Etizolam

Description

Etizolam is a thienodiazepine, which is chemically related to a class of
substances known as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines produce
central nervous system (CNS) depression and are commonly used to
treat panic disorders, insomnia, and anxiety. Etizolam is currently a
prescription medication in Japan, India, and Italy, but this substance has
recently emerged on the illicit drug market in Europe and the United
States. Etizolam is usually encountered in powder form or in tablet form.
Etizolam has also been encountered spiked onto blotter paper.
Licit Uses:
Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed drugs; however, etizolam is not
approved for medical use in the United States. In some other countries,
etizolam is used as a prescription medication. In Japan, etizolam was
introduced in 1983 as a treatment for neurological conditions, such as
anxiety and sleep disorders. In countries that market etizolam for clinical
use, this substance is available as 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1.0 mg tablets.

Etizolam, a thienodiazepine derivative, was approved for the
management of anxiety disorders associated with depression, panic
disorder, and insomnia in some countries. Pharmacologically, etizolam
is a benzodiazepine and possesses CNS depressant effects, such as
anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative-hypnotic, and muscle relaxant
effects. Unlike diazepam (Valium®), etizolam has some imipramine-like
neuropharmacological and behavioral effects in preclinical studies. In
animal experiments, etizolam is 6–10 times more potent than diazepam
in most of its pharmacological effects. In monkeys, etizolam has been
demonstrated to have some reinforcing effects. In physical-dependence
studies in animals, etizolam substituted for barbital and produced
withdrawal signs typical of the sedative-hypnotic class. Drug
discrimination studies in monkeys indicated that etizolam had
pentobarbital-like effects. Clinical studies suggest that etizolam is
approximately 10 times more potent than diazepam in producing
hypnotic effects. In a single-dose pharmacokinetic study in humans,
etizolam was rapidly absorbed with the maximum plasma concentration
occurring within 0.5–2 hours, and the mean elimination half-life
averaged 3.4 hours. Clinical observations of physical dependence on
etizolam were also reported. Major adverse effects include drowsiness,
sedation, muscle weakness and incoordination, fainting, headache,
confusion, depression, slurred speech, visual disturbances, and
changes in libido and tremor.