Drug Research Paper

Alana Holly Health

12234 Period 2

Drug Research Paper

Methaqualone, is also referred to as Disco Biscuits, Down And Dirties, Jekyll-and-Hyde, Joe Fridays, Lemmon 714, Lemons, Lennon's, Lovers, Ludes, Mandies, Mandrake, Q, Qua, Quack, Quad, Quaaludes, Soaper, Supper, Vitamin Q, The Love Drug, Wallbangers, Whore Pills, and Sopor. This list of street names for the drug goes on and on.

Methaqualones were first introduced in India in 1955. This drug was then sent to Europe and Japan as a safe barbiturate substitute. By 1965 it had become the most commonly prescribed sedative in England. It was also at this time that it was gaining popularity as a street drug, under the names Mandies or Mandrake. It was introduced to the United States in 1972, and soon after became the sixth best selling sedative on the market. This drug was being used to help short term management of insomnia, as a hypnotic and was also used as a sedative. In 1984 the marketing of Methaqualone pharmaceutical products stopped in the United States. Methaqualone was now considered a Schedule I drug in many other countries as well as the United States.

Methaqualone was first produced in a laboratory, since it is considered a synthetic drug. It is usually taken in pill form, however it can also me injected. The drug is usually seen as brown, gray or black tacky powder, or as tablets or capsules. Before it was considered a Schedule I drug, Methaqualone was used to relieve tension, and mental stress and anxiety, but now that it is a Schedule I drug, it does not have any current accepted medical use. The reason why this drug is being used on the street is because it has what the user would consider positive effects. These effects include a feeling of euphoria, relaxation, hornyness, and sleepiness. These things happen when a small does of the drug is consumed. Long term affects of taking this drug include a higher tolerance so the user must take more and more to reach their high. By doing this the user becomes dependent on the drug and can experience withdrawal symptoms if they are taken off it. Other long term effects include reduced heart rate, reduced respiration and reduced muscle coordination.

There are some side effects for taking Methaqualone. They mostly occur when the user takes high doses of the drug. They include things such as depression, irrational behavior, poor reflexes and slurred speech. If a person overdoses on Methaqualone, they may experience problems such as Delirium, coma, restlessness, hyperreflexia, hypertonia, myoclonus, convulsions, tachycardia, cardiac and hepatic damage, and bleeding, vomiting, and renal insufficiency. If you take this drug during your pregnancy you could have your baby early, or your child could have severe birth defects such as organ deformities as well as physical deformities. Also when your baby is born it is now addicted to Methaqualone and must go through the detoxification process.

Methaqualone is a very dangerous drug. When the drug is combined with alcohol, the combination can be lethal. This does not stop people however. It is most common to mix this drug with alcohol, when this happens it's known as luding. As with any drug, after awhile you can develop a very high tolerance for it. Methaqualone is dangerous for the user, especially if it is used daily. The user will continually try to get the same effects as the first time they did the drug. By doing this they must take higher and higher doses to reach it. This can lead to the user becoming addicted to the drug. This is very dangerous. Usually users who take over 600 mgs a day are most likely to become addicted within the time period of just a few weeks. If the user becomes addicted and is unable to take the drug, they may experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include restlessness, irritability, antisocial behavior, insomnia, headache, mild tremors, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, and muscle twitches. In severe cases the withdrawal symptoms may include mental confusion, delirium, nightmares, hallucinations, high fever, epileptic-like seizures that can lead to death, and severe cravings

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