Drug Groups

illicit; approved

Description

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 It has been used to treat insomnia, but has been largely superseded and is only offered where an intolerance or allergy to other drugs exists. [Wikipedia]

Indication

Used for short-term hypnotic therapy in the management of insomnia for periods of up to one week in duration; however, this medication generally has been replaced by other sedative-hypnotic agents.

Pharmacology

Ethchlorvynol is a sedative drug and schedule IV (USA) controlled substance. It produces cerebral depression, however the exact mechanism of action is not known.

Toxicity

Symptoms of overdose include thrombocytopenia.

Affected Organisms

Biotransformation

About 90% of a dose is metabolized in the liver. Some ethchlorvynol may also be metabolized in the kidneys. Ethchlorvynol and metabolites undergo extensive enterohepatic recirculation.

Absorption

Rapidly absorbed from gastrointestinal tract.

Half Life

Plasma half-life is approximately 10 to 20 hours, terminal half-life is 21-100 hours.

Protein Binding

35-50%

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