Methaqualone ingestion: evaluation of present status

Area of Science:

• Forensic Toxicology
• Clinical Pharmacology
• Substance Abuse Research

Background:

• Methaqualone (Quaalude) abuse was prevalent despite federal controls.
• Understanding the profile of methaqualone users and intoxication patterns is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize methaqualone abuse patterns.
• To correlate serum methaqualone concentrations with clinical presentation.
• To assess the ongoing relevance of methaqualone in toxicology screens.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 60 methaqualone ingestion cases from 1977-1980.
• Analysis of serum methaqualone concentrations, clinical data, and demographics.
• Correlation analysis between serum levels and clinical findings.

Main Results:

• The average user was a 27-year-old male, frequently co-ingesting other drugs (narcotics, ethanol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates).
• Admitted patients typically presented with depressed consciousness and serum methaqualone levels of 5 +/- 3 mg/L.
• Serum levels >= 9 mg/L consistently indicated depressed consciousness, irrespective of co-ingestants.

Conclusions:

• Methaqualone abuse persisted despite regulatory efforts.
• Serum methaqualone concentration is a key indicator of intoxication severity.
• Routine inclusion of methaqualone in toxicology screens is recommended.