| PROPOXYPHENE:
German scientists synthesized methadone during World
War II because of a shortage of morphine. Although chemically
unlike morphine or heroin, methadone produces many of
the same effects. Introduced into the United States
in 1947 as an anlgesic (Dolophine), it is primarily
used today for the treatment of narcotic addiction (Methadone).
The effects of methadone are longer lasting than those
of morphine-based drugs. Methadone's effects can last
up to 24 hours, thereby permitting administration only
once a day in heroin detoxification and maintenance
programs. Methadone is almost as effective when administered
orally as it is by injection. Tolerance and dependence
may develop, and withdrawal symptoms, though they develop
more slowly and are less severe than those of morphine
and heroin, are more prolonged. Ironically, methadone
used to control narcotic addiction is frequently encountered
on the illicit market and has been associated with a
number of overdose deaths.
A close relative of methadone is dextropropoxyphene,
first marketed in 1957 under the trade name of Darvon.
Oral analgesic potency is one-half to one-third that
of codeine, with 65 mg approximately equivalent to about
600 mg of aspirin. Dextroprooxxyphene is prescribed
for relief of mild to moderate pain. Bulk dextropropoxyphene
is in Schedule II, while preparations containing it
are in Schedule IV. More than 100 tons of dextropropoxyphene
are produced in the United States annually, and more
than 25 million prescriptions are written for the products.
This narcotic is associated with a number of toxic side
effects and is among the top 10 drugs reported by medical
examiners in drug abuse deaths.
[Abstracted from D.E.A. website q.v.]
| PROPOXYPHENE |
| Effects |
| Moderately strong analgesic in normal
doses. Larger doses can cause sedation, confusion,
hallucinations. G.I. side effects, even bleeding,
can occur especially when compounded with aspirin.
|
| Incidence
of Abuse |
| Abuse is currently sporadic. |
| Chemical
Name |
| Dextro-propoxyphene. (a synthetic narcotic) |
| Forms
and Street Names |
| "Darvon" is trade name. The drug is widely prescribed
as an analgesic... usually compounded with Aspirin
or Acetaminophin. Therefore, statistics show that
most persons who test positive will have a prescription! |
| Preferred
routes of administration |
| It is assumed that most abuse is by the oral route,
though there are reports of frequent I.V. use. |
| Length
of time detectable after user |
| 2 - 4 days! |
| Metabolite
Actually sought in urine |
| Propoxyphene! |
| Confounding
drugs (or factors): |
| None known |
| Screening
Cut-off: |
| 300 ng/ml |
| Confirmation
GC/MS Cut-off: |
| 300 ng/ml |
| Facts
for Verifying M.R.O |
| Verification is usually straightforward. Expect
most positive donors to have a prescription. |
|
