The drug is a central nervous system depressant similar to barbituates . The effect on the body is a reduction in the heart and breathing rate and blood pressure. Small doses create a feeling of euphoria.
Larger doses can bring about depression, irrational behavior, poor reflexes and slurred speech.
Those who use quaaludes frequently develop tolerance rather quickly. This is dangerous in many ways because users then have to increase their dosage to achieve a high. An overdose can be fatal. Mixing alcohol and quaaludes can also be deadly because of the combined depressant effect on the heart and lungs. Withdrawal from quaaludes is said to be sometimes more intense than withdrawal from heroin .