Metaqualone

Metaqualone is a sleeping pill that belongs to the class of quinazolinones. It looks like a white crystalline powder or tablets. It is banned for use in most countries, including Russia.

As a drug became popular in America and Europe and the sixties – was one of the most popular club drugs. Its popularity is due to an effect that is similar to drug intoxication from barbiturates. To date, it is considered one of the most commonly used drugs in South Africa (methaqualone is mixed with marijuana).
The origin of the sedative drug methaqualone

Methaqualone was first obtained in 1951. It was created as a safe substitute for barbiturates and has long been used in medicine as a sleeping pill. It has a calming and hypnotic effect, there is also a slight anti-cold effect on the body. The drug was prescribed for the treatment of insomnia, sleep disturbances, and also as a tranquilizer.

The drug has a high degree of absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, is almost completely split in the liver. Sleep as a result of taking the medicine occurs within fifteen to twenty minutes and can last up to eight hours.

One of the features of methaqualone is the increased action of analgesics, antipsychotics, and barbiturates. With frequent use, a strong dependence on the substance develops – this was the reason for the restriction of its use and the subsequent ban.

Narcotic effect of methaqualone

The effect of the drug is due to its significant distribution and popularity. Already at the first use, a state of severe drug intoxication and sexual arousal sets in. The substance is often combined with wine and smoking mixtures. The effect of the drug in this case reaches six to eight hours.

A small dosage of methaqualone is sufficient for drug intoxication. It acts on the central nervous system: the human body enters into a state of relaxation and detachment, in which the respiratory rate and pulse slow down. In some cases, the addict feels numbness of the limbs, drowsiness, departure from reality.

How does addiction develop?

The drug methaqualone, like other barbiturates, causes moderate physical and psychological dependence, which are difficult to cure. As one of the most harmful factors of a substance, it’s called a quick addiction to it – sometimes it takes only a few weeks to develop tolerance. In order to achieve the desired effect of drug intoxication, a constant increase in dosage is required.

It belongs to the most terrible type of narcotic substances. Over time, a person ceases to control methaqualone intake. Despite the fact that there is no pronounced withdrawal symptoms – that is, the addict does not experience withdrawal, he has an obsessive need to take the medicine. In some cases, the following are possible:

severe nervousness;
irritability;
anxiety and even epileptic seizures.

Symptoms of taking the drug

A person who actively takes methaqualone and the mixtures in which it is present can be easily distinguished from the crowd. You need to pay attention to the following symptoms:

drowsiness;
haggard look;
the appearance of icteric spots on the skin of the hands;
photophobia.

After prolonged use, you can notice increased saliva, as well as other problems of the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, bloating, loss of appetite. The tooth enamel begins to break down, which seriously affects their appearance. Despite the fact that the substance is quite easily transported by the human body, and its decomposition products do not accumulate in the tissues, an overdose can occur. Most often this happens in cases where the addict ceases to control the reception. An overdose is characterized by severe headache, breathing problems, loss of consciousness.

The effects of methaqualone

Due to the fact that the dependence develops very quickly, after a short amount of time, the substance is taken in large doses. This leads to the following problems:

diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the development of gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, colitis;
the development of lung diseases – emphysema, talcosis and others;
the development of mental illness, which is accompanied by depression and anxiety;
epilepsy.

The attitude of the patient himself to get rid of addiction is very important for treatment – only in this case you can count on success.