SYSTEMIC ABSORPTION AND ABUSE LIABILITY OF SNORTED FLUNITRAZEPAM

Benzodiazepine hypnotics are widely abused as part of a polydrug misus e culture. This study set out to investigate some pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of a novel method of abuse, snorting, of flunitrazepam. Twenty healthy volunteers took part. three took 0.5 mg, three took 1 mg, three took 1.5 mg, six took 2 mg and five took pl acebo. Blood was sampled and ratings of mood, bodily symptoms, strengt h and liking of drug effect were completed pre- and at 5, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 240 minutes and at 24 hours post-drug. It was found that f lunitrazepam could be detected in venous blood 5 minutes after intake. As the dose increased, the peak plasma concentration was higher but a lso occurred progressively later, the levels reached being comparable to oral or intramuscular administration at 110 minutes. Subjects repor ted sedation but complained of few side-effects. They liked the drug e ffects and subjective ratings of strength were correlated with liking and with plasma drug levels.