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Helander A, Bäckberg M, Beck O. 
“MT-45, a new psychoactive substance associated with hearing loss and unconsciousness”. 
Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2014 Sep-Oct 09;52(8):901-4.
Abstract

BACKGROUND: MT-45 (1-cyclohexyl-4-(1,2-diphenylethyl)piperazine) is an opioid analgesic drug candidate developed in the 1970s that has recently been introduced as a new psychoactive substance (NPS) on the recreational drug market. We describe a case series of non-fatal intoxications associated with MT-45 within the Swedish STRIDA project. STUDY

DESIGN: Observational case series of consecutive patients with admitted or suspected intake of NPS presenting to hospitals in Sweden from November 2013 to February 2014.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood and urine samples were collected from intoxicated patients presenting to emergency departments and intensive care units over the country. NPS analysis was performed by an LC-MS/MS multi-component method. Clinical data were collected when caregivers consulted the Poisons Information Centre and also retrieved from medical records. CASE SERIES. Among nine intoxications where MT-45 was detected in the biological samples, four cases were indicated to only involve MT-45, while one or several psychoactive substances were found along with MT-45 in the others. All patients were men aged 17-32 years and they commonly presented with opioid-like adverse symptoms, such as unconsciousness and respiratory depression. Naloxone appeared to have utility in the treatment of MT-45 intoxication in several cases. Three patients complained of bilateral hearing loss that in one case persisted after two weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: MT-45 should be added to the growing list of harmful NPS causing life-threatening poisonings, and rapid actions taken to make it a controlled substance.

Key Words: Hearing loss; Legal highs; MT-45; New psychoactive substance; Opioid analgesic drug
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