I've been studying the OTC chems available at local pharmacies here in Japan. I've learnt a lot about Japanese OTC pharmaceuticals and have noticed some differences in OTC medication design from western countries:
a) preparation are almost always a cocktail of 3+ active chemicals, making isolation difficult.
b) Large amounts of caffeine is present in almost all pain relief and cold medicine.
c) Some medications are prepared as little white m&m's with a sugary coating, making me wonder about child danger potential.
d) Some common medications have substances banned in other countries for adverse effects, sometimes quite serious.
e) Raw powder satchels are a common way to take drugs in Japan. (dump them on your tongue and wash it down, even with bitter compounds.
f) Even though there are drugs like dihydrocodiene and DXM available OTC, there is very little abuse potential due to their cocktail design.
Now, to the novel method I have discovered. There is a pain killer medicine called "naron ace T" here on the market. It is an ibuprofen based painkiller with the obligatory 3 other active ingredient list from the cocktail happy Japanese pharma companies.
every 2 tabs contains:
Ibuprofen [Amount] 144mg
Ethenzamide [Amount] 84mg
Bromovaleryl urea [Content] 200 mg [
Anhydrous caffeine [Quantity] 50mg
Interestingly, looking at the tablet design, one can clearly see a multi-layered design to the tablets. There are three pressed layers, one pink layer sandwiched between two white layers. I was curious to discover which layers contained which drugs from the formulation.
While I thought it may be possible that the formulation was mixed up and then the pink layer food-colored for aesthetic reasons, I believe the more obvious and economic reason of these layers was to join the different chemicals into one pill at the pressing stage.
I tried to separate the layers with a sharp steak knife at first, to see if they would just pop off. This was not successful. the tablets would flake off in unpredictable ways, even with precise pressure and position.
I next tried to separate the layers with a metal needle, trying to penetrate the boundary between layers. I had more success with this, and I was able uncover the shape of each layer. The bottom layer was a convex "bulbous disc" that separated quite easily using this technique.
I immediately tested a high does of just this layer and found no psychoactive effects. We can pencil this layer in as the anti inflammatory section, containing ibuprofen and Ethenzamide.
The last two layers would not separate cleanly, owing to the top white layer not being structurally strong enough to separate in one piece after needle pressure was applied. It would flake off in parts roughly a 3rd size.
A new technique was needed to separate the pink middle and white top layer,
I opted to use a fine cheeze grater, to abraid it off. It was successful, but not perfect. the mid and top layer with concave / convex, like reading glasses lenses. Abrading the top layer off would leave a small amount attached to the mid layer around the sides. I thought this was a tolerable outcome. I assume the top layer is the caffeine (free no-doz powder?)
I tried a high does of the pink layer and noticed a subtle but enjoyable GABA like depressant high. Though unconfirmed by proper testing, I would bet that this pink layer contains the Bromovaleryl urea, or Bromisoval. A very old and mostly out of use hypnotic sedative, sometimes classed as a barbiturate. An interesting side note here, this family of drugs was make illegal after "Brian Epstein" aka the fifth beatle OD'd and died on a similar chemical. Also, chronic use can lead to serious side effects associated with Bromine poisoning. Don't ask me why Japan still uses it, I don't know. "Therapeutic doses" are listed as 1-2g with a short half life of 2 hours. I would be cautious about going over this limit. And no mixing this chemical with other depressants at all.
The high feels a bit like having a couple of beers and one Valium. Quite subtle and functional. It would make a good anxiety medication to be using sparingly in a pinch. It should be avoided at all costs as a daily drug of abuse due to Bromine poisoning.as tolerance builds
a) preparation are almost always a cocktail of 3+ active chemicals, making isolation difficult.
b) Large amounts of caffeine is present in almost all pain relief and cold medicine.
c) Some medications are prepared as little white m&m's with a sugary coating, making me wonder about child danger potential.
d) Some common medications have substances banned in other countries for adverse effects, sometimes quite serious.
e) Raw powder satchels are a common way to take drugs in Japan. (dump them on your tongue and wash it down, even with bitter compounds.
f) Even though there are drugs like dihydrocodiene and DXM available OTC, there is very little abuse potential due to their cocktail design.
Now, to the novel method I have discovered. There is a pain killer medicine called "naron ace T" here on the market. It is an ibuprofen based painkiller with the obligatory 3 other active ingredient list from the cocktail happy Japanese pharma companies.
every 2 tabs contains:
Ibuprofen [Amount] 144mg
Ethenzamide [Amount] 84mg
Bromovaleryl urea [Content] 200 mg [
Anhydrous caffeine [Quantity] 50mg
Interestingly, looking at the tablet design, one can clearly see a multi-layered design to the tablets. There are three pressed layers, one pink layer sandwiched between two white layers. I was curious to discover which layers contained which drugs from the formulation.
While I thought it may be possible that the formulation was mixed up and then the pink layer food-colored for aesthetic reasons, I believe the more obvious and economic reason of these layers was to join the different chemicals into one pill at the pressing stage.
I tried to separate the layers with a sharp steak knife at first, to see if they would just pop off. This was not successful. the tablets would flake off in unpredictable ways, even with precise pressure and position.
I next tried to separate the layers with a metal needle, trying to penetrate the boundary between layers. I had more success with this, and I was able uncover the shape of each layer. The bottom layer was a convex "bulbous disc" that separated quite easily using this technique.
I immediately tested a high does of just this layer and found no psychoactive effects. We can pencil this layer in as the anti inflammatory section, containing ibuprofen and Ethenzamide.
The last two layers would not separate cleanly, owing to the top white layer not being structurally strong enough to separate in one piece after needle pressure was applied. It would flake off in parts roughly a 3rd size.
A new technique was needed to separate the pink middle and white top layer,
I opted to use a fine cheeze grater, to abraid it off. It was successful, but not perfect. the mid and top layer with concave / convex, like reading glasses lenses. Abrading the top layer off would leave a small amount attached to the mid layer around the sides. I thought this was a tolerable outcome. I assume the top layer is the caffeine (free no-doz powder?)
I tried a high does of the pink layer and noticed a subtle but enjoyable GABA like depressant high. Though unconfirmed by proper testing, I would bet that this pink layer contains the Bromovaleryl urea, or Bromisoval. A very old and mostly out of use hypnotic sedative, sometimes classed as a barbiturate. An interesting side note here, this family of drugs was make illegal after "Brian Epstein" aka the fifth beatle OD'd and died on a similar chemical. Also, chronic use can lead to serious side effects associated with Bromine poisoning. Don't ask me why Japan still uses it, I don't know. "Therapeutic doses" are listed as 1-2g with a short half life of 2 hours. I would be cautious about going over this limit. And no mixing this chemical with other depressants at all.
The high feels a bit like having a couple of beers and one Valium. Quite subtle and functional. It would make a good anxiety medication to be using sparingly in a pinch. It should be avoided at all costs as a daily drug of abuse due to Bromine poisoning.as tolerance builds
