Posted by AMD on September 8, 2009, at 15:05:31
I recently read an article in which it was reported that up to 30% of the cocaine shipped to America is cut with deworming medication levamisole. The same medication is occasionally used as an adjunct in the treatment of colon cancer patients. The scary part is that levamisole, it appears, can lead to agranulocytosis in some cases.
Although not a heavy cocaine user, I indulge now and then - including one night this weekend. This before I read the article I mention above.
Now I'm concerned I have been polluting my body with chemotherapy medications (as if the cocaine itself isn't enough). I have some questions and am having trouble getting straight answers from the Web. Perhaps someone where knows.
First, I have read in some places that levamisole is an antineoplastic - a hard-core chemotherapy drug. But in other places I see it referred to as an antibiotic (Wikipedia) or anthelmintic, neither of which is nearly as scary. What's the straight dope?
Second, assuming I had insufflated some levamisole this weekend, if it were to have an adverse effect on my T-cell count, how long would this last? Is it something I should still be concerned about if as of today I am not feeling ill (anxious, yes, but not ill per se)? I have a physical next week, but should I be taking some action before then?
Finally, is the prognosis of recovery from accidentally ingestion of levamisole good? Am I going to start losing my hair or my ability to do math!?
Thanks
poster:AMD
thread:916107
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090902/msgs/916107.html