Benzydamine

benzydamine (also known as difflam or tantum verde) is a topical anaesthetic of the indazole alkaloid chemical class. it is sometimes found in small doses in over-the-counter products used to treat sore throats. in germany and poland, it is sold as a vaginal douching agent under the brand name tantum rosa. this product is also easily accessible across the world through the use of online stores such as ebay.

alternatively, benzydamine can be used as a powerful psychoactive hallucinogen for recreational purposes. in high doses, it acts as a unique deliriant and cns stimulant. such use, particularly among teenagers, has been reported in poland, brazil and romania.

chemistry

benzydamine, or 3-(1-benzylindazol-3-yl)oxy-n,n-dimethylpropan-1-amine, is a synthetic benzyl-indazole molecule. benzydamine contains a benzene and pyrazole ring fused to form a bicyclic indazole group. a benzyl substituent c₆h₅ch₂– is bound to r₁ of the indazole ring. this indazole ring is also substituted at r₃ with an ether chain consisting of the oxygen group bonded to a propyl amine chain. the terminal amine r_n of this structure is substituted with two methyl groups (dimethyl). benzydamine is produced as a hydrochloride salt.

pharmacology

benzydamine is a locally acting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with local anaesthetic and analgesic properties. unlike other nsaids, it does not inhibit cyclooxygenase or lipooxygenase and is not ulcerogenic.

in terms of the pharmacology behind its hallucinogenic effects, this aspect of benzydamine remains unstudied and is subject to much speculation.

benzydamine has a powerful reinforcing effect and that this effect is greatly facilitated in animals that already had substance experience, having previously self-administered heroin and cocaine, indicating cross sensitization between benzydamine and other common drugs of abuse. benzydamine dose-dependently reduced both field excitatory post synaptic potential amplitude and paired pulse ratio, suggesting a presynaptic mechanism of action. similarly to the in vivo paradigm, also the electrophysiological effects of benzydamine were potentiated in slices from animals that had undergone cocaine and heroin self-administration. furthermore, benzydamine-induced long term depression (ltd)-like responses in the prelimbic cortex-to-nucleus accumbens circuitry were significantly reduced in the presence of the cb1 receptor antagonist am251. these findings provide firm evidence of the abuse liability of benzydamine and suggest a possible cannabinoidergic mechanism of action.