Metaqualone Free Essays

Methaqualone is sedative-hypnotic drug that is similar in effect to barbiturates, a general Central Nervous System depressant. This drug was mainly used in the 1960s and 1970s for the treatment of insomnia, and as a muscle relaxant. Methaqualone was first synthesized in India in 1951 by Lindra Kishore Kacker and Syed Hussain Zaheer. We will write a custom essay sample on Metaqualone or any similar topic only for you Order Now By 1965 it was the most commonly prescribed sedative in Britain. In 1972 it was the sixth bestselling sedative in the US, where it was legal under the brand name Quaalude. Methaqualone is a drug that helps the relief of tension, mental stress, and anxiety. Short Term Effects Short term effects include a reduction of mental activity, cardiac and respiratory depression, drowsiness, reduced heart rate, reduced respiration and increased sexual arousal. The abuse of this drug gives rise to a barbiturate-type dependence. Long Term Effects Liver damage can result from long term abuse of methaqualone or from ingestion of heavily adulterer methaqualone. The liver is responsible for metabolizing or processing drugs in the body, and impurities in the drug can cause irreversible damage to the organ. Methaqualone also affects muscle movement and coordination and can produce parethesia, a â€Å"pins and needles† sensation, commonly in the face and fingers. Large doses also cause a heightened pain threshold, and uncontrolled muscle twitching. Physically Addicting or Psychologically Addicting Methaqualone is highly addictive both physically and psychologically, and continuous moderate to heavy usage leads to tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms. Death Associated with Drug Coma and death can result from using methaqualone. Ingestion of more than 800 mg of methaqualone in an adult and 150 mg in a child is considered toxic. The average lethal oral dose is 8-20 grams (100-200 mg/kg) and coma can occur after ingestion of 2. 4 grams. Methaqualone can also cause coma or death at lower levels if it is taken with another CNS depressant such as alcohol. Slang/Street Names of Drug Common street names for methaqualone are: Quaalude, Lude, Quat, Quad, Mandex, and Sopors. How the Drug is Taken Methaqualone can be injected, and also taken orally. It is manufactured in tablets or capsules. Methaqualone can also be found in brown, gray or black tacky powder. An average dose of methaqualone is about 3 grams but it also depends on the persons body height, weight, and the use of any other drug. Within 4-8 hours of taking the drug the user may experience slurred speech. Affects on Fetal Development Methaqualone passes through the breast milk in lactating women. Animal studies have shown the drug to cause birth defects when used during pregnancy. References http://www. streetdrugs. org. info@streetdrugs. org. Copyright Publishers Group, 1996. Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. http://www. well. com/user/woa/fsseda. htm How to cite Metaqualone, Papers