Журнал судебной токсикологии и фармакологии

Levamisole in Gastric Content after Unusual Intake of Heroin and Cocaine

Nadia Fucci and Ronald Agius

Levamisole in Gastric Content after Unusual Intake of Heroin and Cocaine

Levamisole is an antibiotic medication used to treat colon cancer and is a synthetic imidazothiazole derivative also employed as an antihelminthic to treat worm infestations in both humans and animals. Even if it is not yet well known why levamisole is added to cocaine, the presence of this adulterant is very dangerous, in fact this compound suppresses the production of white blood cells, resulting in neutropenia, agranulocytosis and idiopathic pulmonary hypertension.