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Methaqualone (sold historically as Quaalude and Mandrax) is a sedative-hypnotic depressant that was once widely prescribed for sleep and anxiety before being pulled for heavy misuse. It calms the brain mainly by boosting GABA, the main inhibitory (calming) neurotransmitter, giving sedation, muscle relaxation and a disinhibited, drunk-like high. Like other CNS depressants it is dangerous with alcohol and opioids and can lead to dependence.
- Sedation and calm
- Muscle relaxation
- Disinhibited, euphoric character
- Deep sedation and impaired coordination
- Muscle spasms or restlessness
- Dependence with regular use
- Dangerous with alcohol or opioids
Mechanism
Methaqualone is a quinazolinone sedative-hypnotic that acts as a positive modulator of the -A receptor, enhancing GABA-driven chloride flow and broadly dampening neural activity to produce sedation, hypnosis and muscle relaxation. It is thought to bind at a site distinct from the classic benzodiazepine site, and its overall depressant profile is closer to a barbiturate than a benzodiazepine.
receptor fingerprint
-A receptorPositive allosteric modulator
Safetyrisks and cautions, not medical advice
Methaqualone is a central-nervous-system depressant, so combining it with alcohol, opioids or benzodiazepines stacks respiratory depression and can be fatal. Overdose causes deep sedation, and paradoxically it can also provoke restlessness, muscle spasms and, at high doses, seizures. Regular use leads to tolerance and physical dependence, and withdrawal from heavy use can be severe. Not medical advice.
Subjective profileweighing the evidence above
There is no case for this. It was withdrawn because dependence and heavy over-sedation followed reliably from exactly what people liked about it, and any version circulating now comes with no way to judge a dose. Fatal in combination with alcohol or opioids.
Resources
This entry is here for reference.
Research
- 1.Methaqualone ingestion: evaluation of present status
- 2.A Multifaceted GABAA Receptor Modulator: Functional Properties and Mechanism of Action of the Sedative-Hypnotic and Recreational Drug Methaqualone (Quaalude)
2 listed here; entry last updated July 2026
Reviews
My notesprivate to this device
FAQ
What was methaqualone used for?
It was prescribed decades ago as a sedative-hypnotic for insomnia and anxiety before widespread misuse led to it being withdrawn in most countries.
Is it a barbiturate or a benzodiazepine?
Neither; it is a quinazolinone, but its heavy sedating, barbiturate-like depressant character comes from enhancing GABA at the GABA-A receptor.
Why is mixing it with alcohol so risky?
Both are CNS depressants that suppress breathing, so together they can slow or stop respiration.
Adverse effects
- Deep sedation and impaired coordination
- Muscle spasms or restlessness
- Dependence with regular use
- Dangerous with alcohol or opioids