Just when you thought it was safe to do cocaine...

It seems like everything fun in life always has its downsides.  Eating junk food makes you fat.  Having sex can potentially lead to STDs or pregnancy.  Driving fast in your car can cause wrecks and tickets.

But now, out of the blue, it turns out that all our wonderful cocaine is adulterated with a chemical that causes your skin to rot off.  We all heard in high school hygiene class about how doing cocaine can burn holes in your nose and maybe even you've heard or seen someone who could pull a handkerchief from one side of their nose out the other (which would be totally worth it, in my opinion).  But now it seems cocaine cartels are just getting sloppy with their cutting agents and are resorting to only want to make the drug look nice, but not feel nice.  For shame, FARC! Pablo Escobar would be rolling over in his grave.

In a report in the June 1 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, Dumyati and doctors from the University of Rochester Medical Center discuss two cases involving women with a history of cocaine use who came to the hospital for help when they noticed purplish plaques on their cheeks, earlobes, legs, thighs and buttocks.

Their profiles were typical of toxicity with levamisole, the doctors reported. The medication is a veterinary anti-worming agent, approved for use in cattle, sheep and pigs. It was once used to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases and kidney problems in humans, Dumyati said. It's no longer approved for use in people in the United States, she said, because of adverse side effects.

But it's often used to cut cocaine, before distribution to the user, she said. "Almost 80 percent of the cocaine coming into this country has levamisole mixed in," Dumyati said.

Levamisole is a previously used deworming agent for livestock and apparently has some nasty side effects.  It was used in humans until the first part of the 21st century (which, as it happens, was just a couple years ago) until it was pulled because they found out it wasn't that great.

When you buy cocaine, you always want it to look rocky in texture so you would know it hasn't been too cut or adulterated with other crap (not that I would know).  But, apparently, levamisole is added specifically to make it look less rocky.  I guess the cocaine buyers of the world are becoming less educated.

That's a shame when you think about it, because there are all kinds of cool and interesting things you could cut cocaine with to improve its bioavailability, enhance its route of administration, give it more potency and so forth.  Probably a lot of the stuff doesn't cost too much anyway.  If you ever wonder into a  head shop to get out of the rain you may notice they sell large tubs of the B vitamin, inositol.  This isn't because the customers of these types of shops are interested in their overall health and want to increase their B vitamin intake.  Inositol is a common cutting agent of cocaine because it not only looks similar to cocaine, but it enhances the effects of the drug through some of it's weird mood enhancing benefits that are poorly understood.  Caffeine powder would be another obvious choice to increase the stimulating effects of the cocaine.  A cyclodextrin is a molecule that looks like a donut and an added drug can be placed in the center.  Acting as a simple sugar it absorbs very readily through the mucous membranes in the nose and mouth and helps enhance bioavailability of the drug, making delivery better than without it. [1]

For those who were so inclined, cut cocaine can usually be reduced to remove most of the adulterants, and levamisole would be no exception.  Depending on the molecular weight of the substance, just running it through a coffee filter might help.  But with all that trouble, it might simpler just to brew up a simple cup of tea.  Just keep everything in moderation!

Contaminated Cocaine Can Cause Flesh to Rot: Yahoo News 

[1] Tolson, David.  HPBCD Basics. 1fast400.com/archive.org http://web.archive.org/web/20050501073635/www.1fast400.com/a56_HPBCD_Basics.html.  Retrieved 6/2/10

Transdermal L-Deprenyl Approved as Treatment for Depression

The FDA has now approved a transdermal patch containing L-Deprenyl (Selegiline) as treatment for depression. This comes as a very interesting move as selegiline is not a true anti-depressant in the sense that it's not an SSRI or MAOI. Selegiline has been formally sold in the US, under the brand name Eldepryl, as a treatment for Parkinsons disease because it keeps dopamine from breaking down. It also works as an MAO-B in low doses, but as a true MAOI at much higher doses. Selegiline has been used in a wide variety of off label uses, including as a "smart drug" to enhance cognitive function. It has also been used by people in the life extension crowd to possibly help extend their life as studies in rats has shown it contains this possibility.

Selegiline sold for off-label uses has often been towted as a type of "miracle drug" for all the abilities and uses it has. It has been used to treat patients who have damaged brain function due to MDMA poisoning and even as a type of nutritional supplement because it increases the levels of the antioxidant Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD).

