# What was the number on the Quaalude pill? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 16, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389 "2005-02-16T18:35:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/1 "2005-02-16T18:35:33Z")
I seem to remember it had a number. I remember Zonker, from the Doonesbury comic strip, wore a quaalude costume to a party once and it had the number displayed. Maybe somebody out there has access to a Physician’s Desk Reference. thanks, stupid office trivia games. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/2 "2005-02-16T18:47:19Z")
The imprint code on a Quaalude was ‘714.’ ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/3 "2005-02-16T18:51:58Z")
Also, according to a good friend of mine (who would know, he was alive back then), Chong’s shirt at the end of “Up In Smoke” has a big Quaalude on it. The number might well be 714, I don’t remember. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/4 "2005-02-16T18:52:24Z")
\< The Godz\> "Feelin’ fine on 714’s, they got me trippin’ out the door…\< /The Godz\> ---
**Author:** ![bdandhr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@bdandhr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdandhr)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/5 "2005-02-16T18:55:03Z")
Definitely 714. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/6 "2005-02-16T18:59:56Z")
I’m pretty sure it was 714. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/7 "2005-02-16T19:37:41Z")
Thanks. hmmmm… 714 is also the area code for Orange County California, a known hangout for druggies! ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/8 "2005-02-17T01:54:33Z")
Little-known fact: there were half-strengh tablets of Quaaludes, those were 712’s. The 714’s were 300mg of methaqualone, the 712’s 150 mg. _sigh_ The days… ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/9 "2005-02-17T02:11:49Z")
\ Is there anything that can’t be answered on this board? I am deeply impressed. \ ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/10 "2005-02-17T02:21:02Z")
Methaqualone was produced by at least two different manufacturers, under brand names like Quaalude and Sopor. It came in capsules and tablets, and there were a variety of sizes of each. But one indeed did say “714” on it. [http://bbsnews.net/images/quaalud1.jpg](http://bbsnews.net/images/quaalud1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/11 "2005-02-17T03:01:35Z")
“Rio”, by Duran Duran. In the 1960s. For 714 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/12 "2005-02-17T03:24:52Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > hmmmm… 714 is also the area code for Orange County California, a known hangout for druggies! Wasn’t 714 also the badge number of Joe Friday? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/13 "2005-02-17T05:34:19Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > Wasn’t 714 also the badge number of Joe Friday? And the number of home runs hit by Babe Ruth. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/14 "2005-02-17T11:34:53Z")
And why again were they discontinued? Just because people abuse a substance it need not disappear. Vicodin anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/15 "2005-02-17T14:01:08Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > And why again were they discontinued? Just because people abuse a substance it need not disappear. Vicodin anyone? The abuse potential far outweighted any benefit from the drug. I recall the marketing blurbs before it got pulled (aimed at physicians): “For when your patient really, really, really needs to go to sleep, use Quaaludes!” Well, my patients have never needed to sleep quite that badly. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/16 "2005-02-17T17:31:45Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > The abuse potential far outweighted any benefit from the drug. I’ll second that. (not that it needs a second) I knew a kid when I was 19 or so who was on Quaaludes prescribed by his doctor. Veeery strange kid, hyper even on Quaaludes. He used to take 1/2 doses so that he could be “pretty normal” yet still save up tabs to sell to others. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/17 "2005-02-17T18:15:19Z")
Rorer 714, back in the day. When you absolutely, positively had to be wasted. I don’t see Rorer mentioned, but that’s what the one’s I had said. ---
**Author:** ![Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercury)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/18 "2005-02-17T18:47:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Little-known fact: there were half-strengh tablets of Quaaludes, those were 712’s. > > The 714’s were 300mg of methaqualone, the 712’s 150 mg. > > _sigh_ The days… Did the 712 and 714 mean anything? ---
**Author:** ![Profound\_Gibberish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/20 "2011-05-19T19:11:56Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Wasn’t 714 also the badge number of Joe Friday? Damn, you beat me to it! ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389/21 "2011-05-19T19:26:40Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > .. “For when your patient really, really, really needs to go to sleep, use Quaaludes!” So it was just a sleeping pill? Where’s the fun in going to sleep? I missed out on the hippie Sixties—but I thought drugs were all about mind-bending, musical, colorful experiences. Not sleeping. So can someone please explain to me why the Qualude was so popular? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-number-on-the-quaalude-pill/290389.md?page=2)