Observations placeholder
Captagon
Identifier
005806
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Fenethylline - is marketed under the brand name Captagon. It was invented in 1963 and used for around 25 years as a milder alternative to amphetamines. Despite no accepted FDA indication for fenethylline, it was used in applications such as treating "hyperkinetic children" (what would now be referred to as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and also less commonly for treating narcolepsy or as an antidepressant.
One of its main advantages was said to be that it did not tend to increase blood pressure to the same extent as amphetamines.
It became illegal in most countries in 1986.
Fenethylline is metabolized by the body to form two drugs amphetamine (24.5% of oral dose) and theophylline (13.7% of oral dose), both of which are active stimulants.
‘Abuse’ of fenethylline as the brand Captagon is most common in Arab countries.
A description of the experience
Fenethyllin psychosis: description of two cases.
Shufman E, Dickman M
Jerusalem Mental Health Center Eitanim-Kfar Shaul, Israel.
PMID: 10472747