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Introduction
Quaaludes is the brand name for Methaqualone. It has other formal names like Dormutil, Mequelone, Melsed, Melsedin, Cateudil, Mequin, Tuazole and more. The drug is used for recreational purposes as it tends to make the users high and also has street names like Ludes, Madies, Flowers, Flamingos, Quack, etc. This article talks about Quaaludes high and the negative impact it has on an individual.
What is Quaaludes?
Quaaludes is the brand name for Methaqualone and it is a central nervous system depressant which is mostly used as a sedative and hypnotic to induce sleep. Initially, the drug was prescribed by physicians as a sedative in Britain but gradually, it was used as a sleep aid in the US. In 1950, researchers also found that Methaqualone could fight malaria. Henceforth, it was also manufactured in the US and later became popular for its recreational use and also had street names like “disco biscuits”.
Quaaludes can have several effects on the individual’s body, drowsiness, reduced heart rate, and reduced respiration being the most common ones. Overdosing on this drug can be very risky as it can lead to coma and finally, death.
Common Uses of Quaaludes
When prescribed by the physician, Quaaludes is used as a central nervous system depressant to help a person relax so that he/she can fall asleep easily. Quaaludes also sometimes provides a feeling of euphoria. It can cause low blood pressure and slow down the pulse rate, which is why it was initially considered to be a sedative and hypnotic. Thus, Quaaludes was originally used for treating insomnia. The drug peaks in the bloodstream of the person a few hours after its intake and has a half-life of 20-60 hours. Using the drug regularly will lead to the building up of physical tolerance and the person would require more dosage for achieving the desired effects which could be life-risking. The drug must not be given to pregnant women.
Suggested Dosage of Quaaludes
Initially, when the drug was used legally for treating insomnia, it was available in capsule and tablet forms and had different strengths. Here is the suggested dosage of Quaaludes.
Medically recommended dosage for taking Quaaludes orally is 75mg for 3-4 times maximum daily for providing daytime sedation.
For treating insomnia, 150-400mg of dosage orally can be given.
When the drug is used for recreational purposes, taking dosage between 150mg and 300mg will provide light effects on the person. Taking the same for 300mg to 600mg is common and people usually consume the drug in this range for recreational purposes. Taking 600+mg is considered to be extreme overdosing and will have strong effects on the person’s body that could lead to side effects as well.
Common Side Effects of Quaaludes
The most common side effects of taking the drug are:
- Headache
- Restlessness
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Unconsciousness
- Low blood pressure and reduced heart rate
- Slurred speech
- Sweating
- Abdominal cramps
- Itching
- Rashes
Apart from these common side effects of Quaaludes, the two primary effects that it causes are euphoria and sedation. It can create strong sedation and the effect often dissipates within a few hours. When taken in the recommended doses, the drug tends to make you feel relaxed or sedated which increases the risks of getting involved in unsafe or inappropriate behavior. It can also cause erectile dysfunction.
When the drug is abused for recreational use, it can lead to serious side effects like paresthesia of the fingers, lips, arms, legs, and tongue. Slurred speech is also very common with higher doses.
Recreational Use of Quaaludes to Get High
It was first synthesized in India and gradually became a popular recreational drug in the US also. Quaaludes that are synthesized in illegal laboratories today are sold illegally for recreational uses. These synthesized Quaaludes are dangerous as they might also contain other central nervous system depressants like benzodiazepines.
It is popular for recreational use today because of the euphoric effects that it provides. It was also a popular drug that was abused in the 1970s in the US and Britain. Quaaludes was combined with wine and taken to feel the high.
Signs and Symptoms of Quaaludes High
There are several signs and symptoms of Quaaludes high that you can notice. The physical symptoms that one might experience when high or abusing Quaaludes are:
- Headache
- Slurred or slow speech
- Motor dysfunction
- Cardiovascular dysfunction
- Drowsiness
- Lack of coordination
- Respiratory depression
The psychological signs and symptoms that one might experience when using Quaaludes for getting high are:
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Increased anxiety
- Mood swings
- Delirium
Other signs that might affect the social situation of the person include:
- Lack of proper social interactions
- Lack of interest in social activities and events
- Increase in isolation and segregating from the loved ones
How does Quaaludes High Feel Like?
The signs and symptoms of getting high on Quaaludes can vary on the dosage that has been taken. People who have taken Quaaludes and experienced the symptoms of Quaaludes high have reported that after taking a dosage of about 375mg, they tend to feel a pleasant tingling effect within their entire body. They even start speaking louder or have slurred speech followed by blurry vision within some more time. Coordination while walking is messy which makes them stumble around. People often reported having combined Quaaludes with other substances like marijuana which gives a very intense euphoric effect, both physical and mental.
Growing Dependence on Quaaludes to Get High
When Quaaludes is abused, barbiturate-type dependence is created and it is already considered highly addictive which is why most of its users build a tolerance to the drug which makes them dependant on it. This can be fatal. Serious symptoms can occur due to Quaaludes withdrawal including restlessness, nausea, irritability, weakness, vomiting, headache, insomnia, mental confusion, tremors, seizures and more.
People suffering from the growing dependence and Quaaludes addiction also face difficulties in making decisions and controlling themselves. Reports also state that people die due to the inability to make the right decisions when under influence of the drug. Abusing Quaaludes can also affect the driving skills of the individual that increases the risks of accidents.
