Ethchlorvynol

Ethchlorvynol
Systematic (IUPAC) name
1-chloro-3-ethylpent-1-en-4-yn-3-ol
Identifiers
CAS number	113-18-8
ATC code	N05CM08
PubChem	3281
DrugBank	APRD00958
Chemical data
Formula	C7H9ClO
Mol. mass	144.598 g/mol
SMILES	eMolecules & PubChem
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Protein binding	35-50%
Metabolism	?
Half life	?
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status	Schedule IV[1]
Routes	Oral

Ethchlorvynol is a sedative and hypnotic drug. It has been used to treat insomnia, but has been largely superseded and is only offered where an intolerance or allergy to other drugs exists.

Along with expected sedative effects of relaxation and drowsiness ethchlorvynol can cause skin rashes, faintness, restlessness and euphoria. Early adjustment side effects can include nausea and vomiting, numbness, blurred vision, stomach pains and temporary dizziness. An overdose is marked by confusion, fever, peripheral numbness and weakness, reduced coordination and muscle control, slurred speech, reduced heartbeat.

It is addictive and after prolonged use can cause withdrawal symptoms including convulsions, hallucinations, and memory loss. Due to these problems, it is unusual for ethchlorvynol to be prescribed for periods exceeding seven days. During the late 1970's, Placidyl was sometimes overprescribed causing a minor epidemic of persons who became addicted to this powerful drug. Occassional deaths would occur when addicted persons would try to inject the drug directly into a vein or an artery; Ethchlorvynol is not compatible with I.V. injection - serious damage and death can occur when it is used in this manner.

Ethchlorvynol is a member of the class of sedative-hypnotic tertiary carbinols, which includes methylparafynol. It is not a barbituric acid derivative. The systematic name of ethchlorvynol is usually given as ethyl 2-chlorovinyl ethynyl carbinol or 1-chloro-3-ethyl-1-penten-4-yl-3-ol. Its empirical formula is C₇H₉ClO. In the United States Abbott Laboratories used to sell it under the tradename Placidyl. During their heyday, they were known on the street as "jelly-bellies".^[2] Since Abbott and Banner Pharmacaps, which manufactured the generic version, discontinued production in 1999, ethchlorvynol is no longer available in the United States.

Notes

References

• Hypnotic Agent and Method of Making the Same. US Patent 2746900
• Electronic Orange Book: Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations Food and Drug Administration. Accessed 12 December 2005 (UTC)
• FBI: Rehnquist withdrew from painkillers (CNN.com) Accessed 5 Jan. 2007