Benzydamine

Benzydamine is a locally-acting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the indazole class, marketed under trade names including Tantum Verde, Difflam, and Andolex. It is primarily used as a topical analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent for mouth ulcers, sore throats, and vaginal inflammation — sold as mouthwashes, lozenges, and creams in many countries. Unlike most NSAIDs, benzydamine does not inhibit cyclooxygenase enzymes; its anti-inflammatory mechanism involves inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1β).

At significantly supratherapeutic doses — typically 500 mg to several grams via oral ingestion of mouthwash concentrate — benzydamine produces pronounced deliriant and dissociative effects. It is considered one of the more dangerous substances of abuse due to its narrow therapeutic-to-toxic window, profoundly unpleasant subjective effects, and risk of serious cardiovascular and neurological toxicity. The experience is widely described as dysphoric, frightening, and devoid of the "recreational" character of classical psychedelics or dissociatives.

Community harm reduction consensus strongly advises against recreational use of benzydamine. Reports consistently describe the experience as deeply unpleasant — marked by dysphoric hallucinations, restlessness, agitation, muscle twitching, and a sense of losing control without the peace or insight that characterizes substances used intentionally in psychedelic contexts. Benzydamine abuse is relatively uncommon in Western countries but has been reported in parts of Eastern Europe and South Africa, where topical preparations are sold over-the-counter.