Zaleplon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Zaleplon
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| Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
| N-[3-(7-cyano-1,5,9-triazabicyclo[4.3.0]nona- 2,4,6,8-tetraen-2-yl)phenyl]-N-ethyl-acetamide |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| ATC code | N05 |
| PubChem | |
| DrugBank | |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | C17H15N5O |
| Mol. mass | 305.34 |
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | 30% (oral) |
| Metabolism | Hepatic |
| Half life | 1 hour |
| Excretion | Renal |
| Therapeutic considerations | |
| Pregnancy cat. |
C (USA) |
| Legal status |
Schedule IV (US) |
| Routes | Oral |
Zaleplon (marketed under the brand names Sonata® and Starnoc®) is a sedative/hypnotic, mainly used for insomnia. It is a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic from the pyrazolopyrimidine class.
[edit] Chemistry
Zaleplon is a white to off-white powder that has very low solubility in water as well as low solubility in alcohol and propylene glycol. It has a partition coefficient in octanol/water is constant (log PC = 1.23) when the pH range is between 1 and 7.
[edit] Mode of action
Taken orally, Zaleplon reaches full concentration in approximately one hour. It is extensively metabolised, into 5-oxo-zaleplon and 5-oxo-desethylzaleplon (the latter via desethylzaleplon), with less than 1% of it excreted intact in urine.
Zaleplon interacts with the GABA receptor complex and shares some of the pharmacological properties of the benzodiazepines. Although not a benzodiazepine, Zaleplon can cause similar effects: anterograde amnesia (forgetting the period during the effects) as the most common.
Zaleplon is primarily metabolised by aldehyde oxidase, and its half-life can be affected by substances which inhibit or induce aldehyde oxidase.
[edit] Side-effects
Zaleplon may cause hallucinations, abnormal behavior, severe confusion, day-time drowsiness, dizziness or lightheadedness, unsteadiness and/or falls, double vision or other vision problems, agitation, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain, depression, muscle weakness, tremor, vivid or abnormal dreams and memory difficulties or amnesia.
Zaleplon is habit-forming, meaning addiction may occur. Stopping this medication suddenly after prolonged or frequent use may cause withdrawal effects such as mood changes, anxiety, and restlessness.
