ethinamate

Ethinamate is a short-acting sedative-hypnotic medication of the carbamate class used for the short-term treatment of insomnia. It acts as a central nervous system depressant and shares many effects with barbiturates, though its structure is distinct and its depressant effects are generally milder. Ethinamate has a rapid onset of action when taken orally and a short elimination half-life (about 2.5 hours), making it suitable for sleep induction but not for long-term use due to rapid development of tolerance—typically losing effectiveness after about one week. The precise mechanism of action is unknown; while ethinamate has been shown to inhibit carbonic anhydrases I and II in vitro, this effect does not appear strong enough to explain its clinical activity as a hypnotic[1][2][3][4][8]. Developed in the early 1950s, it was marketed under several brand names but has largely been replaced by safer or more effective alternatives.

Brand names

ValmidValaminValaminateValaminetta

Other names

1-ethynylcyclohexanone carbamate