This is a short-acting SEDATIVE-HYPNOTIC drug typically used to treat insomnia. It is prescribed and sold as Valmid. Structurally, it does not resemble the BARBITURATES, but it shares many effects with this class of drugs; the depressant effects of ethinamate are, however, generally milder than those of most barbiturates. Continued and inappropriate use of ethinamate can lead to TOLERANCE AND PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE, with withdrawal symptoms very similar to those of the barbiturates. Because of their greater safety, the widespread use of BENZODIAZEPINES as sedative/hypnotics has largely supplanted the use of ethinamate.

See Also

Withdrawal)

Bibliography

HOBBS, W. R., RALL, T. W., VERDOORN, T. A. (1996). Hypnotics and sedatives: Ethanol, 361-396. In J. G. Hardman, L. E. Limbird, P. B. Molinoff, R. W. Ruddon, A. G. Gilman (Eds.) The pharmacological basis of therapeutics, 9th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.