The concentrations, appearance and taste of nine sedating drugs dissolved in four different beverages

Sedating drugs are reported to be used in cases where people have been drugged unwittingly. In the present experiments we studied whether nine sedating medicinal drugs would dissolve in four different beverages to reach concentrations which could possibly cause impairment and whether the drugs altered the appearance and taste of the beverages. Nine sedating medicinal drugs were added separately to water, beer, Coca-Cola™ and ethanol. Drug concentrations were measured 5, 10, 20 and 40 min after spiking. The amount of drug in one swallow (50 mL) was calculated. Appearance and taste were recorded after 10 min. Flunipam®, Sobril®, Valium® and Xanor® dissolved faster than Rohypnol®, Imovane®, Somadril®, Rivotril® and Dolcontin®. Ten minutes after adding Flunipam®, Sobril®, Imovane® (in beer and Coca-Cola™), Valium® and Xanor®, the concentrations had reached more than 50% of maximum theoretical concentration. Most of the drugs caused sediment, pieces and/or turbidity in one or more of the beverages. Some of the solutions were dyed from added Rohypnol® (turquoise or green), Dolcontin® (red) and Valium® (yellow). Flunipam® and Valium® caused extensive frothing in beer. The tastes of Imovane® and Somadril® were distinct in all the beverages, while the taste of other drug solutions was less distinct. The ingestion of all solutions could probably have caused impairment. All the nine drugs were, however, apparent to the consumer from the altered appearance and/or taste of the beverages.