Current Scheduling Status
None
Year(s) and type of review / ECDD meetings
Drug Class
Recommendation (from TRS)
Substance identification
Methitural (INN, CAS-467-43-6), chemically 5-(1-methylbutyl)-5-[2-(methylthio)ethyl)]-2-thiobarbituric acid, is also knownas methioturiate. It is a racemic mixture.
Similarity to known substances and effects on the CNS
Methitural has been classified pharmacologically as an ultrashort acting barbiturate used as an intravenous anaesthetic agent. Barbiturates of this type have not been scheduled. Dose-related drowsiness, vertigo, confusion, and incoordination do occur. The drug, like other barbiturates, is metabolized by hepatic microsomal enzymes and stimulates the production of these enzymes. Like the other short-acting barbiturates, methitural produces a dose-related depression of the central nervous system, ranging from mild sedation to general anaesthesia and coma. Tolerance, both natural and functional, can occur. Cross-tolerance may occur to other barbiturates, ethanol, and other sedative-hypnotic drugs.
Dependence potential
There is no. information on the-ability of methitural to induce physical or psychic dependence in animals or in man in controlledlaboratory studies.
Actual abuse and or/evidence of likelihood of abuse
No cases of abuse, seizures, or clandestine production have beenreported. It is under national control .in five countries.
Therapeutic usefulness
Methitural has been used as an intravenous anaesthetic agent. It is produced and/or marketed only in the Federal. Republic of Germany. The Committee rated its usefulness as an intravenous anaesthetic agent as high.
Recommendation
The Committee found that there was insufficient evidence that
methitural is being, or is likely to be, abused so as to constitute a
public health and social problem warranting the placing of the
substance under international: control.
On the basis of the limited data concerning its pharmacological profile, dependence potential, and low actual abuse, the Committee rated the likelihood of abuse of methitural as low. The degree of the public health and social problems associated with the drug was found to be low and its therapeutic usefulness probably high. In the light of this assessment, the Committee recommended against scheduling of the drug.
Methitural (INN, CAS-467-43-6), chemically 5-(1-methylbutyl)-5-[2-(methylthio)ethyl)]-2-thiobarbituric acid, is also knownas methioturiate. It is a racemic mixture.
Similarity to known substances and effects on the CNS
Methitural has been classified pharmacologically as an ultrashort acting barbiturate used as an intravenous anaesthetic agent. Barbiturates of this type have not been scheduled. Dose-related drowsiness, vertigo, confusion, and incoordination do occur. The drug, like other barbiturates, is metabolized by hepatic microsomal enzymes and stimulates the production of these enzymes. Like the other short-acting barbiturates, methitural produces a dose-related depression of the central nervous system, ranging from mild sedation to general anaesthesia and coma. Tolerance, both natural and functional, can occur. Cross-tolerance may occur to other barbiturates, ethanol, and other sedative-hypnotic drugs.
Dependence potential
There is no. information on the-ability of methitural to induce physical or psychic dependence in animals or in man in controlledlaboratory studies.
Actual abuse and or/evidence of likelihood of abuse
No cases of abuse, seizures, or clandestine production have beenreported. It is under national control .in five countries.
Therapeutic usefulness
Methitural has been used as an intravenous anaesthetic agent. It is produced and/or marketed only in the Federal. Republic of Germany. The Committee rated its usefulness as an intravenous anaesthetic agent as high.
Recommendation
The Committee found that there was insufficient evidence that
methitural is being, or is likely to be, abused so as to constitute a
public health and social problem warranting the placing of the
substance under international: control.
On the basis of the limited data concerning its pharmacological profile, dependence potential, and low actual abuse, the Committee rated the likelihood of abuse of methitural as low. The degree of the public health and social problems associated with the drug was found to be low and its therapeutic usefulness probably high. In the light of this assessment, the Committee recommended against scheduling of the drug.
ECDD Recommendation
Scheduling/control not currently recommended
Link to full TRS
who_trs_741.pdf2.21 MB