Quaaludes
Learn more about quaaludes, a sedative once frequently prescribed.
Overview
Common Nicknames
Mandrax
Drug Class
Sedative, Anxiolytic, Hypnotic
Drug Form
Crystalline powder
Route of Administration
Oral
What is the science of Quaaludes?
Methaqualone (commonly known by the brand names Quaalude in the US and Mandrax in the UK) is a synthetic anxiolytic (anxiety reducing) sedative hypnotic drug which has effects similar to those of barbiturates. It was initially synthesised in 1951 and introduced clinically as a ‘safe’ barbiturate substitute to induce sleep. Methaqualone then became popular recreationally in the 1960s. The drug is now listed in Class B, making its production and distribution illegal.
Methaqualone molecules bind to GABA receptors, the inhibitory neurotransmitter. Increasing activity of GABA slows down the brain and reduces neuronal activity. Increased activity of GABA causes a reduction of blood pressure and heart rate, along with reduced breathing rate, overall leading to a state of relaxation.
What are the risks?
Overdose
Taking an overdose of methaqualone can lead to seizures, comas, and fatality. The range of dangerous doses varies from person to person and depends on factors such as tolerance. Taking methaqualone alongside other drugs increases the risk of overdose, particularly other depressant drugs such as alcohol.
If a person has taken an overdose, heavier sedation than desired may occur, they may have difficulty concentrating, make irrational decisions and speak slowly or slur their words along with displaying a lack of coordination. The person’s breathing may become shallow, and their blood pressure may drop. If an overdose is suspected, medical help must be sought immediately.
To reduce the risk of overdose, users should start with a small dose and see how they feel rather than taking a larger dose all at once. Having a trusted person present when using methaqualone is advisable, as they can help in the event of an overdose.
Addiction
Tolerance to methaqualone builds up rapidly, causing users to take higher and higher doses to produce the same effects. Methaqualone is both physically and psychologically addictive. Addiction increases the risk of overdose and can lead to users experiencing withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop using the drug.
These symptoms include:
Restlessness
Insomnia
Confusion
Headaches
Irritability
Hallucinations
Muscle tremors
Seizures
If you are using methaqualone, it is important to be aware of the signs of addiction. For example, you may become angry or irritable when you run out of the drug, you may lose interest in your hobbies and your methaqualone use may be putting strain on your personal relationships. Medical help is available to those who are experiencing addiction.
Adulteration
Illicitly produced methaqualone may actually contain none at all. Instead, it may be mix of different barbiturates and benzodiazepines, for example. Taking illicitly produced methaqualone may lead to users taking a drug they didn’t intend to. This in turn can lead to overdose of a different drug, as the dosages may not be the same.
How might the drug make you feel?
The effects of methaqualone can typically be felt around 30 minutes after the drug is taken and last for 5-8 hours.
These effects include:
Relaxation
Sleepiness
Euphoria
Reduced blood pressure
Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness
Fatigue
Sweating
Tingling sensation in arms and legs
Seizures
Is Quaaludes addictive, and what are the long-term effects?
Methaqualone is highly addictive. The drug produces a pleasurable experience for users, leading people to want to take more. Physical and psychological tolerance develops quickly, leading users to take continually bigger doses to experience the same effects. This increases the risk of overdose and over time, the drug may be used more to cope with the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms rather than for pleasure.
Long term use of methaqualone can lead to various physical and psychological effects.
Physical effects include:
Cardiovascular disfunction
Motor disfunction
Respiratory depression
Extreme sensitivity to light
Numbness of fingers and toes
Psychological effects include:
Delirium
Insomnia
Anxiety
Depression
Harm Reduction and Drug-Drug Interactions
How much are you taking and how often?
Methaqualone addiction and withdrawal can cause considerable harm to quality of life and health. If you begin to develop tolerance to the effects of methaqualone, this should be taken as a warning sign that the drug may be harmfully affecting your body.
Are you mixing methaqualone with any other drug?
Methaqualone should never be used alongside other drugs. Mixing any drugs increases the risks of both substances.
Mixing with alcohol and other depressant drugs is particularly dangerous and should be avoided. Overdose may occur at a lower dosage of methaqualone when mixed with alcohol.
How are you taking it?
Some routes of administration carry more risk than others, such as intravenous injection. If you are injecting methaqualone, you should not share needles as this can lead to the spread of infection.
As use of methaqualone lowers blood pressure, it may be more dangerous for those with existing heart conditions to take the drug. The risk of seizures is also linked to its use, therefore, those who suffer from seizures should avoid use.
Medical Uses
Methaqualone is no longer used in a medical context due to concerns over the drug’s potential for harm. When first produced, it was used to treat insomnia. Methaqualone is now a class B drug in the UK, making its production and distribution illegal.
Myths and Misconceptions
Methaqualone is safer than other depressants because it also has stimulant-like properties
While methaqualone can produce a disinhibiting, euphoric effect that some compare to stimulants, it is fundamentally a depressant. This misconception can lead users to underestimate its sedative potency and take dangerously high doses.
Methaqualone sold on the street today is the same substance that was used in the 1970s
The methaqualone that was popular in the 1970s was pharmaceutical-grade with known dosages and composition. Street methaqualone today, sometimes sold as "quaaludes" or "mandrax," is illicitly produced and frequently adulterated with other substances.
Methaqualone Withdrawal
If a person is addicted to methaqualone, the risk of them overdosing increases as they will need to take an ever-increasing dose to achieve the same effects.
The symptoms of withdrawal include:
Restlessness
Insomnia
Confusion
Headaches
Irritability
Hallucinations
Muscle tremors
Seizures
As with addiction to any drug, addiction to methaqualone can also cause problems at work and school, put a strain on relationships with family and friends and cause physical and mental health issues.