IMHO, the most notorious, and, famous form of diet pills, often called, "speed" on the street,
was the Strasenburg Bi-phetamine (Black Beauty 20mg, from 1965, all the way until, the end,
in 1998. A very close 2nd with the original RJS embossed all capsules, was the Biphetamine
T-20, meaning, in addition, to containing all of the ingredients, of the Biphetamine 20,it also
had instant release Methaqualone. Termed on the street, Red and Blacks due to their capsule make
up of 1/2 red, and 1/2 black. US DEA banned these on July 1, 1973.
I have had access to 8 year old stock mfg date 1968 expiration date 1970, that, I got from the relative of a
estate sale of a closed down family pharmacy in the year 1976, all, in professional samples, like a large match
book,with references to the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City Mexico (1968) that were very, very potent, that lasted
me a good 6 months, "5 years after the official expirations date" of both Biphetamine 20 embossed RJS, all black,
and the "Biphetamine T-20 1/2 red and 1/2 black containing 20 mg of amphetamine and d-amphetamine resins, plus
40 mg of Methaqualone. Strasenburg, were forced to shut down production of the combo methaqualone with stimulants,
on July 1, 1973. Biphetamine remained in production until around the mid 1980's (1986 to 1998) as a orphan drug, due
IMHO to slow sales and the notorious stigma that pill received in the USA in the 1960's and 1970's, as a "diet pill" on
especially University USA campuses, and with Long Distance Truck Drivers, in the USA. Biphetamine never received the
sales attention, ADD and ADHD drugs, like Obetrol, changed to Adderall, Dexedrine, and Ritalin, during the boom years of
the 1990's when ADD and ADHD received high positive attention as a valid medication for appropriate DX of Narcolepsy, and
ADD inattentive and ADHD DX's. I currently have Smith Kline Beecham Dexedrine Spansules that narly 15 years old from the
date they were dispensed in tight prescription bottles made out to me that are I'd say at least 70 to 75% as potent as they were
when prescribed to me by my Psychiatrist, in the years 2002 thru 2006. "Dexedrine Spansules 15mg by Glaxo Smith Kline, now,
no longer produced by GSK since Dec 2010.
The USA Drug Enforcement Administration passed a law, that banned the production of any
stimulants, with a sedative, with the single exception, of Smith Kline and French version, of
Dexamyl, containing 15 mg of dextroamphatamine Extended Release, with the intermediate
barbiturate, sodium Amytal, which was manufactured until the year 1982.
for the true hard core lovers of the ultimate rush, bordering a slow sexual climax, no question
the pills manufactured by Abbott Labs, called Desbutal 5mg, capsules, Desbutal Gradumet,
and Desbutal Gradumet 15mg of pure methamphetamine, were to king of the hill from 1965
until July of 1973. WHY? the 5mg instant release green capsule contained methamphetamine
+ sodium pentobarbital (NEMBUTAL) the 10 mg multicolored tablet, contained also, the
instant release sodium pentobarbital, 60 mg of "Nembutal" (yellow jackets) and the top sought
after pill,was the 15 mg Abbott Desbutal Gradumet, for Extended Release Methamphetamine,
with 90 mg of instant release Sodium Pentobarbital, for a guaranteed rush from onset.
I have done the majority of all diet pills since the year 1969, and, the Abbott Desbutal was
the smoothest, stimulant, with a very euphoric rush, from the get-go, that no other pill could
touch. Pennwalt took over Biphetamine, and later, Fisons, took it over, until production
ended in 1998. I got officially a diagnosis of ADD inattentive type, but, my liberal Psychiatrist,
just would not prescribe me the Biphetamine 20mg, from 1994 until they were removed from
the market, due to lack of sales. Why? the 1960's stigma, frightened, the new age M.D's who
would prescribe Ritalin, Adderall (a re-named identical pill from Rexal Pharma and Obetral Inc
of Brooklyn NY, and of course the Dexedrine Spansules, out since the year 1952, and, if you
were really lucky in the mid 1990's, you could get the famous Dexedrine 5 mg embossed
E-19 Dextroamphetamine instant release pink/orange hearts, by SKF, introduced in 1937, and
made until 2009.
By 1990, when adults, and children were finally accepted, to take stimulants for ADHD,
ADD, and Narcolepsy, Abbott like, Fisons who made Biphetamine, were hurt by the stigma
of the 1960's and 1970's speed culture, and, most Psychiatrists, would not prescribe, the
extended release 5mg, 10mg and 15 mg Desoxyn methamphetamine, until, it was removed
also, from the marketplace, due to slow sales, in a robust market of many Psychiatrists,
liberally prescribing Ritalin, Adderall, Dexedrine, and Dexedrine Spansules. Abbott sold the
licensing rights to Ovation Pharma, in 1999, and, Ovation only makes the 5 mg Instant Release
methamphetamine, at a price 500% higher than Abbott charged, and in the grand scheme of
things, is not prescribed, very frequently, again, from the huge speed stigma, that still, held
a black cloud, over the industry, incredibly over 25 to 30 years later!!!!! Just my 2 cents worth
Finally, the removal of Nembutal sedative capsules, Tuinal sedative barbiturate capsules, and,
especially, all versions in the USA of Methaqualone, by 4 manufacturers, to one sole
manufacturer in 1983, and, by William H Rorer removing the close cousin Doriden, from the
pharmaceutical world in 1992, ended, the opportunity, for the educated consumer, to, get
two prescriptions, to combine, to re-create, what the manufacturers once did legally, for 8
1/2 years. "Nembutal" "Quaalude" "Parest" "Sopar" "Tuinal" "Sodium Amytal" "Doridan"
"Tuiquilone" mfg in Swizerland until 2006. (Methaqualone identical to Rousell Mandrax",
and "pallidan" made in Spain from 1965 until 2000 (Methaqualone). "Tardyl" made in
Hungary by Egis until 2006, and, "Dormidide" made by Terapia of Romanis (Glutethidmide)
or USA Doriden, until 2006.