Delayed onset of seizures and toxicity associated with recreational use of Bromo-dragonFLY.
BACKGROUND
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.


METHODS
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-b;4,5-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.


CONCLUSIONS
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-b;4,5-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.
Wood
David M
DM
Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. David.Wood@gstt.nhs.uk
Looker
Jemma J
JJ
Shaikh
Loua
L
Button
Jenny
J
Puchnarewicz
Malgorzata
M
Davies
Susannah
S
Lidder
Satnam
S
Ramsey
John
J
Holt
David W
DW
Dargan
Paul I
PI
D000293:Adolescent; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001970:Bromobenzoates / Q000506:poisoning*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003422:Critical Care; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000506:poisoning; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011437:Propylamines / Q000506:poisoning*; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000209:etiology; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D016896:Treatment Outcome
C540688:1-(8-bromobenzo(1,2-b;4,5-b')difuran-4-yl)-2-aminopropane; D001970:Bromobenzoates; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011437:Propylamines; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D007649:Ketamine