Etaqualone

From Food & Medicine Encyclopedia

Etaqualone


Etaqualone is a quinazolinone class GABAergic and is an analogue of methaqualone that was developed in the 1960s by a team at William H. Rorer Inc. and was marketed mainly in France and some other European countries. It has sedative, hypnotic and anxiolytic effects caused by its agonist activity at the β subtype of the GABAa receptor and was used for the treatment of insomnia.

History[edit]

Etaqualone was developed in the 1960s as a safe alternative to barbiturates to treat anxiety and insomnia. However, it was found to have similar problems of abuse and addiction as the drugs it was designed to replace, and was fairly quickly withdrawn from the market due to these issues.

Pharmacology[edit]

Etaqualone is a central nervous system depressant and its effects are primarily due to its agonist activity at the β subtype of the GABAa receptor. It has similar effects to benzodiazepines but is structurally distinct and so is classed as a nonbenzodiazepine sedative.

Side Effects[edit]

Side effects of etaqualone can include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and sweating. Overdose can cause respiratory depression, coma, and death.

Legal Status[edit]

Etaqualone is a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States, and is similarly controlled in other parts of the world. It is rarely used in medicine today.

See Also[edit]


This article is a stub related to pharmacology. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!


Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Content may be inaccurate or outdated and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical decisions. Verify information with trusted sources such as CDC.gov and NIH.gov. By using this site, you agree that WikiMD is not liable for any outcomes related to its content. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.