Explore a selection of our essential drug information below, or:
Overview
- Description
- A medication that has been used to control convulsions.
- Description
- A medication that has been used to control convulsions.
- DrugBank ID
- DB09117
- Type
- Small Molecule
- Clinical Trials
- Phase 0
- 0
- Phase 1
- 0
- Phase 2
- 0
- Phase 3
- 1
- Phase 4
- 0
Identification
- Summary
Paraldehyde is a central nervous system depressant previously used to control convulsions due to various clinical causes, including tetanus, status epilepticus, and convulsive drugs.
- Generic Name
- Paraldehyde
- DrugBank Accession Number
- DB09117
- Background
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.
- Type
- Small Molecule
- Groups
- Approved, Investigational
- Structure
Structure for Paraldehyde (DB09117)
- Weight
- Average: 132.1577
Monoisotopic: 132.07864425 - Chemical Formula
- C6H12O3
- Synonyms
- Paraldehyde
Pharmacology
- Indication
Paraldehyde was used historically as a sedative and hypnotic 1. It has been used in the treatment of seizures as an anticonvulsant 2.
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Prevent Adverse Drug Events TodayTap into our Clinical API for life-saving information on contraindications & blackbox warnings, population restrictions, harmful risks, & more.Avoid life-threatening adverse drug events with our Clinical API- Pharmacodynamics
Paraldehyde blocks neuromuscular transmission 3.
- Mechanism of action
Paraldehyde is believed to reduce the release of acetylcholine in response to neuronal depolarization 3. The exact mechanism of this effect is unknown.
- Absorption
93% of orally administered paraldehyde is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
- Volume of distribution
Not Available
- Protein binding
Not Available
- Metabolism
Paraldehyde is believed to undergo depolymerization to acetaldehyde followed by oxidation by aldehyde dehydrogenase 4. It is thought to ultimately be metabolized to carbon dioxide and water.
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- Route of elimination
70-80% is metabolized to carbon dioxide and subsequently exhaled 4. 11-28% is exhaled as the parent compound. 0.1-2.5% is excreted in the urine as the parent compound.
- Half-life
The mean half life is 7.5 hours in a range if 3.5-9.5 hours 4.
- Clearance
Not Available
- Adverse Effects
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Paraldehyde overdosage can produce headache, nausea, drowsiness, unconsciousness, coma, severe hypotension, respiratory depression, pulmonary edema and hemorrhages, and right-side heart failure 4. 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 4:
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)
- Pathways
- Not Available
- Pharmacogenomic Effects/ADRs
- Not Available
Interactions
- Drug Interactions
- This information should not be interpreted without the help of a healthcare provider. If you believe you are experiencing an interaction, contact a healthcare provider immediately. The absence of an interaction does not necessarily mean no interactions exist.
Drug Interaction Integrate drug-drug
interactions in your software1,2-Benzodiazepine 1,2-Benzodiazepine may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Paraldehyde. Acetazolamide Acetazolamide may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Paraldehyde. Acetophenazine Acetophenazine may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Paraldehyde. Agomelatine Agomelatine may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Paraldehyde. Alfentanil Alfentanil may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Paraldehyde. - Food Interactions
- Not Available
Products
Drug product information from 10+ global regionsOur datasets provide approved product information including:dosage, form, labeller, route of administration, and marketing period.Access drug product information from over 10 global regions.- Brand Name Prescription Products
Name Dosage Strength Route Labeller Marketing Start Marketing End Region Image Paraldehyde Inj Bp 100% Liquid 100 % Intramuscular; Intravenous David Bull Laboratories (Pty) Ltd. 1991-12-31 1999-08-10 Canada 
Paraldehyde Injection BP Liquid 100 % Intramuscular; Intravenous Pharmascience Inc 1998-09-10 2013-03-14 Canada Paraldehyde Injection BP Liquid 100 % Intramuscular; Intravenous Omega Laboratories Ltd 2012-02-08 2015-12-11 Canada
Categories
- ATC Codes
- N05CC05 — Paraldehyde
- Drug Categories
- Chemical TaxonomyProvided by Classyfire
- Description
- This compound belongs to the class of organic compounds known as trioxanes. These are compounds containing a six-member aliphatic saturated heterocycle made up of three oxygen atoms and three carbon atoms.
