DL-Glutethimide

Absorption

Variable

Toxicity

In adults, death has been reported after 5 g. The usual lethal dose is 10 to 20g, although survival after a dose of 28 g has been reported.

Chemical properties

White, crystalline powder.Saturated solution is slightly acid. Freely soluble in acetone, ethyl acetate, and chloroform; soluble in ethanol and methanol; practically insoluble in water.

Originator

Doriden,U.S.V.,US,1955

The Uses of DL-Glutethimide

Sedative-hypnotic.

Indications

For the treatment of insomnia.

Background

Glutethimide is a hypnotic and sedative. Its use has been largely superseded by other drugs.

Definition

ChEBI: Glutethimide is a member of piperidines.

Manufacturing Process

The 2-phenyl-2-ethyl-pentane-1,5-diacid-mononitrile-(1) of melting point 72° to 76°C, used as starting material in this process, can be produced for example from α-phenyl-butyric acid nitrile by condensation with acrylic acid methyl ester and subsequent hydrolysis of the thus-obtained 2-phenyl-2- ethyl-pentane-1,5-diacid-monomethyl ester-mononitrile-(1) of boiling point 176° to 185°C under 12 mm pressure.
140 parts by weight of 2-phenyl-2-ethyl-pentane-1,5-diacid-mononitrile-(1) are dissolved in 200 parts by volume of glacial acetic acid and, at an initial temperature of 60°C, 100 parts by volume of concentrated sulfuric acid added in portions. In this operation the temperature of the reaction mixture rises to 100°C. The whole is finally maintained for a short time on the boiling water bath, then cooled and poured on ice and neutralized with alkali to a pH of 6. Extraction with chloroform is then effected and the chloroform extract washed with dilute caustic soda solution, dried over calcium chloride, the chloroform evaporated and the residue crystallized from ethyl acetate with addition of ligroin. The obtained 3-phenyl-3-ethyl-2,6-dioxo-piperidine melts at 78° to 81°C.

brand name

C "5";Doridene;Doriden-sed;Doridine;Dorimide;Elrodorm;Gludorm;Sarodormin;Somid;Tardyl.

Therapeutic Function

Sedative, Hypnotic

World Health Organization (WHO)

Glutethimide, a piperidine derivative, was introduced in 1955 for use as a sedative-hypnotic drug. Its addiction liability and severity of withdrawal symptoms are equal to those of the barbiturates and it is controlled under Schedule III of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. (Reference: (UNCPS3) United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances (III), , , 1971)

General Description

Glutethimide, 2-ethyl-2-phenylglutarimide(Doriden), is one of the most active nonbarbituratehypnotics that is structurally similar to the barbiturates,especially phenobarbital. Because of glutethimide’s lowaqueous solubility, its dissolution and absorption from theGI track is somewhat erratic. Consistent with its highlipophilicity, it undergoes extensive oxidative metabolismin the liver with a half-life of approximately 10 hours.Glutethimide is used as a racemic mixture with the (+)enantiomer being primarily metabolized on the glutarimidering and the (—) enantiomer on the phenyl ring. The productof metabolic detoxification is excreted after conjugationwith glucuronic acid at the hydroxyl group. The drug is anenzyme inducer. In the therapeutic dosage range, adverse effectstend to be infrequent. Toxic effects in overdose are assevere as, and possibly more troublesome than, those of thebarbiturates.

Hazard

Manufacture and use controlled by law.

Pharmacokinetics

Glutethimide, like the barbiturates, is a hypnotic sedative. It was introduced in 1954 as a safer alternative to barbiturates but was soon determined to be just as likely to cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms.

Safety Profile

Poison by ingestion and intraperitoneal routes. Human systemic effects by ingestion: pupillary dilation, ataxia, somnolence, coma, and blood pressure depression. An experimental teratogen. Other experimental reproductive effects. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx. Caution: May be habit forming. This is a controlled substance (depressant) listed in the US. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 Part 1308.13 (1985)

Metabolism

Hepatic. Glutethimide is almost completely metabolized.

Purification Methods

Crystallise glutethimide from diethyl ether or ethyl acetate/pet ether. It has m 91-92o (from aqueous EtOH), 87-87.5o (from Et2O/pet ether), 84-87o (from isopropanol), and 83-84o (from Et2O). [Penprase & Biles J Am Pharm Assoc 47 523 1958, Hofmann et al. Helv Chim Acta 40 387, 393 1957, Beilstein 21 III/IV 5493.] The R(+)-enantomer crystallises from EtOAc/pet ether with m 103-104o, and [ ] 20+184o (c 1,