Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 60mg / Triprolidine 2.5mg tablets

BACKGROUND: The widespread availability and accessibility of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines play a vital role in modern healthcare systems, enabling individuals to manage minor health concerns independently. However, certain OTC medications possess pharmacological properties that render them susceptible to misuse and abuse, including stimulants, laxatives, sedatives, and opiate-containing products. Misuse involves improper dosage, duration, or indication, while abuse entails non-therapeutic use to achieve psychoactive effects or other illicit purposes, potentially leading to dependence and addiction. This review explores the risk of developing psychotic symptoms associated with OTC drug misuse. Synthesizing existing literature, it comprehensively examines the relationship between antihistamines, cough medicines, and decongestants misuse, and the onset of psychotic symptoms. METHODS: A systematic literature review was carried out using Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science databases through the following search strategy: ("diphenhydramine" OR "promethazine" OR "chlorpheniramine" OR "dimenhydrinate" OR "dextromethorphan" OR "pseudoephedrine" OR codeine- based cough medicines) AND ("abuse" OR "misuse" OR "craving" OR "addiction") NOT review NOT (animal OR rat OR mouse). For data gathering purposes, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was followed. Research methods were registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024527558). RESULTS: We analysed 46 relevant studies out of an initial pool of 2,677 articles. Key findings indicate that antihistamines, dextromethorphan, and other OTC drugs can induce psychotic symptoms, such as paranoia, hallucinations, and thought disorders when abused. Dextromethorphan is particularly associated with a chronic tendency towards psychosis, whereas other substances more commonly result in acute substance-induced psychosis. CONCLUSION: The study underscores the necessity for increased awareness and specific interventions to address the misuse of OTC drugs and their potential to cause significant psychiatric disorders, emphasizing the broader public health implications of such misuse.

Abstract licence: CC BY

Forensic intelligence of synthetic illicit drugs suffers a problem of continuous introduction of new synthetic methods, modification of the existing routes of manufacture, and adulterations practiced by criminal networks. Impurity profiling has been indispensable in methamphetamine intelligence based on precursors, synthetic routes, and chemical modifications during trafficking. Law enforcement authorities maintain the credibility and integrity of intelligence information through constant monitoring of the chemical signatures in the illicit drug market. Changes in the synthetic pattern result in new impurity profiles that are important in keeping valuable intelligence information on clandestine laboratories, new synthetic routes, trafficking patterns, and geographical sources of illicit Methamphetamine. This review presents a critical analysis of the methamphetamine impurity profiles and more specifically, profiling based on impurity profiles from Leuckart, Reductive amination, Moscow, Emde, Nagai, Birch, Moscow route; a recent nitrostyrene route and stable isotope signatures. It also highlights the discrimination of ephedrine from pseudoephedrine sources and the emerging methamphetamine profiling based on stable isotopes.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Anti-influenza drugs on the market contain a combination of more than one active substance in one preparation. An example is pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and triprolidine hydrochloride in tablet form. The goal of this research is to determine pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and triprolidine hydrochloride simultaneously by using the area under curve spectrophotometry. The area under the curve in the wavelength range of 306.6-316.6 nm and 253.6-263.6 nm were selected to determine pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and triprolidine hydrochloride, respectively. The method was linear at a concentration range of 180-500 μg/mL (correlation coefficient 0,9994) and 6-18 μg/mL (correlation coefficient 0,9996) for the pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and triprolidine hydrochloride, respectively. The mean % recoveries for pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and triprolidine hydrochloride were 100.01% and 100.07%, respectively. This method was successfully used to determine pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and triprolidine hydrochloride simultaneously.

Abstract licence: CC BY

Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is a drug with a long history of medical use; it is helpful in treating symptoms of the common cold and flu, sinusitis, asthma, and bronchitis. Due to its central nervous system (CNS) stimulant properties and structural similarity to amphetamine, it is also used for non-medical purposes. The substance is taken as an appetite reducer, an agent which eliminates drowsiness and fatigue, to improve concentration and as a doping agent. Due to its easier availability, it is sometimes used as a substitute for amphetamine or methamphetamine. Pseudoephedrine is also a substrate (precursor) used in the production of these drugs. Time will tell whether legal restrictions on the sale of this drug will reduce the scale of the problem associated with its misuse.

Abstract licence: CC BY