Clomethiazole

Not to be confused with Clotrimazole or Chlormidazole.
Clomethiazole
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.comInternational Drug Names
Routes of
administration		Oral
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • BR: Class C1 (Other controlled substances)[1]
  • UK: POM (Prescription only)[2]
  • US: ℞-only
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Elimination half-life3.6–5 hours
Identifiers
  • 5-(2-Chloroethyl)-4-methyl-1,3-thiazole
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.007.788 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC6H8ClNS
Molar mass161.65 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • ClCCC1=C(C)N=CS1
  • InChI=1S/C6H8ClNS/c1-5-6(2-3-7)9-4-8-5/h4H,2-3H2,1H3 checkY
  • Key:PCLITLDOTJTVDJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
 ☒NcheckY (what is this?)  (verify)

Clomethiazole (also called chlormethiazole) is a sedative and hypnotic originally developed by Hoffmann-La Roche in the 1930s.[3] The drug is used in treating and preventing symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal.

It is structurally related to thiamine (vitamin B1), but acts like a sedative, hypnotic, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant, having the same mechanism of action as traditional barbiturates. It is also rarely used for the management of agitation, restlessness, short-term insomnia and Parkinson's disease in the elderly, when all other treatment options have failed. In the UK, it is sold under the brand Heminevrin (AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals). Other brand names include Nevrin in Romania, Distraneurin in Germany and Distraneurine in Spain. The drug is marketed either as a free base in an oily solution containing 192 mg in capsule form, or as clomethiazole edisylate syrup. Due to its high toxicity compared to similar drugs it is not recommended as a first-line treatment for any indication and is particularly dangerous to patients with an elevated risk for drug abuse such as those with a personal or familial history of addiction.

  1. ^ Anvisa (2023-03-31). "RDC Nº 784 - Listas de Substâncias Entorpecentes, Psicotrópicas, Precursoras e Outras sob Controle Especial" [Collegiate Board Resolution No. 784 - Lists of Narcotic, Psychotropic, Precursor, and Other Substances under Special Control] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário Oficial da União (published 2023-04-04). Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  2. ^ "Heminevrin / Clomethiazole 192 mg Capsules". Electronic Medicines Compendium. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  3. ^ CH patent 200248, "Verfahren zur Darstellung von 4-Methyl-5-B-chloräthylthiazol", issued 1938-09-30, assigned to Hoffmann-La Roche