Chlorzoxazone

Chlorzoxazone
Systematic (IUPAC) name
5-chloro-3H-benzooxazol-2-one
Clinical data
Trade names Parafonforte
AHFS/Drugs.com monograph
MedlinePlus a682577
oral
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability well absorbed
Protein binding 13–18%
Metabolism hepatic
Half-life 1.1 hr
Excretion urine (<1%)
Identifiers
95-25-0 Yes
M03BB03
PubChem CID 2733
IUPHAR ligand 2322
DrugBank DB00356 Yes
ChemSpider 2632 Yes
UNII H0DE420U8G Yes
KEGG D00771 Yes
ChEBI CHEBI:3655 Yes
ChEMBL CHEMBL1371 Yes
Chemical data
Formula C7H4ClNO2
169.565 g/mol
 Yes (what is this?)  (verify)

Chlorzoxazone (Paraflex) is a centrally acting muscle relaxant used to treat muscle spasm and the resulting pain or discomfort. It acts on the spinal cord by depressing reflexes. It is sold as Muscol or Parafon Forte, a combination of chlorzoxazone and acetaminophen (Paracetamol). Possible side effects include dizziness, lightheadedness, malaise, nausea, vomiting, and liver dysfunction. Used with acetaminophen it has added risk of hepatoxicity, which is why the combination is not recommended. It can also be administered for acute pain in general and for tension headache (muscle contraction headache).

Synthesis

Chlorzoxazone synthesis: Mcneilab Inc, David F Marsh. U.S. Patent 2,895,877

Chlorzoxazone, 5-chloro-2-benzoxazolione, is synthesized by a hetercyclization reaction of 2-amino-4-chlorophenol with phosgene.

References