A dangerous practice among schoolchildren is being widely discussed in the Russian-speaking internet: teenagers are taking the antiviral drug Rimantadine in large doses for a psychedelic effect and posting videos of their experiences on TikTok. The catalyst for the widespread discussion was a post by the Telegram channel Mash, whose authors reported that minors are buying the over-the-counter medication at pharmacies, taking many pills at once, and sharing their experiences on the social network, according to infohub.kz.
The phenomenon itself is not new: schoolchildren's videos about Rimantadine have been appearing on TikTok for years. However, the media have only now turned their attention to the problem.
Rimantadine is an antiviral drug used to treat and prevent influenza. It was not designed to produce any psychoactive effects. Moreover, attempting to achieve them by repeatedly exceeding the normal dose can result in poisoning.
Even when used normally, Rimantadine can cause adverse reactions. These include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dry mouth, headache, dizziness, insomnia, irritability, anxiety, and impaired concentration.
In cases of overdose, the instructions specifically list hallucinations and heart rhythm disturbances, as well as tremor and seizures. That is why hallucinations should not be perceived as a safe psychedelic effect of the drug. It may be a sign of toxic effects on the body.
The medication should not be combined with other substances. The instructions for Rimantadine include a warning that alcohol is best avoided due to the possible intensification of adverse reactions from the central nervous system. If any of the listed side effects occur or an overdose is suspected, emergency medical help should be called.
TikTok alone is not to blame for a teenager starting to use drugs. Far from every schoolchild who watches a video about Rimantadine will go on to repeat what they saw. Psychoactive substance use is often driven by deeper reasons—emotional and life difficulties. Therefore, a conversation with a child is best started not with threats, but by building trust and a sense of safety at home.
Earlier, Kursiv Health, together with a psychotherapist, examined how to talk to a loved one who uses drugs and what parents can do to reduce the risk that a child will ever experiment with psychoactive substances. These recommendations may also be useful in the context of dangerous internet trends.