Deschloroetizolam

deschloroetizolam is a short-acting psychoactive substance of the thienodiazepine class which has been shown to produce depressants, anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, muscle relaxant, anticonvulsant, depressant and amnesic effects. deschloroetizolam, like benzodiazepines, binds to modulatory sites on the gaba receptors. deschloroetizolam is closely related to etizolam (etilaam), triazolam (halcion), and alprazolam (xanax). it is not prescribed and is not recognised as a controlled substance in many parts of the world, leading to its appearance within grey market research chemical vendors in 2014.

deschloroetizolam has a relatively fast onset of action and symptomatic relief. it is half as potent as its parent compound etizolam with a duration which is twice as long. it also has a similar bioavailibility and a similar time to onset in comparison to the parent drug. 2mg of deschloroetizolam is thought to be of similar potency to 10mg of diazepam.

similar to benzodiazepines, the sudden discontinuation of thienodiazepines can be potentially dangerous or life-threatening for individuals using regularly for extended periods of time, sometimes resulting in seizures or death. it is highly recommended to taper one’s dose by gradually lowering the amount taken each day for a prolonged period of time instead of stopping abruptly.

chemistry

deschloroetizolam is a structural relative of benzodiazepines, whereby the benzene ring has been replaced by a thiophene ring, classifying it as a thienodiazepine. it differs structurally from its parent compound etizolam through removal of the chlorine atom at the 2′ position on the phenyl ring.

deschloroetizolam contains a thiophene ring fused to a diazepine ring, which is a seven member ring with the two nitrogen constituents located at r₁ and r₄. thiophene is a five member aromatic ring with one sulfur atom. this forms the thienodiazepine core of deschloroetizolam. an ethyl chain is bound to this bicyclic structure at r₇. additionally, a phenyl ring is bound to this structure at r₅. deschloroetizolam also contains a methylated triazole ring fused to and incorporating r₁ and r₂ of its diazepine ring. deschloroetizolam shares this fused triazole ring substitution with certain benzodiazepine drugs, called triazolobenzodiazepines, distinguished by the suffix “-zolam”.

pharmacology

thienodiazepines produce a variety of effects by binding to the benzodiazepine receptor site and magnifying the efficiency and effects of the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (gaba) by acting on its receptors. as this site is the most prolific inhibitory receptor set within the brain, its modulation results in the sedating (or calming effects) of deschloroetizolam on the nervous system.