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Wood DM, Looker JJ, Shaikh L, Button J, Puchnarewicz M, Davies S, Lidder S, Ramsey J, Holt DW, Dargan PI.
“Delayed onset of seizures and toxicity associated with recreational use of Bromo-dragonFLY”.
J Med Toxicol. 2009 Dec 30;5(4):226-9.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Many countries have specific legislation, such as the Controlled Substances Act 1970 in the United States and the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in the United Kingdom to control recreational drugs. There is a growing market and supply of 'novel' recreational drugs, which include the misuse of pharmaceutical compounds and research chemicals. These are often not covered under current legislation, despite the fact that they often have both similar chemical structures and/or clinical effects to controlled recreational drugs. CASE REPORT: A male patient presented to an emergency department with delayed onset of severe agitation, hallucinations, and tonic-clonic seizures following the use of Bromo-dragonFLY and an unknown white powder. He settled following IV benzodiazepines and supportive care, and was discharged with no evidence of long-term sequelae. Analysis of the white powder by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry GC/MS, ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometry UV/VIS and thin layer chromatography TLC showed the presence of Bromo-dragonFLY 1-8-bromobenzo[1,2-b4,5-b']difuran-4-yl-2-aminopropane serum analysis by GC/MS and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry LC/MS/MS confirmed that a combination of Bromo-dragonFLY 0.95 ng/mL, ketamine 20 ng/mL and cannabis had been used by the patient. No other recreational drugs were detected in an extensive toxicological screen of serum and urine samples.
PURPOSE: This is the first confirmed case to be reported of toxicity with delayed onset of severe agitation, hallucinations and tonic-clonic seizures associated with recreational use of Bromo-dragonFLY 1-8-bromobenzo[1,2-b4,5-b']difuran-4-yl-2-aminopropane in combination with ketamine and cannabis. In our view, this case provides further support for the need for a systematic approach to toxicological screening of patients with recreational drug toxicity, to identify emerging drugs and provide evidence for legislative authorities to assist in revising the legal status of emerging recreational drugs.
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