Observations placeholder
Tripelennamine
Identifier
002118
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Tripelennamine - sold as Pyribenzamine is a first-generation antihistamine. It is used in the treatment of asthma, hay fever, rhinitus and urticaria, but is now less common as it has been replaced by newer antihistamines. It is an H1 receptor antagonist. In addition to its antihistamine and anticholinergic effects, tripelennamine also functions as a weak serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (DRI).
Tripelennamine is abused recreationally in combination with the synthetic opioid pentazocine ("T's & Blues"), or morphine ("Blue Velvet"), by preparing an injection containing both agents; tripelennamine is also used with cough syrups and analgesic solid preparations containing opioids.
A description of the experience
Pentazocine/tripelennamine (T's and blues) abuse: a five year survey of St. Louis, Missouri - Poklis A
From 1977 to 1981, the intravenous use of a pentazocine/tripelennamine combination (T's and Blues) has become a major drug abuse problem in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. There has been a continuous increase in the involvement of these drugs in
- sudden and violent deaths (62 homicides, 7 fatal intoxications),
- emergency room visits (137 in 1980),
- admissions to drug treatment programs (7.7% in 1978 up to 64% in 1981), and
- police laboratory cases (100 in 1977 - 78 up to 700 in 1981).
Initial popularity of the drugs was related to the decline in the quality of street heroin (2.5% in 1977 reduced to 0.5% by 1979) and the lack of strict legal controls. Serious adverse reactions include clonic-tonic seizures and pulmonary foreign body granulomatosis. Ethanol and diazepam were present in 53% and 10% of T's and Blues medical examiner's cases, respectively (n = 70). Addicts are usually black males, 20 - 30 years old, from impoverished areas of the city. The drugs are available to the illicit trade through theft or diversion from legitimate sources.