Dibenzazepine Addiction and Rehabilitation

   Nov. 18, 2014
   24 minute read
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Last Edited: March 17, 2020
Author
Claudia Rose
Clinically Reviewed
Edward Jamison, MS, CAP, ICADC, LADC
All of the information on this page has been reviewed and certified by an addiction professional.

Dangers of Dibenzazepine Abuse

Dibenzazepine is a chemical compound used as an intermediate agent in the synthesis of certain analgesic and antipsychotic drugs. Drugs such as clomipramine, desipramine, imipramine, imipraminoxide, lofepramine, metapramine, opipramol, quinupramine, and trimipramine are manufactured from dibenzazepine.

First appearing during the 1960s, most of the medications found in the list of first and second generation antidepressants, together with certain anticonvulsants, are derived from dibenzazepine. Even though dibenzazepine is still in use today, it is slowly being replaced by newer, more benign, drugs.

Dibenzazepine is normally ingested in pill form, but can also be administered intravenously. Because dibenzazepine acts directly on the nervous system, it can produce manic episodes in those who use the drug, even while under medical supervision. Dibenzazepine, given its antidepressant nature, can also act as a painkiller and/or sedative, which means it blocks the pain receptors of the brain, making it the drug of choice for those seeking its sedative properties.

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Some of the immediate dangers of abusing any form of medication that has been developed from dibenzazepine come from the drug’s side effects, which can include hallucinations, an increase of the patient’s natural aggression, mood swings, restlessness, and severe anxiety. Because of this, and the violent component of the drug’s side effects, the danger of abuse is extended to those in the immediate area of the patient at the time of ingestion.

Continued use of the drug can result in permanent damage, which become manifest in sleep disorders, as well as psychosis, and suicidal tendencies, among others.

Street Names for Dibenzazepine

Because so many antidepressants and antipsychotics contain dibenzazepine, there isn’t really a single identifying street name for the drug. They are usually purchased illegally by using the generic or brand name of the specific medication, such as carbamazepine or Tegretol, desipramine or Norpramin, imipramine or Tofranil, etc., although these drugs can also be referred to as uppers, precisely because of their medical application.

In most cases, those who are abusing debenzazepine will purchase the drug online, from overseas distributors. Depending on the country of origin, the drug will most likely have the same or similar generic or brand name as it does in the United States. When the drug comes from Spanish speaking countries, the generic name will only vary slightly, but will remain identifiable to both medical personnel and the authorities. Some of the foreign names for debenzazepine, can be:

  • Dibenzazepina
  • Carbamazepina
  • Metapramina
  • Desipramina
  • Imipramina

More popular, amongst teens and young adults, is the name uppers, which can refer to any number of antidepressants. This alone can represent a grave risk to the user, as he can never be sure what he is purchasing.[/vc_column_text]

Dibenzazepine Effects

Dibenzazepine can present with a wide range of effects, which can be divided into three separate stages: the immediate effects, which can be noticed within a few minutes of the ingestion of the drug; short term effects, which start presenting when the user has been taking the drug consistently for a short period of time; and long term effects, which can be seen after using dibenzazepine for long periods of time at high doses. The immediate effects, which occur during the high and the period of time immediately after it, can include:

  • Confusion
  • Psychosis
  • Paranoia
  • The inability to feel pain
  • Drowsiness
  • Mood swings
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Confusion

After a relatively short period of time, dibenzazepine users can experience bladder pain, blurred vision, pain, itchy skin, tingling, painful urination, dizziness, irritability, tension or stiffness in the muscles, poor concentration, weakness, vomiting, nausea, and faintness, among others. Over the long term, users can present with psychosis, changes in cognition, and changes in appetite, a state of confusion, memory gaps and suicidal thoughts, as well as coma and death.

Warning Signs of Dibenzazepine Abuse in a Loved One

Many times, family and friends tend to overlook the signs and symptoms of dibenzazepine abuse in a loved one. This often stems from a feeling of denial. Nobody is ready to admit that a family member could be addicted to any kind of drug. Other times, these warning signs go unnoticed because they can be explained away by other conditions. Knowledge is power when it comes down to dibenzaepine addiction, and chances are that if you are worried about your loved one, or are unsure whether he or she could be abusing dibenzazepine, he is very likely already in trouble.

Some of the most common warning signs to look out for to help discover dibenzazepine abuse in a loved one, and which will require a consultation with a medical professional, are:

  • Sudden change in sleeping patterns
  • Unexpected mood swings
  • Psychosis
  • Changes in cognition
  • Unexplained appetite changes
  • Confusion
  • Memory gaps
  • Paranoia

If you, or your loved one are taking dibenzazepine and present any combination of these signs, give us a call so we can help.

If your loved one runs out of prescriptions before the date they should last until, or becomes nervous when there are only a few pills left, he or she may be abusing this drug. Many try taking more than prescribed, especially once tolerance is built.

Dibenzazepine slows down the systems of the body and when a person abuses it, the depressant effects may be more apparent. If your loved one seems out of it, overly tired, uncoordinated or a bit drunk with slurred speech, he or she may be abusing this drug.

All Benzos cause amnesia as they inhibit the memory forming faculty of the mind. If your loved one forgets things unusually often or has instances of blacking out, forgetting large portions of a day or longer, this is a sign of dibenzazepine abuse or addiction.

Factual Dangers: Dibenzazepine

Prolongued use of dibenzazepine is dangerous, both to the addict as those close to the addict. This is because it acts on the central nervous system in such a way that it can produce severe behavioral changes, which in turn will trigger violent and aggressive situations. Some of the most dangerous aspects of dibenzazepine abuse, both to the user and to those in close proximity are:

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