Methaqualone
Timeline
| 1951 | First published paper documenting the synthesis of methaqualone by Kacker and Zaheer, along with a number of other related compounds. 1 | |
| 1955 | Methaqualone was first synthesized in India by M.L. Gujral and was soon being marketed as a non-addictive sleeping pill. 2, 3 [Details] | |
| 1960 | Methaqualone is sold by the Boots company under the names Melsed and Melsedin and by Marck as Renoval. 2 | |
| 1965 | Methaqualone is sold by Roussel labs in combination with an antihistamine under the name Mandrax. 2 | |
| Late 60s | Methaqualone becomes a commercial success in the United States where it is sold under the name Quaalude. It also becomes a popular street drug. 2 | |
| 1971 | Methaqualone becomes regulated in Britain under the UK Misuse of Drugs Act due to its increasing popularity as a recreational drug. | |
| 1973 | Methaqualone is placed in Schedule II in the United States making it difficult to prescribe and illegal to possess without a prescription. | |
| Early 80s | Methaqualone is withdrawn from the market in Britain due to its addictive qualities. | |
| 1984 | Methaqualone is moved to Schedule I in the United States, making it illegal to buy, sell, or possess. |
References
- IK Kacker, Zaheer SH. Potential Analgesics. Part I. Synthesis of substituted 4-quinazolones. J. Ind. Chem. Soc. 28 (1951), pp. 344–346.
- Rudgley R. The Encyclopaedia of Psychoactive Substances. Thomas Dunne Books, 1998.
- Snyder SH, Lader MH. "The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Drugs: Methaqualone, the quest for oblivion."