Difference between revisions of "Clomethiazole"

Latest revision as of 10:19, 20 September 2010

Clomethiazole (also called Chlormethiazole) is a sedative and hypnotic that is widely used in treating and preventing symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal. It is a drug which is structurally related to thiamine (vitamin B₁) but acts like a sedative, hypnotic, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant. It is also used for the management of agitation, restlessness, short-term insomnia and Parkinson's disease in the elderly. In the U.K, it is sold under the brand Heminevrin (AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals). Another brand name includes Nevrin (in Romania). The drug is marketed either as a freebase in an oily suspension containing 192mg (about 3 grains) in capsule form, or as clomethiasole edisylate (ethane disulfonate) syrup.

Pharmacology

Chlomethiazole acts as a positive allosteric modulator at the barbiturate/picrotoxin site of the GABA-A receptor. It works to enhance the action of the neurotransmitter GABA at this receptor. GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain and produces anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative, and hypnotic effects. Chlomethiazole also inhibits the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which is responsible for breaking down alcohol in the body. This slows the rate of elimination of alcohol from the body, which helps to relieve the sudden effects of alcohol withdrawal in alcoholics. Chlomethiazole appears to also have another mechanism of action mediating some of its hypothermic and neuroprotective effects.

Adverse effects

Long term and frequent use of chlormethiazole can cause tolerance and physical dependence. Abrupt withdrawal may result in symptoms similar to those of sudden withdrawal of alcohol or benzodiazepines, including apnoeic-tonic seizures.^[1]

Overdose

Chlormethiazole is particularly toxic and dangerous in overdose. Overdose of chlormethiazole can be potentially fatal.^[2]

The Who drummer, Keith Moon, died from a massive overdose of chlormethiazole. The coroner determined he had consumed 32 tablets in total, the digestion of only 6 of which had been necessary to cause his death. ^[3]

References

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1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Citation/CS1/Suggestions' not found.
2. ↑ Reith DM, Fountain J, McDowell R, Tilyard M (2003). "Comparison of the fatal toxicity index of zopiclone with benzodiazepines". J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol. 41 (7): 975–80. doi:10.1081/CLT-120026520. PMID 14705844. CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
3. ↑ Fletcher, Tony: "Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend".