The high so-called can last four to six hours, or as long as three or four days. The use of bath salts can cause intermittent delirium, confusion, paranoia, and other serious psychotic episodes; severe cases can require long-term psychiatric care. Other side effects include chest pain, high blood pressure, sweating, hyper-alertness, and teeth grinding. There is the possibility of a heart attack or stroke. Body temperature can reach degrees, which can cause seizures.
Symptoms may eventually progress to renal or liver failure. In , there were calls to poison control centers for overdose and poisoning by bath salts. The long-term neurological effects of bath salts are likely to be as damaging as those of methamphetamines and cocaine—or worse. In July, President Obama signed legislation that adds MDPV and mephedrone, along with 29 other compounds used to produce synthetic marijuana and hallucinogens, to the controlled substances listed as Schedule I drugs.
And although several states had acted earlier to make the components of bath salts illegal, the drug was easily obtained at gas stations, adult bookstores, convenience stores, smoke shops, head shops, and truck stops. Two weeks after the federal ban went into effect, Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized packets of synthetic cathinones and 4. The hour raid in July involved US cities and resulted in 91 arrests. But bath salts continue to be sold on the Internet and in retail stores, camouflaged under names such as stain remover, research chemicals, plant food, and insect repellent.
In addition, drug makers can easily skirt the ban on MDPV and mephedrone by turning to other cathinone derivatives, of which there are many.
Unlike drugs of abuse such as ecstasy, which is consistently made of the synthetic compound MDMA 3,4-methylenedioxy- N -methylamphetamine , the composition and dose of bath salts can vary tremendously, making diagnosis challenging and leading to greater risks of overdose and adverse reactions. The patient's condition is also not a reliable guide. Am J Med.
Because bath salts are so potent, high doses of sedatives may be necessary to prevent users from harming themselves and others. In addition, users of bath salts may be taking other drugs simultaneously.
Should bath salts wane in popularity, authorities say they have no doubt new psychoactive designer drugs will take their place. Clinicians can help prevent the lethal consequences of the next generation of illicit drugs by reporting any cases of drug toxicity to poison centers, advises Ryan.
Slomski A. Coronavirus Resource Center. Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy Continue. The psychosis can cause extreme violent, combative and self-injurious behavior. The most profound side effects from large overdoses include seizure, rhabdomyolysis and renal failure. The subjective effects of bath salts last approximately three to four hours, but the physical side effects, such as tachycardia and hypertension, can last six to eight hours.
Bath salts are thought to be highly addictive, even in small doses. MDPV is undetectable with routine urine and blood drug tests. Tests that detect both MDPV and mephedrone can be costly, and the detection window is limited to approximately 48 to 72 hours.
Treatment of bath-salt users is symptomatic and supportive, generally involving fluid administration; benzodiazepines for chemical sedation; and physical restraints for severe combativeness, agitation or physical hallucinations.
Psychiatric monitoring is also recommended until hallucinations and suicidal or homicidal ideation pass.
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