Comparative Neuropharmacology and Pharmacokinetics of Methamphetamine and Its Thiophene Analog Methiopropamine in Rodents.

Methiopropamine is a novel psychoactive substance (NPS) that is associated with several cases of clinical toxicity, yet little information is available regarding its neuropharmacological properties. Here, we employed in vitro and in vivo methods to compare the pharmacokinetics and neurobiological effects of methiopropamine and its structural analog methamphetamine. Methiopropamine was rapidly distributed to the blood and brain after injection in C57BL/6 mice, with a pharmacokinetic profile similar to that of methamphetamine.

[Drug safety associated with the change of digitalis drug in Norway].

BACKGROUND In 2011, following a period with delivery problems, the only registered digitoxin drug in Norway was replaced with digoxin. As a result, approximately 21 000 patients had to replace digitoxin with digoxin. There are important pharmacokinetic differences between digitoxin and digoxin (the general term for both drugs is digitalis), which must be taken into account when changing therapy.

Blood concentrations of new designer benzodiazepines in forensic cases.

Introduction: A number of new designer benzodiazepines have reached the illegal drug market over the past years. Toxicological interpretation of concentrations of these drugs in blood is quite challenging as very limited human data have previously been published. The aim of this study was to report blood concentrations of new designer benzodiazepines in a population of drugged drivers as well as some other criminal offenders, and to relate this to clinical impairment.

Methiopropamine in blood samples from drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs.

Objectives: Methiopropamine (MPA; 1-(thiophen-2-yl)-2-methylaminopropane) belongs to the new psychoactive substances (NPS) that have emerged on the drug market in recent years. MPA appeared in 2011 and is an analogue of methamphetamine, sold as, for example, "Slush Eric" and "Blow." It is reported to have effects similar to those of methamphetamine, but the toxicity in humans is not known.

Concentrations of APINACA, 5F-APINACA, UR-144 and its degradant product in blood samples from six impaired drivers compared to previous reported concentrations of other synthetic cannabinoids.

A large number of new psychoactive substances are available at the illicit drug market and the synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are among the substances that have led to serious side effects and death. Knowledge about common concentrations of these drugs are however sparse. Concentrations of APINACA and 5F-APINACA in biological matrixes have previously not been reported, and concentrations of UR-144 and its degradant product in blood samples from driving under the influence of drug (DUID) cases have not been published.

Lethal poisonings with AH-7921 in combination with other substances.

AH-7921 is a synthetic μ-opioid agonist, approximately equipotent with morphine. We report the death of two young individuals after ingestion of AH-7921 in combination with other psychoactive drugs. In the first case a young man died shortly after ingesting Internet drugs.

Prevalence of synthetic cannabinoids in blood samples from Norwegian drivers suspected of impaired driving during a seven weeks period.

From early year 2000 different herbal products containing synthetic cannabinoids (SC) have appeared on the drug market all over the world, and new substances are frequently introduced. The prevalence of SC use in different populations is however still mainly unknown, also in Norway. This information is difficult to obtain, but studies of drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), might provide important information.

[Effect and occurrence of synthetic cannabinoids].

Background: ''Spice'' is the term used for various products that contain synthetic cannabinoids. In recent years a growing number of products have been reported on the illegal market, also in Norway. The substances are sold over the internet as 'legal' cannabis.