Quaaludes Addiction in People Abusing it to Get High
Quaaludes is highly addictive and people who abuse it by overdosing on Quaaludes tend to increase the risks of side effects that could even lead to coma or death. If the user takes 300mg for the first time use, it will be dangerous and considered an overdose. The tolerance to Quaaludes can occur very rapidly in users within a few days of abusing leading to addiction. It is easy to overdose on Quaaludes for the euphoric effects that it provides and within less than two weeks of abusing, the user will get addicted to the drug. The user will experience withdrawal symptoms like it is with any other drug and he/she will find it extremely difficult to quit abusing the drug. Withdrawal symptoms like restlessness, nausea, irritability and more are commonly experienced. The psychological effects, when addicted to the drug, are even more serious as it can take months or years to get over.
People also tend to abuse it by combining it with other central nervous system depressants or other drugs like marijuana to get better and more intense euphoric effects from the drug. It is very common among the lower-income classes, who tend to mix the drug with low-quality marijuana. The medication has been banned in 1980 which is why it is very difficult to get and buying it is totally illegal.
People might have access to the drug due to environmental situations or through family members, which could get them addicted to the drug. Apart from using it as a sleep aid, it was also used to treat emotional and physical pain. To get rid of the addiction, professional help might be necessary depending upon the level of dependence.
How to Tell Someone is Addicted to Quaaludes?
Noticing some of the signs can help you to understand if you are or someone else is addicted to Quaaludes. The signs are:
- Craving for using the drug over and over again.
- If you feel sober and lack the feeling of pleasure when not using the drug because of the lack of the euphoric effects caused by the drug.
- If the main aim of your life becomes getting access to the drug by any means.
- If someone or you take Quaaludes too often.
- If you are psychologically or physically dependant on Quaaludes.
- You are facing withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking the drug for some time.
- To avoid the withdrawal symptoms, you take the drug at short intervals.
Common Symptoms of Quaaludes Addiction
The most common symptoms that one might experience if he/she is addicted to Quaaludes are mentioned below:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Lack of appetite
- Memory loss
- Weakness
- Irregular heartbeat
- Slurred speech
- Sexual dysfunction
- Excess sweating
- Motor dysfunction
- If overdosed, can lead to death.
When you notice that you are experiencing these symptoms due to Quaaludes addiction, you must take professional help to help yourself in getting rid of the drug addiction.
Quaaludes Withdrawal and Treatment
Quaaludes withdrawal can occur when the intake of the drug is suddenly stopped or weaning off of the drug is not done. In such cases, depending upon the level of the drug dependence, the withdrawal symptoms can be experienced. The drug is highly addictive and when you try quitting the drug, some unusual symptoms that are uncommon might occur. This can help you understand that you are undergoing Quaaludes withdrawal. The severity of the withdrawal symptoms that one might experience depends upon various factors like the dosage and how long the person has been abusing it. Some of the withdrawal symptoms of Quaaludes are:
- Sleep deprivation
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Restlessness
- Muscle spasms
- Confusion
- Irritability
- High fever
- Hallucination
- Fatal seizures
- Delirium
TREATMENT: The first step in treating a person facing Quaaludes withdrawal symptoms is detoxification. The withdrawal symptoms of Quaaludes are very severe which is why it is important to get treated under professional supervision. The medical treatment procedures for Quaaludes addiction will help the individual to cope with the withdrawal symptoms and also prevent him from using or abusing it again.
There are Quaaludes addiction treatment centers that can help you recover from Quaaludes addiction and overcome the withdrawal symptoms. You can choose from various options for the treatment that includes inpatient and outpatient treatment options. If you have an excellent family support, you can go for outpatient programs where you can stay outside the facility, at home and come for regular therapies and various treatment procedures that you can get help from.
Most people still prefer inpatient treatment option for Quaaludes addiction where the person would have to stay for a certain period of time in the facility and get the help for overcoming the physical and psychological effects of Quaaludes addiction. Once you recognize your Quaaludes addiction and want to get rid of it, you must take the professional help that is essential for overcoming the abusive cycle of Quaaludes addiction. The services offered by the addiction treatment centers will provide you with enough support and comfort while they treat your addiction.
Here are a few steps that one must take for getting rid of the Quaaludes addiction:
- Recognize and take a step towards getting rid of the addiction.
- Understand that having professional help is very important in this case as the withdrawal symptoms can be severe.
- Once you recognize the need for the professional help and take the help, you will soon start recovering from the addiction.
- Detoxification, inpatient and outpatient treatments can help in treating your Quaaludes addiction.
Preventing Getting High on Quaaludes
To prevent from getting high on Quaaludes, you must take enough safety measure and prevent from overdosing. To prevent from getting high, do not take the medication in larger doses, especially over 2 g as this can lead to hypertonia or seizures. Prevent from using the drug by combining it with other drugs like marijuana or alcohol for recreational use. Do not take the drug for a long period of time. Taking the drug in a very low dosage as suggested above for a short period of time can help in curing sleep deprivation but overdosing is strictly not recommended. The drug is not legally available which is why it is best to avoid using it. Enough knowledge about the drug before using it can help you understand the severity of the drug’s side effects.
Conclusion
When the drug was available legally, it was noticed that the Quaaludes users had more negative impacts than positive ones like death due to accidents or the inability to take right decisions. The drug is not safe to use and the risks are increased highly when it is combined with other central nervous system depressants. The drug is now illegal which is why you would not find any physician recommending it. Thus, it is best to avoid using the drug at all costs. Recreational use of the drug can be very dangerous.
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