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Is Glutethimide Advisable For Insomnia?
Do doctors ever prescribe glutethimide for insomnia? If so, does it have to be dispensed at a compounding pharm? I ask because I m too tolerant on z-drugs and antihistamines, benzos usually work, but I ve gotten into trouble in the past by staying on them for several years. My insomnia is super-stubborn, and I ve had it for most of my 45 years. My ideal management strategy; if possible, would be to take a different class of hypnotic pharm 2x/week, so that I wouldn t be physically dependent on any one particular med.
Mon, 23 Mar 2020
Hi,
For safety reasons it is not advisable for insomnia. Glutethimide is a hypnotic-sedative and has been used for the short-term treatment of insomnia however, because of its side effects like dry mouth, constipation, retention of urine, increased heart beats and addiction (abuse potential, withdrawal symptoms, delirium, hallucination, convulsions and fever it is no longer used.
It has been replaced by safer and more effective sedative-hypnotic like benzodiazepines, z-drugs or antihistamines. I would recommend you a new hypnotics such as buspirone or ramelteon for the treatment of insomnia. These drugs are less likely to cause those side effects as seen with glutethimide.
Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Mohammed Taher Ali, General & Family Physician
For safety reasons it is not advisable for insomnia. Glutethimide is a hypnotic-sedative and has been used for the short-term treatment of insomnia however, because of its side effects like dry mouth, constipation, retention of urine, increased heart beats and addiction (abuse potential, withdrawal symptoms, delirium, hallucination, convulsions and fever it is no longer used.
It has been replaced by safer and more effective sedative-hypnotic like benzodiazepines, z-drugs or antihistamines. I would recommend you a new hypnotics such as buspirone or ramelteon for the treatment of insomnia. These drugs are less likely to cause those side effects as seen with glutethimide.
Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Mohammed Taher Ali, General & Family Physician
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