The drug itself has a very interesting history, including the story of one man who was sent to prison for selling the drug over the counter. There is also a very good article on it at Avant Lab's magazine, unfortunately it is going through maintaince at this time and I don't have access to it. However, you can find a cached copy of Part 2 through Google.

In the mean time, read The History of Deprenyl.

FDA Approves Emsam (Selegiline) as First Drug Patch for Depression
Lowest Dose can be used without Restrictions Required of MAOI
Class of Depression Drugs

The Food and Drug Administration today approved Emsam (selegiline), the first skin (transdermal) patch for use in treating major depression. The once a day patch works by delivering selegiline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI, through the skin and into the bloodstream. At its lowest strength, Emsam can be used without the dietary restrictions that are needed for all oral MAO inhibitors that are approved for treating major depression.

"Emsam provides a significant advance because at least in its lowest dose patients can use the drug without the usual dietary restrictions associated with these types of drugs known as MAO inhibitors,“ said Dr. Steven Galson, Director for the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Major depressive disorder is a common psychiatric condition in the U.S. population. Symptoms of depression include general emotional dejection, withdrawal and restlessness that interfere with daily functioning, such as loss of interest in usual activities; significant change in weight and/or appetite; insomnia; increased fatigue; feelings of guilt or worthlessness; slowed thinking or impaired concentration; and a suicide attempt or suicidal ideation.

MAO inhibitors usually require specific dietary restrictions because when combined with certain foods they can cause a sudden, large increase in blood pressure, or “hypertensive crisis”. A hypertensive crisis can lead to a stroke and death. Symptoms of a hypertensive crisis include sudden onset of severe headache, nausea, stiff neck, a fast heartbeat or a change in the way your heart beats (palpitations), sweating, and confusion. Patients who have these symptoms should get medical care right away.

The lowest dose of the MAOI patch, which delivers 6 milligrams (mg) of the medication over a 24 hour period, can be used without such dietary restrictions.

The Emsam patch will be made available in three sizes that deliver 6, 9, or 12 mg of selegiline per 24 hours. The patch is a matrix containing three layers consisting of a backing, and adhesive drug layer, and a release liner that is placed against the skin.

Emsam has been shown safe and effective for treatment of major depressive disorder in two 6-8 week studies and also in a longer-term study of patients. The data for EMSAM 6mg/24hr support the recommendation that a modified diet is not required at this dose. Patients are advised to change the patch once a day. The more limited data available for EMSAM 9mg/24hr and 12mg/24hr do not rule out food effects so that patients receiving these higher doses should follow dietary restrictions that advise them to avoid certain foods or beverages. This includes foods and beverages such as aged cheese and wine.

The only common side effect of Emsam detected in placebo-controlled trials was a mild skin reaction where the patch is placed. There may be mild redness at the site when a patch is removed. If the redness does not go away within several hours after removing the patch or if irritation or itching continues, patients are advised to contact their doctor.

Another side effect that was seen less commonly was light-headedness related to a drop in blood pressure.

The manufacturer and distributor of this new product have planned an educational campaign for patients and prescribers to ensure that advice on dietary modifications for the higher patch strengths is adhered to. They plan to conduct both patient and health care provider surveys to assess the effectiveness of the educational campaign. The manufacturer and distributor will also closely track reports of adverse events, and follow-up on those that might represent hypertensive crises, to further ensure the safe use of this product.

Although the effects of heat on the patch are not known, the drug labeling advises health care professionals and patients about the possible effects of direct heat applied to the Emsam patch. Direct heat may result in an increased amount of the drug absorbed from the patch. Patients should avoid exposing the patch to heating pads, electric blankets, heat lamps, saunas, hot tubs, or prolonged sunlight.

Like all approved antidepressants, this product carries a warning of increased suicidality in children and adolescents.

EMSAM was developed by Somerset Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In December 2004, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Somerset entered into an agreement that provides Bristol-Myers Squibb with distribution rights to market EMSAM after approval in the United States. Selegiline was initially approved in capsule form for use in Parkinson's Disease.

From the FDA Press Release

Japanese company invents "Painless Needle"

A new needle that is the size of two human hairs has been developed in Japan for diabetic patients who have to make frequent insulin injections. The needle has been developed to be completely painless on entry into the human skin.

No information was given on when the needle will be released to the public and if it will come in a longer depth to pierce past the subcutanous level.


You can watch the video by CNN here. (WMV)