Uses
How was Epibatidine originally used?
Epibatidine was used by many natives of the Ecuador rainforests in several different ways.
Wounds
A very minute amount of the toxin would be added to a large concoction
of herbs and water and then spread along the wound. The natives
discovered the amazing pain killing potentials of Epibatidine long
before scientists did.
Hunting (For the
hunter)
Before hunting natives would sometimes use an extremely small amount of
the toxin to produce a very dangerous state of stupor, numbing their
mind in a way and allowing them to concentrate on the present situation
without fear or nervousness. This procedure could easily kill anyone who
wasn't experienced with the toxin or who used too much.
Hunting (For the
hunted)
Many times the tip of an arrow or a dart would be scraped along the back
of the Epipedobates Tricolor frog in order to coat it with the toxin.
Such a concentrated large amount of Epibatidine would instantly paralyze
an animal penetrated by the tip and then quickly kill it.
How could Epibatidine be used in present day?
Epibatidine, when tested and researched, was found to have amazing pain killing abilities. Scientists found that also, because Epibatidine is not an opiate, it would give the pain killing benefits without the downside of possible addiction. Epibatidine was found to be more than 200 times as powerful as morphine, leaving scientists with an extremely potent chemical that could pave the way for new age, higher efficiency painkillers.
Unfortunately, Epibatidine was deemed too potent and too toxic to use as a painkiller, and the studies to use the chemical as an alternative to opiates were ultimately abandoned. However, the discovery of the non opiate pain killer led to new studies that are still in development concerning the synthesis of new pain killers that are not only more potent than the standard morphine and codeine, but are also non-addictive.
The new painkiller that was synthesized to be similar to Epibatidine was called ABT-594. The drug is supposed to alert awareness while killing pain, unlike opiates which induce drowsiness. The new drug is also supposed to be non-addictive, just like Epibatidine.
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Website Guide
Home
Introduction to the
website
General Information
Facts about
Epibatidine. Where it can be found, how it is produced, and more.
History
The background of
Epibatidine and how the compound came to be isolated.
Uses
Discussion of the
possible uses of Epibatidine, both medically regulated and not.
Chemical Information
Molecular Formula, 3D
Models, Melting Points, and other chemical facts concerning Epibatidine.
References
A list in MLA format
of the sources for my project.
All pages can be accessed from any page on this website by using the navigation bar at the top of the screen.