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Talk:W-18: Difference between revisions
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Although commonly reported as an opioid in the popular press, it is not known how the drug works as its distinctive structure differs somewhat to known opioid drugs.<ref>W-18, The High-Potency Research Chemical Making News: What It Is And What It Isn't (Forbes) | http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkroll/2016/04/30/w-18-the-high-potency-research-chemical-making-news-what-it-is-and-what-it-isnt/#68634ec42354</ref> It was invented at the University of Alberta<ref>Street drug W-18 is highly lethal, and still legal (CBC News) | http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/street-drug-w-18-is-highly-lethal-and-still-legal-1.3546094</ref> by the chemists Edward Knaus, Brent Warren and Theodore Ondrus in 1981.<ref>"Patent US 4468403 - Analgesic substituted piperidylidene-2-sulfon(cyan)amide derivatives" | https://www.lens.org/images/patent/US/4468403/A/US_4468403_A.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.google.co.ve/patents/CA1255680A1?cl=en</ref> | Although commonly reported as an opioid in the popular press, it is not known how the drug works as its distinctive structure differs somewhat to known opioid drugs.<ref>W-18, The High-Potency Research Chemical Making News: What It Is And What It Isn't (Forbes) | http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkroll/2016/04/30/w-18-the-high-potency-research-chemical-making-news-what-it-is-and-what-it-isnt/#68634ec42354</ref> It was invented at the University of Alberta<ref>Street drug W-18 is highly lethal, and still legal (CBC News) | http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/street-drug-w-18-is-highly-lethal-and-still-legal-1.3546094</ref> by the chemists Edward Knaus, Brent Warren and Theodore Ondrus in 1981.<ref>"Patent US 4468403 - Analgesic substituted piperidylidene-2-sulfon(cyan)amide derivatives" | https://www.lens.org/images/patent/US/4468403/A/US_4468403_A.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.google.co.ve/patents/CA1255680A1?cl=en</ref> | ||
However, recent information suggests that W-18, a street drug feared to be stronger than any opioid known to science turns out not be an opioid at all. W-18, an experimental pain medicine first developed at the University of Alberta in Edmonton in the 1980s, doesn’t even appear to provide relief in animal pain models. These findings appeared July 24, 2016 in a preprint report (PDF) in bioRxiv (pronounced “Bioarchive”), a non-peer-reviewed resource of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories designed to rapidly disseminate critical research findings. | However, recent information suggests that W-18, a street drug feared to be stronger than any opioid known to science, turns out not be an opioid at all. W-18, an experimental pain medicine first developed at the University of Alberta in Edmonton in the 1980s, doesn’t even appear to provide relief in animal pain models. These findings appeared July 24, 2016 in a preprint report (PDF) in bioRxiv (pronounced “Bioarchive”), a non-peer-reviewed resource of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories designed to rapidly disseminate critical research findings. | ||
The comprehensive study not only showed the lack of opioid effects of W-18 or a related chemical called W-15 | The comprehensive study not only showed the lack of opioid effects of W-18 or a related chemical called W-15, but also showed that human or mouse metabolites of the chemicals had no effect on human or mouse opioid receptors. More surprisingly, a receptorome-wide screen showed no substantial effect of the compounds or metabolites on any psychoactive drug receptor. The study marks a rare case where a potentially lethal drug of abuse is likely to be far less of a public health risk than originally believed.<ref>http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkroll/2016/07/28/w-18-is-not-a-super-potent-designer-opioid-as-originally-believed/#17de6fe44121</ref> | ||
The compound's toxicity is not fully characterized, but its potency gives it potential for fatal abuse. | The compound's toxicity is not fully characterized, but its potency gives it potential for fatal abuse. | ||
==Chemistry== | ==Chemistry== | ||
{{chemistry}} | {{chemistry}} | ||
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Heavy dosages of W-18 can result in [[Respiratory depression|respiratory depression]], leading onto fatal or dangerous levels of anoxia (oxygen deprivation). This occurs because the breathing reflex is suppressed by [[agonists|agonism]] of [[µ-opioid receptors]] proportional to the dosage consumed. It is also [[Toxicity::potentially [[respiratory depression|lethal]] when mixed with [[depressants]] like [[alcohol]] or [[benzodiazepines]]]]. | Heavy dosages of W-18 can result in [[Respiratory depression|respiratory depression]], leading onto fatal or dangerous levels of anoxia (oxygen deprivation). This occurs because the breathing reflex is suppressed by [[agonists|agonism]] of [[µ-opioid receptors]] proportional to the dosage consumed. It is also [[Toxicity::potentially [[respiratory depression|lethal]] when mixed with [[depressants]] like [[alcohol]] or [[benzodiazepines]]]]. | ||
