Propylhexedrine, the active ingredient in Benzedrex Inhalers, is extracted from the wicks of the inhalers by drug abusers for intravenous injection to provide a "desirable high." Six representative cases treated over a one-year period are presented to exemplify the potential for soft tissue injury. Because the actual constituents of the injected material prepared from the inhalers were not established, solutions were prepared from Benzedrex Inhalers according to the formula provided by one of the patients. The extract was then subjected to vigorous qualitative and quantitative analyses; the presence of essentially pure propylhexedrine hydrochloride was confirmed in varying concentrations. To examine the progression of injury following injection of the prepared extract, the ears of 12 New Zealand white rabbits were injected either intra-arterially or subcutaneously. The opposite ear of each rabbit served as a control. Both clinical and pathologic observations demonstrated injury consistent with intense local vasoconstriction. Injury did not appear to relate to impurities in the solution or other embolic phenomena. Finally, the laboratory findings are discussed with regard to the clinical examples. In sum, the insult to tissue from intravascular or local injection with propylhexedrine appears to respond, although poorly, to efforts to reverse the intense pharmacologic vasoconstriction.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of orally administered magnesium hydroxide in experimental iron intoxication.

We have previously shown that ferrous and ferric ions readily for complexes with magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH)2] thus reducing the absorption of iron salts from the gastrointestinal tract. The present study answers the following question: what is the optimal dose, time of administration, optimal limit of effectiveness, and potential hazard of this form of therapy. Adult mongrel dogs were administered ferrous sulfate [FeSO4] tablets at a dosage of 650 mg/lb of body weight. Either 30 or 60 minutes later, the dogs were given Mg(OH)2 at either 5 or l0 times the dose of elemental iron. Serum iron concentrations in all animals given Mg(OH)2 were significantly lower (p less than 0.05) than those of control animals. No significant differences were observed regardless of dose or time of administration of Mg(OH)2. Although serum Mg++ concentrations were significantly elevated (p less than 0.05) om all treated animals 4 and 6 hr post iron, no clinical manifestations of hypermagnesemia were observed. These studies demonstrate the effectiveness of Mg(OH)2 in the management of experimental iron intoxication and warrant a controlled clinical trial in humans.

Administration, Oral↗