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Quaaludes (methaqualone) became a popular recreational drug in the 1960s and 1970s. They were used medicinally as a sedative-hypnotic drug and a muscle relaxant. Doctors used to prescribe them to treat insomnia.[1]
As time went on, people realized that methaqualone caused an intense high. This led to recreational abuse of Quaaludes and people began calling them disco biscuits. Once experts started catching on to the misuse of Quaaludes, they were discontinued in the United States.
The history of Quaaludes can be interesting. As a central nervous system depressant, methaqualone abuse skyrocketed soon after they were prescribed for the first time. Then, they were banned in the early 1980s to prevent further Quaalude addiction from occurring.
Quaaludes are not made in the United States. However, other countries like South Africa, India, and Mexico create them in labs under different names. Drug traffickers may bring these substances into America.
In this article, you will learn:
- What is methaqualone
- What effects do Quaaludes cause
- Whether Quaaludes are still made
- Can you overdose on Quaaludes
What are Quaaludes?
Methaqualone is the name of a drug that was sold under the brand name Quaalude. It has sedative effects, which made it a go-to substance for treating insomnia in the 1960s and 1970s. However, people began abusing it at alarming rates, leading the government to ban it in the early 1980s.
The active ingredient in Quaaludes was created to soothe anxiety, as it causes a powerful sedative effect that calms the central nervous system. It is considered both a sedative-hypnotic and an anxiolytic. Because of the side effects, people who were prescribed methaqualone began abusing it to experience euphoria, dizziness, drowsiness, and overwhelming feelings of calm.
Quaaludes were intended to be a safer replacement for drugs like barbiturates. Unfortunately, just like the opioid epidemic, this idea was in vain. Even when methaqualone was banned, counterfeit versions of the drug were created which led to fatal overdoses.[2]
Effects of Quaaludes
Quaaludes were round or circular pills that had the number 714 printed on one side. These drugs were commonly prescribed sedatives that had not been legally manufactured since the early 1980s. However, many people still talk about them because of the intense high they created.
The effects of methaqualone might include:[3]
- Feelings of euphoria and pleasure
- Intense calmness or sedation
- Dizziness and drowsiness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal cramps and diarrhea
- Tingling sensation in arms and legs
- Dry mouth
- Excessive sweating
- Rashes or itching
- Fatigue
- Reduced heart rate
- Slowed breathing
- Seizures
Because the effects of methaqualone are so intense, abusing them is dangerous. You could experience life-threatening cardiovascular or respiratory effects. It is also possible to have a seizure when you take too high of a dose.
Are Quaaludes Still Made?
Quaaludes were discontinued and banned in the United States in 1985. This occurred because of the high rates of abuse, severe risk of addiction, and long-term effects associated with the drug.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made methaqualone a controlled substance and classified it as a Schedule I drug. In other words, Quaaludes were legally considered to have no medicinal uses and a high risk of abuse.
While methaqualone is not made in the United States, other countries still create them. Small amounts of Quaaludes may make their way to America through the illegal drug trade.
That said, methaqualone is extremely rare and you are not likely to find the real thing. If someone is selling you Quaaludes on the street, it is likely an unknown combination of mind-altering and dangerous substances. With the current fentanyl epidemic, it is extremely risky to take a drug without knowing what it contains.
Can You Overdose on Quaaludes?
If you get your hands on some Quaaludes, you should be extremely careful. These drugs are powerful. Taking a large dose could result in a life-threatening overdose.
The symptoms of a methaqualone overdose include:[4]
- Slowed cognitive abilities
- Impaired coordination
- Not responding to stimuli
- Extreme drowsiness or sedation
- Excessive salivating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Psychosis
- Increased body temperature and sweating
- Slowed breathing and heart rate
- Seizures
- Coma and death
As you can see, methaqualone is a dangerous drug. If you abuse them long-term, you will become addicted to them. The most obvious sign of Quaalude addiction is experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you cannot use them.
If you suffer from Quaalude abuse, you should seek professional addiction treatment. The longer you are addicted to them, the more likely it is that you will take too large of a dose and suffer from fatal effects.
Find Help for Drug and Alcohol Abuse
If you or a loved one abuse drugs like Quaaludes, opioids, or another type of addictive substance, you should seek professional help. Addiction treatment programs like the Mandala Healing Center can help you recover through a combination of medical detox, behavioral therapies, and relapse prevention planning.
At the Mandala Healing Center, we use an evidence-based approach to addiction treatment. Contact us today for more information on how to get help.
References:
- Science Direct: Methaqualone
- Jama Network: Changing Patterns of Methaqualone Abuse
- Nature: Structural insights into GABAA receptor potentiation by Quaalude
- The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Methaqualone
