Health - The BZP / TFMPP and alcohol safety study

[Lunar Loops]

A new entry has been added to the Piperazines section of the file archive:

The benzylpiperazine (BZP) / trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) and alcohol safety study

Party pills containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) are used as recreational drugs for their stimulant effects. An estimated 20 million doses of these party pills have been sold legally in New Zealand over the past six years. There is a significant gap in the research on the clinical effects of BZP and TFMPP, with only two small clinical trials on BZP published in the 1970s, and no clinical trials on TFMPP. This situation led to the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) recommendation that more information on the effects of BZP and TFMPP should be obtained. We conducted a randomised double blind placebo controlled trial which assessed the effects of BZP/TFMPP alone and in combination with alcohol (six standard units). The doses of BZP/TFMPP (300mg/74mg over a two hour period) were based on those recommended by the party pill industry. The six units of alcohol given was the maximum dose recommended by ALAC to be taken in a session. Cardiovascular parameters, psychological functioning, driving performance and delayed effects on sleep and mood were assessed. The study was stopped after 35 of the planned 64 subjects had undertaken testing due to concerns regarding adverse events. Severe adverse events were experienced in 0/6 (0%) in the placebo group, 0/12 (0%) in the alcohol group, 4/10 (40%) in the party pill group and 3/7 (43%) in the combined party pill and alcohol group. The severe adverse events included agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, vomiting and migraine. Party pills, alone and in combination with alcohol, markedly increased blood pressure, although had no significant effect on QTc interval or body temperature. Party pills alone improved driving performance at 6.5 hours after dosing. We conclude that party pills commonly cause severe adverse reactions and have marked cardiovascular effects when taken in similar doses to those recommended by manufacturers.