Miltown is a tranquilizer used to
treat anxiety disorders or short-term anxiety. It allows the user to relax by
slowing activity in the brain.
Miltown and other drugs of the
meprobamate class were once the most popular tranquilizer in America, but its
usage has largely been replaced by benzodiazepines like Valium.
Miltown and other meprobamates are
Schedule IV drugs; it can cause physical dependence and withdrawal after
long-term use.
Alternative & street names:
Miltown is a brand name of
meprobamate manufactured by Wallace Labs. Wyeth makes Equanil, a similar drug.
How
is it taken?
Miltown
should be taken exactly as directed orally
as a tablet, two to four times a day. It
comes in 200 mg and 400 mg tablets.
Users should not stop taking Miltown
without talking to their doctors; doctors tend to lower the dosage on a patient
gradually.
Effects of
consumption
Miltown is prescribed to treat anxiety, but scientists seem to
disagree whether meprobamate is an anti-anxiety drug or a sedative.
Consequently, doctors are more likely to prescribe a benzodiazepine like Valium
for this purpose.
Impact on
the mind/body and health risks
Users
of Miltown
or other meprobamate should tell
their doctor if they experience side effects, such as:
- drowsiness
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- headache
- difficulty
coordinating movements
- excitement
- weakness
Users
should call their doctors immediately if they experience these serious side
effects:
- rash
- itching
- easy
bruising
- bloody
nose
- unusual
bleeding
- tiny
purple-colored skin spots
- sore
throat
- fever
- difficulty
breathing
- slurred
speech
- staggering
- pounding
or irregular heartbeat
Signs of abuse of this substance
Users of
Miltown can develop a tolerance to the drug, which could lead to physical
dependence and addiction. Taking too large of a dose could resort in ataxia,
vertigo and slurred speech.
Recreational
users may use Miltown as a “come down” drug to cushion their crash from other
illegal drugs. However, the combination of Miltown with other anti-anxiety
drugs could result in death.
Death from
overdose of Miltown has been reported in a user who ingested as little as 12g.
Symptoms of overdose include:
- drowsiness
- sluggishness
- unresponsiveness
or coma
- loss
of muscle control
- severe
impairment or cessation of breathing
- shock
Common
treatment options
Quitting
Miltown
cold turkey could be life threatening, so users
are advised to decrease use under a doctor’s supervision, who will likely
prescribe a dosage that tapers off to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms.
Admittance to
a 24/7 detox facility is a common step in the recovery process from this sort
of drug.
Withdrawal/detox
symptoms
Users
can experience withdrawal symptoms after only a few weeks of use and could
occur as soon as 12 hours after last dosage. Withdrawal from Miltown might include symptoms like:
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Convulsions
and seizures
- Low
blood pressure
- Hallucinations
and delirium