Flakka Drug: Side Effects and Risks

You might be aware of the dangers of abusing synthetic drugs. For example, a common synthetic drug that people know to stay away from is “bath salts,” a type of synthetic cathinone. While bath salts are hazardous to abuse, flakka is another kind of synthetic cathinone that you should stay away from.

Flakka is also known as alpha-PVP. It is typically found in white or pink crystals. Someone might smoke, snort, inject, or vaporize flakka in an e-cigarette.

Unfortunately, misusing flakka can lead to delusions, paranoid psychosis, and extreme agitation, putting you and the people around you at risk of violence.[1]

There are other risks associated with flakka abuse, including seizures, incredibly high body temperature, high blood pressure, the breakdown of muscle tissues, overdose, and renal failure.

If you or a loved one abuses flakka, it’s time to seek professional help. At the Mandala Healing Center, we can help you overcome flakka addiction with a combination of medical detox, evidence-based therapies, and relapse prevention planning.

In this article, you will learn:

• What is the flakka drug?
• What are the effects of flakka?
• What are the risks of abusing flakka?

What is Flakka?

Flakka is a designer drug that is considered a synthetic cathinone, making it similar to bath salts. Unfortunately, synthetic cathinones are dangerous to abuse and highly addictive, a risky cycle to get caught in. According to Science Direct, 50% of people who use synthetic cathinones meet the criteria for a substance use disorder.[2]

Flakka (alpha pyrrolidinopentiophenone) is often referred to as the “zombie drug.” This is because some people go into a catatonic state when they use it. You might also experience a violent or zombie-like rampage when you are under the influence of flakka.

The potential side effects of flakka include:

• Aggressive or violent behavior
• Blurry or double vision
• Delusion and paranoia
• Disorientation and confusion
• Excessive sweating and dehydration
• Visual or auditory hallucinations
• Impaired cognition and judgment
• Increased body temperature
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Seizures
• Vomiting and nausea

Flakka affects the central nervous system by increasing high levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. This is what causes the altered mental states you experience when high on flakka.

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What are the Dangers of Flakka?

Flakka can lead to a wide range of physical and mental health risks. This is not a safe drug to abuse. You could experience psychosis, seizures, life-threatening overdoses, and other serious medical conditions.

The main risks of abusing flakka include:

Excited Delirium

Excited or agitated delirium is a state that people can go into when they’ve consumed flakka. It is considered a medical emergency and is characterized by screaming, flailing, hyperventilating, and seizures. Because of the struggle, the person’s body can quickly go into hyperthermia.

Rhabdomyolysis

When you combine hyperthermia with intense physical activity during excited delirium, other things can begin to go wrong. For example, high body temperature and overactivity can cause muscle tissues to break down and enter the bloodstream. This is known as rhabdomyolysis.

The symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include muscle weakness or pain, dark or red urine, damage to the kidneys, decreased urine output, nausea, vomiting, and fever.[3] The risks of rhabdomyolysis include kidney failure and heart complications.

Overdose

Even small amounts of flakka can lead to a life-threatening overdose. The symptoms of a flakka overdose might include:

• Intense agitation
• Restlessness
• Violence or aggression
• Severe paranoia
• Delusional thinking
• Hallucinations
• Heart complications like rapid heartbeat, chest pain, or irregular heartbeat
• Seizures and convulsions

If you believe you or someone you know is experiencing a flakka overdose, contact 911 immediately.

Renal Failure

If you experience rhabdomyolysis after using flakka and do not receive prompt treatment, you could suffer from renal failure. This occurs because the combination of dehydration and having proteins released into your blood can make it hard for your kidneys to filter things effectively. As a result, they stop working altogether.

In other words, if you begin experiencing any abnormal symptoms after ingesting flakka, you should seek professional medical treatment immediately. An emergency room or hospital can treat your symptoms and try to prevent severe consequences like renal failure.

Get Connected to a Flakka Addiction Treatment Center

If you or a loved one abuses flakka, it’s time to seek professional help. Flakka is chemically similar to bath salts, making it a dangerous substance to abuse. While overcoming flakka addiction can be hard, drug rehab centers make it possible by offering you the tools and support you need to achieve long-term recovery.

The Mandala Healing Center is here to support you throughout the flakka addiction recovery process. We offer medical detox, evidence-based therapies, and relapse prevention planning to help our clients recover. Our treatment plans are always personalized, which means you’ll have access to the exact type of care you need when you attend our program.

Contact us today for more information on how we can help you overcome flakka addiction.

References:

1. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA): Flakka (alpha-PVP)
2. Science Direct: Abuse potential and toxicity of the synthetic cathinones (i.e., “Bath salts”)
3. The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Rhabdomyolysis