flurothyl

Flurothyl is a volatile liquid drug from the halogenated ether family, structurally related to inhaled anesthetic agents such as diethyl ether. Unlike its anesthetic relatives, flurothyl acts as a potent central nervous system stimulant and convulsant. Its primary mechanism of action is antagonism of neuronal gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA_A) receptors, leading to inhibition of GABA-mediated inhibitory neurotransmission and resulting in increased neuronal excitability and seizures. Flurothyl was formerly used clinically by inhalation to induce convulsive seizures for the treatment of certain psychiatric illnesses as an alternative to electroconvulsive therapy but is now primarily used in experimental animal models for seizure research[1][2][5][6]. At high concentrations, it may possess general anesthetic properties that are masked by its more potent convulsant effects[1][8].

Brand names

Indoklon

Other names

flurotylhexafluorodiethyl ether