Cocaine Cut With Levamisole

December 20, 2009 · Filed under Don't That Beat All, Interesting Medical Stuff

From Popsci.com:

Cocaine’s a hell of a drug, and even more so when laced with another drug that’s commonly used to deworm opossums. Federal agents have found that 69 percent of cocaine shipments seized entering the United States contain levamisole, a veterinary drug linked to serious weakening of the immune system in humans. Here’s the real funny part: no one knows why.

This comes from a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the immune system condition, known as agranulocytosis. The paper tracks 21 cases from New Mexico and Washington State linked to cocaine, including one death, but cautions that many more cases have probably gone under the radar of public health officials.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also noted that 69 percent of cocaine shipments seized as of July 2009 contained levamisole. The CDC has since launched a national surveillance effort to continue monitoring the levamisole link to cocaine.

Perhaps as a sign of the times, the toxicology report from the death of DJ AM in August revealed that the celebrity’s body contained both cocaine and levamisole, along with a lethal cocktail of other drugs such as Oxycontin, Vicodin, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, and Benadryl.

Levamisole is an anthelmintic (dewormer) that has been listed as a category C drug in human pregnancy. I suppose that anybody that would be snorting cocaine while pregnant would not be overly concerned with the health of the fetus anyway.

Levamisole also does not mix well with alcohol, so snorting cocaine and drinking is a no no.

From MedicineNet.com:

SIDE EFFECTS: This medication causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores, loss of appetite, stomach pain, change in taste and smell, muscle aches, fatigue, dizziness, headache and skin rash. Notify your doctor if these symptoms become bothersome. Notify your doctor if you develop: flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, weakness, sore throat). If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS: Avoid use of alcohol and alcohol containing products while taking this medication. Severe stomach upset, flushing and headache can occur. This drug is not recommended for use in pregnant or nursing women or in children.

I would think that our politicians are all on levamisole-tainted cocaine but, since they’re all parasites, it seems like they’d all be dead by now. Note to drug lords: Perhaps you should mix cocaine with a stronger dewormer. Much, much stronger.