Methaqualone (brand name Quaalude /?kwe?lu?d/) in the USA and Mandrax in the UK is a sedative-hypnotic drug of the quinazolinone class that acts as a general central nervous system depressant. The sedative–hypnotic activity of methaqualone was first noted by Indian researchers in the 1950s and in 1962 methaqualone itself was patented in the US by Wallace and Tiernan. Its use peaked in the early 1970s as a hypnotic, for the treatment of insomnia, and as a sedative and muscle relaxant. It has also been produced clandestinely and used illegally as a recreational drug.