Scopalomine?

[follies]

What's the prevalance of this drug in Thailand? Recently got back from a week in Bogota, where it's a big problem. Can anyone comment?

[Central Scrutinizer]

follies,

 

What is it and what'sit do? Is it a date rape type of drug? Never heard of it myself. How about a little more info.

 

Cent

[iuytrede]

never heard of scopolamine being used here for criminal purposes, but FOW should know better

[Guest]

no clue what that might be.

[ALHOLK]

Hi!

 

Scopolamine is a very old drug that is extracted from some flower, I forget which. It allegedly has been used as a truth drug similar to sodiuam pentothal and also as a date rape drug such as rohypnol. Apparently the lethal dose lies very close to the effective dose so it is quite dangerous to use for these purposes. All this I read in a book many years ago so don't ask me for sources. However a Google search did produce some information. It is appears to be used in modern sedatives.

 

regards

 

ALHOLK

[elef]

TRANSDERM-V® Novartis Pharmaceuticals Scopolamine Anti-Motion Sickness Agent

 

Action and Clinical

 

Scopolamine is a naturally occurring belladonna alkaloid. As a parasympatholytic agent it competitively antagonizes acetylcholine (or other direct parasympathomimetics) at the muscarinic receptor. This means that its effect can be abolished by high doses of a parasympathomimetic agent. The effect of scopolamine depends on the sensitivity of the target organs and on the size of the dose employed.:

 

The principal actions of scopolamine are related to anticholinergic effects which include depressed motor function, decreased salivation and sweating, mydriasis, inhibition of visual accommodation, and tachycardia. Drowsiness may also occur at therapeutic doses.

 

The mechanism of action of scopolamine in the CNS is not well known but may include anticholinergic effects. The ability of scopolamine to prevent motion-induced nausea is believed to be associated with inhibition of vestibular input to the CNS, which results in inhibition of the vomiting reflex. In addition, scopolamine may have a direct action on the vomiting centre within the reticular formation of the brain stem.

 

After transdermal administration of scopolamine, the time necessary to reach maximum blood levels (estimated by urinary excretion of scopolamine) is approximately 12 hours. The disc is designed for continuous release of scopolamine over the 3 day functional lifetime. Scopolamine excretion continues for up to 12 hours after removal of the system. Approximately 5 to 8% of the administered drug is excreted unchanged.

 

Indications And Clinical Uses:

 

For prevention of symptoms of motion sickness such as nausea and vomiting.

 

Contra-Indications:

 

Known hypersensitivity to scopolamine or any components of the system.

 

Glaucoma or a predisposition to angle-closure glaucoma (see Warnings).

 

Warnings in Clinical States:

 

Occupational Hazards: Since drowsiness, disorientation and confusion may occasionally occur with the use of scopolamine, patients should be cautioned about engaging in activities that require mental alertness, such as driving a motor vehicle or operating dangerous machinery.

 

Potentially alarming idiosyncratic reactions may occur with ordinary therapeutic doses of scopolamine.

 

In patients with a history of possible raised intraocular pressure (pressure pain, blurred vision, glaucomatous halo), scopolamine should be employed only after ophthalmological examination excludes glaucoma (see Contraindications).

 

Scopolamine should be discontinued if it causes blurring of vision with pressure pain within the eye (see Contraindications).

 

Precautions:

 

Scopolamine should be used with caution in patients with dysuria, e.g., due to urinary bladder neck obstruction. Caution should be exercised when administering an antiemetic or antimuscarinic drug to patients suspected of having intestinal obstruction, e.g., pyloric stenosis.:

 

Scopolamine should be used with caution in the elderly or in individuals with impaired metabolic, liver or kidney functions.

 

In certain cases, especially in the elderly, confusional states and/or visual hallucinations may occur. Should this occur, scopolamine should be removed at once. If severe symptoms persist, appropriate countermeasures should be taken (see Overdose: Symptoms and Treatment).

 

In epileptic patients, isolated cases of increased seizure frequency have been reported.

 

Children: Children are particularly susceptible to the side effects of belladonna alkaloids. Transderm-V should not be used in children because it is not known whether the amount of scopolamine released could produce serious adverse effects in children.

 

Pregnancy: Scopolamine should be used during pregnancy only if the anticipated benefit justifies the potential risk to the mother and fetus.

 

Lactation: Scopolamine should not be administered to nursing mothers since it is excreted into breast milk.

 

Drug Interactions :

 

Scopolamine should be employed with caution in patients taking drugs which act on the CNS. This applies particularly to patients under treatment with drugs displaying anticholinergic properties, for example, belladonna alkaloids, antihistamines, antidepressants (tricyclics and MAO inhibitors), phenothiazines, amantadine and quinidine.

 

Any parasympatholytic or sympathomimetic agent or barbiturate should be administered with caution to persons wearing scopolamine.

 

Patients should refrain from consuming alcohol while using scopolamine. Alcohol may interfere with the metabolism of the drug and could thus cause plasma levels to become elevated, which could intensify the side effects.

 

Information for the Patient: Since scopolamine can cause temporary dilation of the pupils and blurred vision if it comes in contact with the eyes, patients should be strongly advised to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after handling the disc and to avoid touching the disc while in place behind the ear.

 

Patients should be advised to remove the disc and contact a physician promptly in the unlikely event that they experience symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma (pain in and reddening of the eyes accompanied by dilated pupils).

 

Patients should be instructed to remove the disc if they develop difficulty urinating.

 

Patients should be advised to refrain from consuming alcohol while using scopolamine.

 

Patients should be warned against driving a motor vehicle or operating dangerous machinery.

 

 

web page

 

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IMO there are a lot of better alternatives. I remember same as Alholk that it was "used" as a truth drug in some film or book ("Where eagles dare" maybe or 007).

 

elef

[iuytrede]

Described above is the therapeutic usage of scopolamine.

 

The criminal usage (to which OP refers) is a bit different:

 

Criminals sometimes use the drug "scopolamine" to incapacitate tourists in order to rob them. The drug is administered in drinks (in bars), through cigarettes and gum (in taxis), and in powder form (tourists are approached by someone asking directions, with the drug concealed in a piece of paper, and the perpetrator blows the powder into the victim's face). The drug renders the person disoriented and can cause prolonged unconsciousness and serious medical problems.

(from http://travel.state.gov/travel/colombia.html)

 

More medical details and more about safety in Bogota. For references in English just do a google search for "scopolamine bogota".

 

But as I said, I have never heard of it being used here.

I think Thailand doesn't really need a drug that makes the victim submissive and disoriented. TGs can do this without a drug ::

[Guest]

There have been indications that this drug has been in Bangkok for the last 2 years (articles in newspaers and on Thai TV news). It is generally mentioned as a contact drug in which the person touches another and next they know, the touched person becomes unconscious to only to awaken with all valuables gone.

 

I have never seen the name of this drug mention so there is a possibility it is this drug.