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Drug group - Opiates
Street names
Dikes, dikies
Brand name
Diconal. (CeNeS)
Drug effect
Painkiller, depressant (downer), anti-emetic (anti-sickness). Effects last 4-6 hours
Description
Pink scored tablet (dipipanone 10mg and cyclizine 30mg)
Therapeutic use
Moderate to severe pain
Street use
Swallowed and injected
Dependency
Yes
Withdrawal
Withdrawal is similar to other opiates, with flu-like symptoms lasting for 5 to 10 days.
Long term use
Constipation
Breathing difficulties
Irregular periods
If injected - causes sudden drop in blood pressure which can be fatal; circulatory problems, tissue damage and septic abscesses caused by alkaline base of tablet; infection risk.
Overdose risk
If Diconal. is injected, there is a serious risk of overdose because of loss of blood pressure. Many overdose deaths amongst opiate injectors involve this drug.
Legal status
Prescription Only Medicine
Class A, Schedule 2
Illegal to possess without a prescription and to supply to others
Maximum penalty
Possession: 7 years
Supplying: Life
SPECIAL NOTE
High risk of overdose when Diconal. is injected intravenously - causes loss of blood pressure which can be fatal. Sub-cutaneous injection (under skin) does not produce the same effect. Cyclizine is an anti-histamine which is the active ingredient of the travel sickness preparation Valoid.. The use of cyclizine with methadone to produce a similar effect to Dicanol. has been widely reported. The injection of crushed cyclizine necessitates the use of a broad gauge needle and is therefore a high risk form of injecting e.g. into the femoral vein in the groin. Only medical practitioners licensed by the Home Office can prescribe dipipanone to dependent drug users.