Propoxyphene(PPX) Test Card

Introduction

• It is an odorless, white crystalline powder with a bitter aftertaste.
• Propoxyphene is a pain reliever that is medically used in the treatment of mild to moderate pain from injury or surgery.
• This is a mild drug, narcotic, analgesic, and is structurally related to methadone.
• This drug is the member of the opiate family.
• It produces feelings of pleasure in the body rather than pain by attaching itself to the opioid receptors in the central nervous system.
• This drug has been discontinued and withdrawn from the market by its maker, because of its ill effects in 2009. Therefore, any use of Propoxyphene is a drug abuse and hence, illegal.
• Propoxyphene works by inhibiting an exchange between proteins essential to the performance of OP3 receptors. This handicap reduces the effectiveness of neurotransmitters reducing a person’s ability to feel pain.

Route of Consumption

• Recreational users crush the pill into powder and inhale or inject it directly to achieve an immediate “rush” of Euphoria.
• It is generally consumed orally, but it can also be snorted, sniffed or chewed.
• It can be detected even after 7-10 days of consumption.
• The effect of the drug does not last as long when one inhales or injects, so recreational users may consume more and more of the drug to maintain the effect of Euphoria.

Short Term Effects

• Since Propoxyphene  belongs to opioid family, the side effects and withdrawal symptoms are similar to that group.
• The abuser can experience stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, skin rashes etc.
• Involuntary leg spasms.
• Light headedness, headache, weakness, hallucination.
• Minor visual disturbance, dilated pupils.
• Swelling and redness of eyes and even blurred vision.
• Abnormal or increased hear rate, decreased blood pressure, rapid breathing.
• Skin rash, itching.

Long Term Effects

• Cardiac disorder, cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, myocardial infraction.
• Respiratory disorders, respiratory arrest, respiratory depression.
• Eye Disorder , Blurred Vision
• Gastrointestinal disorder , Acute Pancreatic gastrointestinal bleeding 
• Immune system disorder-It becomes hypersensitive
• Metabolism and nutritional disorder
• Nervous system disorder like coma , dizziness , seizure
• Dysfunction of Liver , Jaundice
• Psychiatric effect , Abnormal behavior ,hallucination ,change of mental state
• Effects on pregnancy –Ill effects are passed onto  the fetus and after birth the baby shows the psychological and physical  disorders

Effects of Drug Abuse / Overdose

• Stomach pain , Vomiting, Constipation dizziness etc
• Heart rhythm abnormalities that can even lead to death
• Withdrawal symptoms which include restlessness, bone and muscle pain, cold flushes, diahrorrea , vomiting and involuntary leg spasm.
• Overdose can cause psychological and physical dependence.

Street names/slangs

• Some of the common street names of Propoxyphene are based on their chemical names. Some of them are- Buprenex, butisol,diet drug,anabolic steroids, ultram,darvon, darvocet, stadol, torbugesic, torbutrol, soma, Dan's, D's, dance, percocet, percodan, nubain, ritalin, DMT, business man’s launch, vicodin, lorcet, lorcet plus, lortab, diaudid, doriden, loads, demerol  yellow football, dellies etc

Conclusion

Excess consumption or abuse of proproxyphene can lead to severe side effects and withdrawal symptoms which can be fatal so if you or someone you love is doing this seek immediate medical treatment but before that take a simple drug strip test to confirm the toxicity of the drug.