Paraldehyde
Paraldehyde Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.
Paraldehyde was initially introduced into medical practice in the United Kingdom in 1882 by the Italian physician Vincenzo Cervello. It is classified as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and has also been found to be an effective anticonvulsant, hypnotic and sedative agent due to its CNS depressant properties. Paraldehyde is used as an ingredient in some cough medicines as an expectorant, but its efficacy for this indication has not been confirmed and its use as an expectorant may possibly be due to a placebo effect.
Paraldehyde blocks neuromuscular transmission .
| Trade Name | Paraldehyde |
| Availability | Prescription only |
| Generic | Paraldehyde |
| Paraldehyde Other Names | Paraldehyde |
| Type | |
| Formula | C6H12O3 |
| Weight | Average: 132.1577 Monoisotopic: 132.07864425 |
| Groups | Approved, Investigational |
| Therapeutic Class | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Available Country | United States |
| Last Updated: | September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am |
Uses
Paraldehyde is a central nervous system depressant previously used to control convulsions due to various clinical causes, including tetanus, status epilepticus, and convulsive drugs.
Paraldehyde was used historically as a sedative and hypnotic . It has been used in the treatment of seizures as an anticonvulsant .
How Paraldehyde works
Paraldehyde is believed to reduce the release of acetylcholine in response to neuronal depolarization . The exact mechanism of this effect is unknown.
Toxicity
Paraldehyde overdosage can produce headache, nausea, drowsiness, unconsciousness, coma, severe hypotension, respiratory depression, pulmonary edema and hemorrhages, and right-side heart failure . Inhalation of paraldehyde can produce sore throat, headache, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness and unconsciousness but exposure via this route is rare. Chronic use is dependence forming and withdrawal proceeds similarly to ethanol withdrawal producing hallucinations and convulsions. Toxic hepatitis and nephritis have been observed during chronic use.
The acute LD50 values determined for various species are as follows :
Rabbit - 3.3-5 g/kg (oral) Rat - 1.5-1.65 g/kg (oral), 1.3-1.45 g/kg (i.p.) Dog - 3-4 g/kg (oral) Mouse - 2.75 (oral) Cat - 3.3 (oral)
Food Interaction
[Moderate] GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents.
Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and
MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving CNS-active agents should be warned of this interaction and advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol.
Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.
Elimination Route
93% of orally administered paraldehyde is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
Half Life
The mean half life is 7.5 hours in a range if 3.5-9.5 hours .
Elimination Route
70-80% is metabolized to carbon dioxide and subsequently exhaled . 11-28% is exhaled as the parent compound. 0.1-2.5% is excreted in the urine as the parent compound.
Innovators Monograph
You find simplified version here Paraldehyde