- Kingdom
- Organic compounds
- Super Class
- Organoheterocyclic compounds
- Class
- Trioxanes
- Sub Class
- Not Available
- Direct Parent
- Trioxanes
- Alternative Parents
- Oxacyclic compounds / Acetals / Hydrocarbon derivatives
- Substituents
- 1,3,5-trioxane / Acetal / Aliphatic heteromonocyclic compound / Hydrocarbon derivative / Organic oxygen compound / Organooxygen compound / Oxacycle
- Molecular Framework
- Aliphatic heteromonocyclic compounds
- External Descriptors
- trioxane (CHEBI:27909)
- Affected organisms
- Not Available
Chemical Identifiers
- UNII
- S6M3YBG8QA
- CAS number
- 123-63-7
- InChI Key
- SQYNKIJPMDEDEG-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C6H12O3/c1-4-7-5(2)9-6(3)8-4/h4-6H,1-3H3
- IUPAC Name
- 2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3,5-trioxane
- SMILES
- CC1OC(C)OC(C)O1
References
- General References
- Lopez-Munoz F, Ucha-Udabe R, Alamo C: The history of barbiturates a century after their clinical introduction. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2005 Dec;1(4):329-43. [Article]
- Rowland AG, Gill AM, Stewart AB, Appleton RE, Al Kharusi A, Cramp C, Yeung LK: Review of the efficacy of rectal paraldehyde in the management of acute and prolonged tonic-clonic convulsions. Arch Dis Child. 2009 Sep;94(9):720-3. doi: 10.1136/adc.2009.157636. Epub 2009 Apr 8. [Article]
- NICHOLLS JG, QUILLIAM JP: The mechanism of action of paraldehyde and methylpentynol on neuromuscular transmission in the frog. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1956 Jun;11(2):151-5. [Article]
- Von Burg R, Stout T: Paraldehyde. J Appl Toxicol. 1991 Oct;11(5):379-81. [Article]
- External Links
- Human Metabolome Database
- HMDB0032456
- KEGG Compound
- C07834
- PubChem Compound
- 31264
- PubChem Substance
- 310265034
- ChemSpider
- 21106173
- 7909
- ChEBI
- 27909
- ChEMBL
- CHEMBL1410743
- ZINC
- ZINC000000001886
- Wikipedia
- Paraldehyde
- MSDS
- Download (89.6 KB)
Clinical Trials
- Clinical Trials
Clinical Trial & Rare Diseases Add-on Data Package
Explore 4,000+ rare diseases, orphan drugs & condition pairs, clinical trial why stopped data, & more. Preview package Phase Status Purpose Conditions Count Start Date Why Stopped 100+ additional columns Unlock 175K+ rows when you subscribe.View sample data3 Completed Treatment Convulsions / Status Epilepticus 1 somestatus stop reason just information to hide
Pharmacoeconomics
- Manufacturers
- Not Available
- Packagers
- Not Available
- Dosage Forms
Form Route Strength Liquid Intramuscular; Intravenous 100 % Injection Intramuscular 5 ml/ampoule - Prices
- Not Available
- Patents
- Not Available
Properties
- State
- Liquid
- Experimental Properties
Property Value Source melting point (°C) 12 Von Burg R, Stout T: Paraldehyde. J Appl Toxicol. 1991 Oct;11(5):379-81. boiling point (°C) 124 Von Burg R, Stout T: Paraldehyde. J Appl Toxicol. 1991 Oct;11(5):379-81. water solubility 125g/L Von Burg R, Stout T: Paraldehyde. J Appl Toxicol. 1991 Oct;11(5):379-81. logP 0.73 MSDS - Predicted Properties
Property Value Source Water Solubility 177.0 mg/mL ALOGPS logP 0.33 ALOGPS logP 0.88 Chemaxon logS 0.13 ALOGPS pKa (Strongest Basic) -4 Chemaxon Physiological Charge 0 Chemaxon Hydrogen Acceptor Count 3 Chemaxon Hydrogen Donor Count 0 Chemaxon Polar Surface Area 27.69 Å2 Chemaxon Rotatable Bond Count 0 Chemaxon Refractivity 32.09 m3·mol-1 Chemaxon Polarizability 14.15 Å3 Chemaxon Number of Rings 1 Chemaxon Bioavailability 1 Chemaxon Rule of Five Yes Chemaxon Ghose Filter No Chemaxon Veber's Rule Yes Chemaxon MDDR-like Rule No Chemaxon - Predicted ADMET Features
- Not Available
Spectra
- Mass Spec (NIST)
- Not Available
- Spectra
- Chromatographic Properties
Collision Cross Sections (CCS)
Adduct CCS Value (Å2) Source type Source [M-H]- 123.1496839 predictedDarkChem Lite v0.1.0 [M-H]- 123.2373839 predictedDarkChem Lite v0.1.0 [M-H]- 123.3440839 predictedDarkChem Lite v0.1.0 [M-H]- 134.61684 predictedDeepCCS 1.0 (2019) [M+H]+ 123.5808839 predictedDarkChem Lite v0.1.0 [M+H]+ 123.8448839 predictedDarkChem Lite v0.1.0 [M+H]+ 123.6263839 predictedDarkChem Lite v0.1.0 [M+H]+ 137.01685 predictedDeepCCS 1.0 (2019) [M+Na]+ 123.5002839 predictedDarkChem Lite v0.1.0 [M+Na]+ 123.4049839 predictedDarkChem Lite v0.1.0 [M+Na]+ 146.01756 predictedDeepCCS 1.0 (2019)
Enzymes
- Kind
- Protein
- Organism
- Humans
- Pharmacological action
- No
- Actions
- Substrate
- General Function
- Required for clearance of cellular formaldehyde, a cytotoxic and carcinogenic metabolite that induces DNA damage
- Specific Function
- aldehyde dehydrogenase (NAD+) activity
- Gene Name
- ALDH2
- Uniprot ID
- P05091
- Uniprot Name
- Aldehyde dehydrogenase, mitochondrial
- Molecular Weight
- 56380.93 Da
References
- Von Burg R, Stout T: Paraldehyde. J Appl Toxicol. 1991 Oct;11(5):379-81. [Article]
Drug created at September 22, 2015 19:31 / Updated at November 02, 2023 14:41