understood?
No. It is an obscure analog with little human data, so its potency and safety margin are largely unknown.
Adverse effects
- Possible respiratory depression from opioid activity
- Disorientation and impaired coordination
- Compulsive redosing
- Unknown potency and margin