Estazolam

Estazolam (marketed under the brand names ProSom, Eurodin) is a drug which is a skeletal muscle relaxant properties. Estazolam is an intermediate-acting oral benzodiazepine.

It is commonly prescribed for short-term treatment of insomnia.

Pharmacology

Estazolam is classed as a "triazolo" benzodiazepine drug.^[1] An animal study demonstrated that estazolam induces a drowsy pattern of spontaneous EEG including high voltage slow waves and spindle bursts increase in the cortex and amygdala, while the hippocampal theta rhythm is desynchronized. Also low voltage fast waves occur particularly in the cortical EEG. The EEG arousal response to auditory stimulation and to electric stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation, posterior hypothalamus and centromedian thalamus is significantly suppressed. The photic driving response elicited by a flash light in the visual cortex is significantly suppressed by estazolam.^[2] Estazolam at high doses decreases histamine turnover via it's action at the benzodiazepine-GABA receptor complex.^[3]

Estazolam and other oxazolam) decrease the inhibitory potency.^[4]

Abuse

Estazolam became notorious in 1998 when a large amount of a 'herbal sleeping mix' called Sleeping Buddha was recalled from the shelves after the FDA descovered that it contained estazolam (as well as some heavy metal salts).^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Benzodiazepines
• Brotizolam
• Midazolam
• Triazolam

References