The term was coined in the mid- to late 1980s whendoctors, scientists, and law enforcement agencies noted that, overthe past few decades, the number of people who were attemptingto illegally synthesize mind-altering drugs in underground “clandestine”laboratories was increasing dramatically. These “basementchemists” were taking the chemical structures of knownlegal drugs, such as the narcotic painkiller Demerol, and alteringthem slightly (even by one or two atoms) to produce closelyrelated analogues (molecules with very similar chemical structures).The idea behind this illegal synthesis was to create a“designer drug” that was hundreds or thousands of times morepotent than the original legal drug. For a few hundred dollars inchemicals and lab supplies, drug makers and dealers could produceliterally millions of dollars’ worth of illegal drugs. Also, sincethe chemical structure.
Codeine
Posted by : anand
on 9:55 AM
Codeine is available as a free alkaloid base and in the form of its water soluble salts. The most common salts of codeine are codeine sulfate, N.F. and codeine phosphate U.S.P. both are available as official tablets containing 15, 30 or 60 mg of the drug. Codeine phosphate injection U.S.P. contain32.4 mg/ml of the salt. Codeine phosphate has the advantage of being much more water soluble than is the sulfate. Also available are terpin hydrate and codeine elixir, N.F. and compound white pine syrup with codeine. These are preparations employed for cough and they contain 8 mg in 4 ml dose.
Although a dose of 120 mg of codeine, administered hypodermically causes analgesia equivalent to that resulting from 10 mg of morphine, when used parent rally. However, codeine seems to be about one third as effective orally as it is parent rally and in this respect it has distinct advantages over morphine. Orally a dose of 32 mg of codeine is approximately equal analgesic with one of 600 mg of aspirin, when these two drugs are combines there is a significant supra addictive effect, a dose of 65 mg of codeine performs a little better. Codeine is widely employed for its antitussive actions usually at doses of 8 mg. While such low doses are sometimes effective against experimental induced cough, their use in clinical cough is questionable.
The abuse liability of codeine is much lower than that of morphine.
Acupuncture replacing Narcotics
Posted by : anand
on 8:24 AM
In the Middle East and the Far East, the ancient technique of acupuncture has been used in recent years for the treatment of acute phases of narcotic withdrawal. This method involves placing needles in certain parts of the body to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Another technique of acupuncture entails the placement of needles in the ear and earlobes. This is followed by the passage of low voltage current across the head.
Although many clinical changes will take place, such as correct sleep patterns, causation of symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and achieving joints, it is unlikely that complications such as tachycardia, hyperventilation and perspiration will be alleviated through acupuncture.
The treatment will help the client reach a more relaxed and calm state of mind it is recommended that extra counseling of group therapy be used in conjunction with acupuncture.
Alternative for Narcotics
Posted by : anand
on 12:24 PM
For many substance abusers, using drugs is a way of coping with stress. Once a person has decided to stop using drugs they need to develop other coping mechanisms.
Relaxation is a behavior therapy technique wherein clients learn now to keep their body and mind calm. Relaxation will help alleviate insomnia and other psycho physiological problems such as muscle tension, feelings of dysphasia and anxiety.
The aim of a relaxation programme is to teach the client methods that produce a basic relaxation response. This will help the client eliminate tension from his body and feel a deep sense of relaxation. Supervision of relaxation should take place on a regular basis and is most commonly taught in one muscle group at a time. For the client to get full benefit of relaxation therapy, it should be carried out on a daily basis at home.
Simultaneous to relaxation therapy, individual counseling or group therapy is an essential adjuvant. This overall process deals with physical, psychological and behavioral factors of treatment.
Effects of methadone on offspring of users
Posted by : anand
on 7:43 AM
Disposition of metabolism during the prenatal period of methadone and drugs used in narcotic addiction treatment. At present the only drug approved when maintaining narcotic addicted pregnant women is methadone. When the issue of maintenance treatment arises for a pregnant patient, the effects of fetus must be considered. The choice of treatment agent should primarily aim at using a drug resulting in least fetal drug exposure.
Little information is available on human fetal drug exposure and disposition of drugs such as acetyl methanol. Therefore, many studies have to be carried out using animal modes, to compare the disposition of methadone and other drugs. By various results we can say that long term methadone maintenance seems to correct the genetic damage produced by heroin use.
Effects of Narcotics when highly dosed
Posted by : anand
on 8:42 AM
When nalorphine is given in large doses, it causes morphine like automatic changes which may be more pronounced. The respiratory changes which may be more pronounced. The respiratory depression is not similar to what is produced by morphine and related narcotics. In man, the degree of respiratory depression is not similar to what is produced by morphine and related narcotics. In man, the degree of respiratory depression produced by morphine increases progressively as the dose is increased, but with Nalorphine the curve of respiratory depressions flattens out, that is why a dose of 75 mg does not produce significantly greater respiratory depression than is seen with 10 to 20 mg. In man deaths have not been reported but in monkeys lethal doses may produce tremors and periodic colonic seizures with simultaneous respiratory arrest and cardiovascular collapse. Nalorphine does not produce physical or psychological dependence and the withdrawal symptoms and not typical of those observed after morphine withdrawal. Antagonists have little or no abuse liability.
Effects in the absence of narcotics
Posted by : anand
on 9:52 AM
Narcotics produce certain autonomic effects resembling those produced by morphine when given in small doses (5 – 15 mg). It also reduces respiratory minute volume and the sensitivity of the respiratory centre to CO2.
With morphine, body temperature is lowered, heart rate is decreased and pupils are constricted. Nalorphine also has an antitussive effect, but it is not constricted. Nalorphine also has an antitussive effect, but it is not constipating and often it produces decrease rather than an increase in intestinal tone. The effects of nalorphine depend upon the dose, the subject and the situation. A dose of 10 to 15 mg of nalorphine is enough to cause analgesia in patients show a considerable degree of relaxation and drowsiness. In some patients nalorphine produces unpleasant reactions that range from anxiety, crazy feeling and vivid disturbing, unreal day dreams to frank hallucinatory phenomena. Usually it may cause difficulty in focusing the eyes, sweating nausea and the feeling of being groggy or drunk and being sleepy but unable to sleep etc.
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