My watch list
my.chemeurope.com  
Login  

Estazolam



Estazolam
Systematic (IUPAC) name
8-Chloro-6-phenyl-
4H-1,2,4-triazolo(4,3-a)-
1,4-benzodiazepine
Identifiers
CAS number 29975-16-4
ATC code N05CD04
PubChem 3261
DrugBank APRD00955
Chemical data
Formula C16H11ClN4 
Mol. mass 294.7
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 93%
Metabolism Hepatic
Half life 10-24 hours
Excretion Renal
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

? (USA)

Legal status

Schedule IV(US)

Routes Oral

Estazolam (marketed under the brand names ProSom, Eurodin) is a drug which is a benzodiazepine derivative. It possesses anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative and skeletal muscle relaxant properties. Estazolam is an intermediate-acting oral benzodiazepine.

It is commonly prescribed for short-term treatment of insomnia.

Contents

Pharmacology

Estazolam is classed as a "triazolo" benzodiazepine drug.[1] An animal study demonstrated that estazolam induces a drowsy pattern of spontaneous EEG including high voltage slow waves and spindle bursts increase in the cortex and amygdala, while the hippocampal theta rhythm is desynchronized. Also low voltage fast waves occur particularly in the cortical EEG. The EEG arousal response to auditory stimulation and to electric stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation, posterior hypothalamus and centromedian thalamus is significantly suppressed. The photic driving response elicited by a flash light in the visual cortex is significantly suppressed by estazolam.[2] Estazolam at high doses decreases histamine turnover via it's action at the benzodiazepine-GABA receptor complex.[3]

Estazolam and other benzodiazepines may influence neurosteroid metabolism which in turn may influence the functions of the brain and reproductive system. The pharmacological actions of benzodiazepines at the GABAa receptor are similar to those of neurosteroids. Neuroactive steroids are positive allosteric modulators of the GABAa receptor, enhancing GABA function. Many hypnotic benzodiazepines (nimetazepam, temazepam, estazolam, flunitrazepam and nitrazepam) potently inhibit the enzymes involved in the metabolism of neurosteroids. Long-term administration of benzodiazepines may influence the concentrations of endogenous neurosteroids, and thereby would modulate the emotional state. Factors which effects benzodiazepines ability to alter neurosteroid levels depend on the molecular make up of the individual benzodiazepine. Presence of a substituent at N1 position of the diazepine ring and/or the chloro or nitro group at position 7 of the benzene ring contribute to potent inhibition of the isoenzymes, and in turn a bromo group at position 7 (for bromazepam) and additional substituents (3-hydroxy group for oxazepam and tetrahydroxazole ring for cloxazolam and oxazolam) decrease the inhibitory potency.[4]

Abuse

Estazolam became notorious in 1998 when a large amount of a 'herbal sleeping mix' called Sleeping Buddha was recalled from the shelves after the FDA descovered that it contained estazolam (as well as some heavy metal salts).[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ Braestrup C; Squires RF. (Apr 1978). "Pharmacological characterization of benzodiazepine receptors in the brain.". Eur J Pharmacol 48 (3): 263-70. PMID 639854.
  2. ^ Watanabe S; Ohta H, Sakurai Y, Takao K, Ueki S. (Jul 1986). "[Electroencephalographic effects of 450191-S and its metabolites in rabbits with chronic electrode implants]". Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi. 88 (1): 19-32. PMID 3758874.
  3. ^ Oishi R; Nishibori M, Itoh Y, Saeki K. (27). "Diazepam-induced decrease in histamine turnover in mouse brain.". Eur J Pharmacol. 124 (3): 337-42. PMID 3089825.
  4. ^ Usami N; Yamamoto T, Shintani S, Ishikura S, Higaki Y, Katagiri Y, Hara A. (Apr 2002). "Substrate specificity of human 3(20)alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase for neurosteroids and its inhibition by benzodiazepines." (pdf). Biol Pharm Bull. 25 (4): 441-5. PMID 11995921.
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Estazolam". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
Your browser is not current. Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 does not support some functions on Chemie.DE