Summary

Etizolam is a thienodiazepine compound which is related to the benzodiazepine drug class. [2]

Etizolam is not authorized by the FDA for medical use in the United States. However, it is an unscheduled drug and is legal to use for research purposes. [3]

Etizolam Benefits and Effects

Etizolam was originally developed as a treatment for anxiety and sleep disorders but has been found to be effective in other treatments too. [2]

Reduces Anxiety

Etizolam were found to show a marked improvement in chronic anxiety and phobic ideas. [5] Another study, patients  – treated over 5 weeks – showed significant improvement in anxiety and depressive symptoms. [6]

Etizolam was compared with Alprazolam and Bromazepam in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Etizolam outperformed both of the other drugs in the trial for its antidepressant effect. [7]

May reduce auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia patients

One study using Etizolam showed a complete disappearance of auditory hallucinations in a schizophrenic patient. [8]

May combat insomnia

A study using rats showed that a regular dosage of Etizolam significantly reduced the sleep latency of the subjects. Insomnia returned as Etizolam dosage stopped. [9]

May reduce pain

Etizolam was used to test pain reduction from tension-type headaches, using a combination of Etizolam and NSAID. Young and female patients showed a statistically significant reduction in pain using the combination of Etizolam and NSAID. [10]

How Etizolam works

Etizolam is absorbed via the gastro-intestinal tract. Peak plasma concentrations occur between 0.5 – 2 hours in human trials, with half-life at about 3.4 hours [12], with bioavailability between 90 to 95% [14] Excretion is via urine (30% in rats and 40% in mice) and faeces (70% in rats and 60% in mice) [13]

Etizolam interacts on the benzodiazepine site of the GABA-A receptor; binding to its regulatory site and causing the opening of GABA induced Chloride channels, facilitating GABA transmission through the channel. [13]

Studies show that treatment using Etizolam may reduce the need for surgery in the case of chronic subdural hematoma. [1]

Dosage

Etizolam dosing tend to be in the range 0.25g to 3.0 g tablets; taken one, to three times daily.

One overdosed patient was admitted to an emergency room after consuming a large quantity of Etizolam tablets along with other unknown substances. [15].

Etizolam is not recommend for use by pregnant or breast-feeding women;  it can pass through the placenta. In addition, benzodiazepines like Etizolam are excreted in breast milk. They can have a sedatory effect on the neonate. [16]

Side Effects

Pyrexia or raised temperatures is the most common side effect. [17]

Patients taking Etizolam were found to have a significant prolongation of P300 latency. [18] Day-time drowsiness is also documented. [6]

One case of Etizolam dependency has been reported. [19] However, the patient dropped out of a follow up program. In another case, a female patient was successfully weaned from Etizolam through a planned reduction in dosage and replacement drug. [20]