Methaqualone Addiction and Detox Signs, Symptoms and Withdrawal Treatment

By 1981, the DEA estimated that Quaaludes were second only to marijuana as the most popular recreational drug in the US. At this point, up to 90% of global Quaalude production was for the black market. For first-time users of Top 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Sober House methaqualone, taking over 300mg of the drug can be dangerous. Daily doses of 8000mg can be fatal, although this will depend on the tolerance of the users. The Quaaludes you find today are manufactured in illegal laboratories.

When this drug is taken with alcohol, overdose, and death can happen at much lower doses. A 2019 study found that among adults 18 and onlder, approximately 9.5 million people who had any mental illness (AMI), also suffered from a substance use disorder (SUD). Other studies show that nearly half of all people with a mental health issue will also have a substance use disorder as well. This is perhaps in part due to the related risk factors of both mental health issues and substance use disorders, such as things like genetics, stress, environment, and current or past trauma. Hopefully though, now that we are all a bit more used to what daily life looks like while living during a pandemic, we are able to better adjust.

Indications of Quaalude Misuse

While Quaaludes remain dangerous and illegal, that has not stopped Americans from acquiring the drug. In 2015, Bill Cosby admitted to receiving prescription Quaaludes, even though the United States has a ban on the production and distribution of these drugs. While Quaaludes may not enjoy the popularity they once had, they are far from a memory. In popular media and movies, such as The Wolf of Wall Street, you have probably seen characters show the sedative effects of taking Quaaludes. Slow speech, uncontrollable body movements, and cognitive impairment are some of its classic symptoms.

After four to six half-lives, the drug is considered to be eliminated from the body. By the early 1980s, the Drug Enforcement Agency reported Quaaludes were the second most popular recreational drug in the US, with only marijuana being more popular. The Lemmon Company, a pharmaceutical company that had the rights to manufacture Quaaludes in the 1970s, quickly ran into an image problem. Their CEO once said Quaaludes made up 2% of their sales and created 98% of their problems. Methaqualone was made a Schedule II drug in 1973, making it hard to prescribe and illegal to possess unless covered by a prescription. One of the many problems with methaqualone, as we touched on above, is the way tolerance so rapidly builds.

Methods of Treatment that Aid in Recovery

People take Quaaludes to experience deep relaxation and a feeling of euphoria, but quaaludes can also cause serious problems. A sudden drop in blood pressure, seizures, vomiting and confusion are some of the many side effects of this deadly drug. Methaqualone or Quaaludes (methaqualone) are synthetic, barbiturate-like, drugs that depress the central nervous system. Quaaludes are fast acting and can take full effect in as little as 30 minutes. An average person can feel sedated from Quaaludes for up to 8 hours. Quaaludes is most commonly used for its relaxation and euphoric properties.

• Sometimes, it may take several weeks or months for the body to recover from the effects of quaaludes fully.
• Quaalude abuse is rare given the drug’s availability, but it’s still possible to find Quaalude pills.
• The increased GABA activity leads to euphoria, relaxation, enhanced pleasure, and sometimes detachment from reality, which can re-enforce drug-seeking behavior.
• Most people find that they need inpatient treatment for a Methaqualone addiction.
• These withdrawal symptoms may manifest as anxiety, muscle spasms, loss of appetite, irritability, feeling weak; seizures, hyperthermia, hallucinations, blisters, nausea and vomiting.

Quaalude, also known as methaqualone, is a sedative-hypnotic medication first introduced in the 1960s as a prescription sleep aid and muscle relaxant. Methaqualone is a central nervous system depressant that slows down brain activity and induces relaxation. When Quaaludes are taken with alcohol, overdose and death can occur at much lower doses. Alcohol is also a CNS depressant, so luding out on methaqualone and wine – standard practice in the 1970s – saw users magnifying the effects of this drug, sometimes fatally. People use quaaludes to treat conditions like insomnia and anxiety.