Routes of
administration oral Biological half-life 6-16 hours Molar mass 183.248 g/mol Protein binding 60% | ATC code N05CE02 (WHO) CAS Number 125-64-4 CAS ID 125-64-4 | |
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Trade names Dimerin, Methyprylone, Noctan, Noludar Legal status CA: Schedule IV
DE: Anlage II (Prohibited)
US: Schedule III | ||
Methyprylon (Noludar) is a sedative of the piperidinedione derivative family developed by Hoffmann-La Roche. This medicine was used for treating insomnia, but is now rarely used as it has been replaced by newer drugs with fewer side effects, such as benzodiazepines. Methyprylon was withdrawn from the US market in June 1989 and the Canadian market in September 1990. Some other trade names are Noctan and Dimerin.
Contents
Methyprylon
Adverse effects
Side effects can include skin rash, fever, depression, ulcers or sores in mouth or throat, unusual bleeding or bruising, confusion, fast heartbeat, respiratory depression, swelling of feet or lower legs, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, double vision, clumsiness, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, unusual weakness.
Pharmacokinetics
A study of single oral doses of 300 mg in healthy volunteers found that the zero-order absorption model fit the data best. Mean (+/- SD) values for the half-life (9.2 +/- 2.2 h), apparent clearance, (11.91 +/- 4.42 mL/h/kg) and apparent steady-state volume of distribution, (0.97 +/- 0.33 L/kg) were found.
A case report found that the pharmacokinetics of methyprylon were not concentration dependent in an overdose case; explanations included saturation or inhibition of metabolic pathways. The generally accepted half-life for a therapeutic dose was not found appropriate in intoxicated patients and would underestimate the time required to reach a safe concentration of the drug.