W-18 can cause nausea and vomiting; a significant number of deaths attributed to opioid overdose are caused by aspiration of vomit by an unconscious victim. This is when an unconscious or semi-conscious user who is lying on their back vomits into their mouth and unknowingly suffocates. It can be prevented by ensuring that one is lying on their side with their head tilted downwards so that the airways cannot be blocked in the event of vomiting while unconscious (also known as the [ | W-18 can cause nausea and vomiting; a significant number of deaths attributed to opioid overdose are caused by aspiration of vomit by an unconscious victim. This is when an unconscious or semi-conscious user who is lying on their back vomits into their mouth and unknowingly suffocates. It can be prevented by ensuring that one is lying on their side with their head tilted downwards so that the airways cannot be blocked in the event of vomiting while unconscious (also known as the [[recovery position]]). In case of an overdose, it is advised to administer a dose of [[naloxone]] intravenously or intramuscularly to reverse the effects of opioid agonism (however, it is still not yet known if naloxone is effective against W-18).<ref>What we know about W-18, a drug ‘100 times more powerful than fentanyl’ (Global News) | http://globalnews.ca/news/2495761/what-we-know-about-w-18-a-drug-100-times-more-powerful-than-fentanyl/</ref>. | ||
It is strongly recommended that one use [[responsible drug use|harm reduction practices]] when using this drug. | It is strongly recommended that one use [[responsible drug use|harm reduction practices]] when using this drug. | ||
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===Dangerous interactions=== | ===Dangerous interactions=== | ||
Although many drugs are safe on their own, they can become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with other substances. The list below contains some common potentially dangerous combinations, but may not include all of them. Certain combinations may be safe in low doses of each but still increase the potential risk of death. [https://www.google.com/ Independent research] should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption. | Although many drugs are safe on their own, they can become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with other substances. The list below contains some common potentially dangerous combinations, but may not include all of them. Certain combinations may be safe in low doses of each but still increase the potential risk of death. [https://www.google.com/ Independent research] should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption. | ||
*'''[[Depressants]]''' (''[[1,4-Butanediol]], [[2m2b]], [[alcohol]], [[barbiturates]], [[benzodiazepines]], [[GHB]]/[[GBL]], [[methaqualone]]'') - This combination can result in dangerous or even fatal levels of [[respiratory depression]]. These substances potentiate the [[muscle relaxation]], [[sedation]] and [[amnesia]] caused by one another and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. There is also an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation. If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the [ | *'''[[Depressants]]''' (''[[1,4-Butanediol]], [[2m2b]], [[alcohol]], [[barbiturates]], [[benzodiazepines]], [[GHB]]/[[GBL]], [[methaqualone]]'') - This combination can result in dangerous or even fatal levels of [[respiratory depression]]. These substances potentiate the [[muscle relaxation]], [[sedation]] and [[amnesia]] caused by one another and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. There is also an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation. If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the [[recovery position]] or have a friend move them into it. | ||
*'''[[Dissociatives]]''' - This combination can result in an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation. If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the [ | *'''[[Dissociatives]]''' - This combination can result in an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation. If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the [[recovery position]] or have a friend move them into it. | ||
*'''[[Stimulants]]''' - It is dangerous to combine W-18, a [[depressant]], with [[stimulant]]s due to the risk of excessive intoxication. Stimulants decrease the [[sedation|sedative]] effect of W-18, which is the main factor most people consider when determining their level of intoxication. Once the stimulant wears off, the effects of W-18 will be significantly increased, leading to intensified [[disinhibition]] as well as [[W-18#Subjective effects|other effects]]. If combined, one should strictly limit themselves to taking a certain amount of W-18. | *'''[[Stimulants]]''' - It is dangerous to combine W-18, a [[depressant]], with [[stimulant]]s due to the risk of excessive intoxication. Stimulants decrease the [[sedation|sedative]] effect of W-18, which is the main factor most people consider when determining their level of intoxication. Once the stimulant wears off, the effects of W-18 will be significantly increased, leading to intensified [[disinhibition]] as well as [[W-18#Subjective effects|other effects]]. If combined, one should strictly limit themselves to taking a certain amount of W-18. | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W-18 W-18 (Wikipedia)] | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W-18 W-18 (Wikipedia)] | ||
*[https://isomerdesign.com/PiHKAL/explore.php?id=3084&name=W-18 W-18 (TiHKAL / Isomer Design)] | |||
*[http://drugs.tripsit.me/w-18 W-18 (TripSit)] | *[http://drugs.tripsit.me/w-18 W-18 (TripSit)] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||