Etizolam

property	value
Common names	Etizolam, “Etilaam”, “Etizest”
Substitutive name	Etizolam
Systematic name	4-(2-Chlorophenyl)-2-ethyl-9-methyl-6H-thieno[3,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]diazepine
Psychoactive class	Depressant
Chemical class	Thienodiazepine

etizolam (also known as etilaam, etizest, and many others) is a novel depressant substance of the thienodiazepine class. etizolam is chemically related to benzodiazepines and acts by binding to gaba receptors in the brain.

etizolam is not commonly prescribed. it has been sold as a research chemical online and is commonly used as a substitute for pharmaceutical benzodiazepines like alprazolam (xanax) or diazepam (valium). etizolam is commonly found in pellet or pill form, laid on blotter paper, or as a pure powder.

subjective effects include anxiety suppression, disinhibition, muscle relaxation, sedation, and euphoria. etizolam is commonly administered orally and sublingually due to the high bioavailability of these routes.

users should note that that as with benzodiazepines, the sudden discontinuation of thienodiazepines can be dangerous or even life-threatening for long-term or heavy users. as a result, individuals who are physically dependent on this substance are advised to taper their dose by gradually lowering the amount taken each day over a prolonged period of time instead of stopping use abruptly.

due to its high abuse and addiction potential, it is highly advised to use proper harm reduction practices if using this substance.

history and culture

etizolam first appeared on the online research chemical market in 2011. since then its popularity has steadily increased. this likely owes itself to both its low cost and its abundance, and the highly dependence-forming and addictive nature that it shares with recreationally-used benzodiazepines.

etizolam differs from most other research chemicals in that it is approved and actively prescribed as a medical treatment for anxiety in many countries around the world, commonly under brand names like etilaam and etizest. its origins as a medical drug are unclear, although medical papers citing its use in the treatment of anxiety have been documented as early as the 1990s.

chemistry

etizolam is a structural relative of benzodiazepines, whereby the benzene ring has been replaced by a thiophene ring, classifying it as a thienodiazepine. thiophene is a five membered aromatic ring with one sulfur atom. etizolam contains a thiophene ring fused to a diazepine ring, which is a seven membered ring with the two nitrogen constituents located at r₁ and r₄. this forms the thienodiazepine core of etizolam. an ethyl chain is bound to this bicyclic structure at r₇. additionally, a r₂‘ chlorine-substituted phenyl ring is bound to this structure at r₅.

etizolam also contains a methylated triazole ring fused to and incorporating r₁ and r₂ of its diazepine ring. etizolam shares this fused triazole ring substitution with certain benzodiazepine drugs, called triazolobenzodiazepines, distinguished by the suffix “-zolam”.

pharmacology

thienodiazepines produce a variety of effects by binding to the benzodiazepine receptor site and magnifying the efficiency and effects of the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (gaba) by acting on its receptors. as this site is the most prolific inhibitory receptor set within the brain, its modulation results in the sedating (or calming effects) of etizolam on the nervous system.