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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
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
Posted by yxibow on September 14, 2009, at 22:43:57
In reply to Levamisole, posted by AMD on September 8, 2009, at 15:05:31
I hate to say it, because people will do what they want to do regarding heavy street drugs, and I'm not going to preach one way or the other, but...
The answer is, don't do cocaine.
If you did it once or twice, the worst part of it would still be the cocaine. Its hard on the heart and if you have a hidden or unknown heart condition you could end up in the hospital or drop dead, its been known.
So forget about what its been cut with. I can't tell you not to continue to take it, but that's my answer -- you're more likely to develop a deviated septum or have a heart attack than what its been "tampered" with.
And if you're worried about what its been "tampered" with, I think you can already answer your question with the fact that its "cheapened" with everything from warfarin to benzocaine to borax and who knows what else.
Stop using and or get some help and you won't have to have esoteric or real worries.
-- tidings
Posted by psych chat on September 14, 2009, at 23:03:56
In reply to Levamisole, posted by AMD on September 8, 2009, at 15:05:31
Before the group think begins, why would cocaine be cut with a pharmacological agent when baking soda and other similar substances are easier to obtain and cost much less?
Where is the incentive to replace pure cocaine with a "hard-core chemotherapy drug" or deworming medication? I suppose your findings could be realistic if deworming and anti-cancer drugs lead to some sort of cocaine-like pseudo high; however, if that is the case, in the absence of incentives to use Borax or baking soda, would it not still be cheaper and more practical or more cost-effective to use 'real' cocaine as opposed to the utilization of FDA-regulated drugs for fillers?
In seems, in most cases, the implementation of capitalism gravitates more towards logic than it does in regard to 'other' forces.
But yeah, no matter how you look at at, cocaine is bad news.
Posted by AMD on October 2, 2009, at 15:27:50
In reply to Re: Levamisole, posted by psych chat on September 14, 2009, at 23:03:56
Thanks for the input. Agreed - it _is bad news and I'm working to stay away from it. I just wonder how much I should concerned with possible side-effects after having stopped,
This is the end of the thread.
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