Dexamyl
Encyclopedia
Dexamyl is the brand name of a combination drug composed of dextroamphetamine
and amobarbital
(the name of amylbarbitone was changed to amobarbital).
First introduced in the 1930s, Dexamyl was a rudimentary antidepressant
medication. The amphetamine component contained in Dexamyl was intended to elevate mood, while the barbiturate
component was added to counter the side effects of the amphetamine. Its name is a portmanteau of dextroamphetamine and amylbarbitone.
In the late 60s and early 70s Dexamyl spansules became popular as a street drug upper, under the name "Christmas trees," a reference to its appearance—a clear and green capsule containing green and white "beads."
British Prime Minister Anthony Eden
was addicted to dexamyl, which he was using to treat an abdominal infection. This allegedly impaired his judgement during the Suez crisis
, and ultimately led to his ousting while he was recovering in Jamaica
.
The Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
and the Food and Drug Administration
decided to recall diet drugs which contained amphetamines, taking them off the market by June 30, 1973. Smith, Kline & French, producer of Dexamyl and Eskatrol
, was excepted from an order banning interstate shipment of its drugs. The
company asked for a hearing before the F.D.A. Dr. George C. Nichopoulos
was indicted for prescribing Dexamyl and Preludin to singer Jerry Lee Lewis
in
May 1980. The physician was charged with prescribing the drugs knowing that the singer was addicted to them.
Dr. Patrick A. Mazza, team physician
for the Reading Phillies
, said he prescribed Dexamyl, Eskatrol, Dexedrine, and Preludin for Steve Carlton
, Larry Christenson
, Tim McCarver
, Pete Rose
, Larry Bowa
, and Greg Luzinski. Charges were dropped against Mazza, who contended the prescriptions were given in good faith, at the request of the baseball players.
Dexamyl was discontinued in the 1970s in favor of MAO inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants.
Dextroamphetamine
Dextroamphetamine is a psychostimulant drug which is known to produce increased wakefulness and focus as well as decreased fatigue and decreased appetite....
and amobarbital
Amobarbital
Amobarbital is a drug that is a barbiturate derivative. It has sedative-hypnotic and analgesic properties. It is a white crystalline powder with no odor and a slightly bitter taste. It was first synthesized in Germany in 1923...
(the name of amylbarbitone was changed to amobarbital).
First introduced in the 1930s, Dexamyl was a rudimentary antidepressant
Antidepressant
An antidepressant is a psychiatric medication used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia and anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder. According to Gelder, Mayou &*Geddes people with a depressive illness will experience a therapeutic effect to their mood;...
medication. The amphetamine component contained in Dexamyl was intended to elevate mood, while the barbiturate
Barbiturate
Barbiturates are drugs that act as central nervous system depressants, and can therefore produce a wide spectrum of effects, from mild sedation to total anesthesia. They are also effective as anxiolytics, as hypnotics, and as anticonvulsants...
component was added to counter the side effects of the amphetamine. Its name is a portmanteau of dextroamphetamine and amylbarbitone.
In the late 60s and early 70s Dexamyl spansules became popular as a street drug upper, under the name "Christmas trees," a reference to its appearance—a clear and green capsule containing green and white "beads."
British Prime Minister Anthony Eden
Anthony Eden
Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957...
was addicted to dexamyl, which he was using to treat an abdominal infection. This allegedly impaired his judgement during the Suez crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
, and ultimately led to his ousting while he was recovering in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
.
The Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
The Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs was a predecessor agency of the Drug Enforcement Administration . It was formed as a subsidiary of the United States Department of Justice in 1968, combining the Bureau of Narcotics and Bureau of Drug Abuse Control The Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous...
and the Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
decided to recall diet drugs which contained amphetamines, taking them off the market by June 30, 1973. Smith, Kline & French, producer of Dexamyl and Eskatrol
Eskatrol
Eskatrol was an amphetamine weight loss agent which was removed by theFood and Drug Administration in 1981 after its manufacturer,SmithKline & French, was unable to prove the drug's effectiveness. At the time it was among the 200 most widely prescribed drugs in the United States. Another was...
, was excepted from an order banning interstate shipment of its drugs. The
company asked for a hearing before the F.D.A. Dr. George C. Nichopoulos
George C. Nichopoulos
George Constantine Nichopoulos also known as "Dr. Nick" is a former American doctor, of Greek descent. He is best known as Elvis Presley's personal physician, and controversial due to the singer's longstanding and ultimately fatal abuse of prescription drugs.- Career :Born in Pittsburgh,...
was indicted for prescribing Dexamyl and Preludin to singer Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
in
May 1980. The physician was charged with prescribing the drugs knowing that the singer was addicted to them.
Dr. Patrick A. Mazza, team physician
Team physician
The team physician for a sports team is the physician who is in charge of coordinating the medical staff and medical services for a sports team. They are also subject to activities involving team building...
for the Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
, said he prescribed Dexamyl, Eskatrol, Dexedrine, and Preludin for Steve Carlton
Steve Carlton
Steven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...
, Larry Christenson
Larry Christenson
Larry Richard 'L.C.' Christenson , is a former professional baseball pitcher who played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1973-1983....
, Tim McCarver
Tim McCarver
James Timothy "Tim" McCarver is an American former Major League Baseball catcher, and a current sportscaster in residence for Fox Sports.-Playing career:...
, Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
, Larry Bowa
Larry Bowa
Lawrence Robert Bowa is a former middle infielder, playing mainly as a shortstop, and manager in Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
, and Greg Luzinski. Charges were dropped against Mazza, who contended the prescriptions were given in good faith, at the request of the baseball players.
Dexamyl was discontinued in the 1970s in favor of MAO inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants.
See also
- DesbutalDesbutalDesbutal was a brand name drug by Abbott containing 5 mg Desoxyn and 30 mg Nembutal ; an amphetamine combined with a barbiturate in the same capsule....
, another pharmaceutical drug containing an amphetamine and a barbiturate. - D-IXD-IXD-IX was a cocaine-based experimental drug cocktail developed by the Nazis in 1944 for military application. Nazi doctors found that equipment-laden test subjects who had taken the drug could march 55 miles without resting before they collapsed.Each tablet contained 5 mg of Oxycodone ,...
, an experimental drug containing methamphetamine, cocaine & oxycodone