Levamisole: A Dangerous New Cocaine Adulterant

被引：111

作者：

Chang, A. ^{[1
]}

Osterloh, J. ^{[2
]}

Thomas, J. ^{[2
]}

机构：

[1] Emory Univ, Dept Emergency Med, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA

[2] Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Atlanta, GA USA

来源：

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS | 2010年 / 88卷 / 03期

关键词：

AMINOREX; DRUGS; 4-METHYLAMINOREX; NEUTROPENIA;

D O I：

10.1038/clpt.2010.156

中图分类号：

R9 [药学];

学科分类号：

1007 ;

摘要：

Levamisole has increasingly been discovered in street cocaine as an adulterant. Recent reports have linked levamisole in street cocaine to agranulocytosis in cocaine users. It is well known that agranulocytosis is associated with therapeutic use of levamisole, and this may have led to the withdrawal of the drug from the US market. Levamisole was a US Food and Drug Administration-approved drug that has been used as an immunomodulator, a chemotherapy adjuvant, and anthelmintic medication. The purpose of adulterating street cocaine with levamisole is not known, but it has been speculated that it is added intentionally in order to potentiate the effects of cocaine. This may be supported by the recent report of metabolism of levamisole to aminorex in racehorses. Aminorex and related compounds, specifically 4-methylaminorex, or "ice," have high abuse potential because of their amphetamine-like pharmacological activity. This metabolism has not been reported in humans, and therefore the intended role of levamisole in street cocaine remains an enigma.

引用

页码：408 / 411

页数：4

共 30 条

[1]

Anonymous, 2005, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, V54, P793

[2]

[Anonymous], MICROGRAM B

[3] The formation of aminorex in racehorses following levamisole administration. A quantitative and chiral analysis following synthetic aminorex or levamisole administration vs. aminorex-positive samples from the field: a preliminary report [J].