Which drug name is associated with a powerful sedative that is no longer prescribed in the United States?

Which drug name is associated with a powerful sedative that is no longer prescribed in the United States?

• A. Methaqualone
• B. Paraquale
• C. Optaqualone
• D. Methadone

Answer: (A)

This question hinges on recognizing a sedative-hypnotic that became infamous for abuse and was ultimately pulled from medical use in the United States. Methaqualone gained prominence in the 1960s–70s under names like Quaalude, known for its strong calming and sleep-inducing effects. Due to widespread misuse and safety concerns, it was banned in the United States in the early 1980s and is now a Schedule I substance, meaning it’s no longer legally prescribed. That history—high abuse potential, strong sedative effects, and removal from medical use—defines the correct choice. The other options don’t fit this specific historical pattern. Methadone is an opioid used medically to treat opioid dependence and pain, not a powerful sedative that was banned from prescription. The other two analogs are far less famous in U.S. medical history and did not become emblematic of a top-note drug withdrawal like methaqualone.

This question hinges on recognizing a sedative-hypnotic that became infamous for abuse and was ultimately pulled from medical use in the United States. Methaqualone gained prominence in the 1960s–70s under names like Quaalude, known for its strong calming and sleep-inducing effects. Due to widespread misuse and safety concerns, it was banned in the United States in the early 1980s and is now a Schedule I substance, meaning it’s no longer legally prescribed. That history—high abuse potential, strong sedative effects, and removal from medical use—defines the correct choice.

The other options don’t fit this specific historical pattern. Methadone is an opioid used medically to treat opioid dependence and pain, not a powerful sedative that was banned from prescription. The other two analogs are far less famous in U.S. medical history and did not become emblematic of a top-note drug withdrawal like methaqualone.