Phenazepam

Effects

AnxiolyticSedativeMuscle RelaxantAmnesiaDystaxiaHypnotic TS

Overview

A very long acting, potent and subtle benzodiazepine. Infamous for the calamitous experiences it tends to produce in people dosing unknown amounts. Prescribed in certain countries for epilepsy and alcohol withdrawal. TS

Phenazepam (also known in Russia as bromdihydrochlorphenylbenzodiazepine) is a benzodiazepine drug, first developed in the Soviet Union in 1975, and now produced in Russia and several other countries.[1] WP

Phenazepam is used in the treatment of various mental disorders such schizophrenia and anxiety. It can be used as a premedication before surgery as it augments the effects of anesthetics. In 2009, phenazepam has gained popularity as a recreational drug; misuse has been reported in the United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, and the United States.[2–7] WP⚠ Wikipedia itself has flagged this text: citation needed.

History

Legal status

China

As of October 2015, phenazepam is a controlled substance in China.[8] WP

United states

Under federal United States law, phenazepam is not currently classified as a controlled substance, as the Federal Analog Act only provides for automatic assumed classification of chemicals "substantially similar" to existing Schedule I or Schedule II drugs, whereas all controlled benzodiazepines under the Controlled Substances Act are classified as Schedule IV. Although phenazepam is currently not controlled, sale for human use remains illegal in the United States. Suppliers attempt to circumvent this regulation by placing a "Not for human use" disclaimer on the product's label.[9] WP

Individual states in the United States often ban these analog drugs by name as they appear. Since 2012, Louisiana has classified phenazepam as a controlled dangerous substance. This ban affects several products, some of which were sold at retail stores under the guise of air freshener or similar, containing phenazepam yet claiming not to be for human use. This legislation was introduced after one such product, branded as "Zannie" and marketed as an air freshener rapidly gained publicity as the subject of numerous media reports, attracting the attention of officials. The ensuing investigation effort, led by Senator Fred Mills and Louisiana Poison Center Director Mark Ryan, positively identified the active ingredient of "Zannie" as phenazepam. According to Ryan, chemical analysis identified the active ingredient as "100 percent phenazepam".[10][11] WP

Paul Halverson, director and state health officer for the Arkansas Department of Health, approved an emergency rule to ban the sale and distribution of phenazepam shortly after the Louisiana ban. WP

Alabama made phenazepam a Schedule I substance on March 18, 2014.[12] WP

United kingdom

Phenazepam is a class C drug in the UK.[13] WP

The UK Home Office banned importation of phenazepam on Friday 22 July 2011 while it drafted legislation, released in January 2012 to become law at the end of March 2012. The bill was quashed following advice from the ACMD as it included two non-abusable steroids. There was a new discussion about its fate on April 23, 2012, where it was decided that the bill would be rewritten and phenazepam would still be banned.[14–18] WP

It was eventually banned on June 13, 2012 as a class C, schedule II drug.[19] WP

Elsewhere

Phenazepam was classified as a narcotic in Finland in July 2014.[20] WP

Phenazepam is considered a narcotic in Norway, as per a March 23, 2010 Health Department addition to the Regular Narcotic List. WP⚠ Wikipedia itself has flagged this text: citation needed.

In Russia, phenazepam is a controlled substance since March 22, 2021.[21] WP

In Estonia, phenazepam is a Schedule IV substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Schedule IV is the lowest classification of psychoactive substances in Estonia. It includes prescribable drugs, including other benzodiazepines. WP⚠ Wikipedia itself has flagged this text: citation needed.

Un single convention on narcotic drugs

On 8 March 2016 at its 59th Session, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) added Phenazepam to relevant schedules of the Convention on Psychtropic Substances of 1971.[22] WP

Trade names

RU: WP

• «Феназепам» (Phenazepam) tablets 0.5, 1 and 2.5 mg, solution for intramuscular and intravenous injection 1 mg/mL (0.1%) WP
• «Элзепам» (Elzepam) tablets 0.5 and 1 mg, solution for intramuscular and intravenous injection 1 mg/mL (0.1%) WP
• «Фензитат» (Phenzitat) tablets 0.5 and 1 mg WP
• «Фенорелаксан» (Phenorelaxan) tablets 0.5 and 1 mg, solution for intramuscular and intravenous injection 1 mg/mL (0.1%) WP
• «Транквезипам» (Trankvezipam) tablets 0.5 and 1 mg, solution for intramuscular and intravenous injection 1 mg/mL (0.1%) WP
• «Фезипам» (Phezipam) tablets 0.5 and 1 mg (not to be confused with «Фезам» (Phezam) which contains cinnarizine/piracetam) WP
• «Фезанеф» (Phezanef) tablets 1 mg[23] WP

Pharmacology

Detection in biological fluids

Phenazepam may be measured in blood or plasma by chromatographic methods. Blood phenazepam concentrations are typically less than 30 μg/L during therapeutic usage, but have frequently been in the 100–600 μg/L range in automotive vehicle operators arrested for impaired driving ability.[24] WP

Chemistry

Formula

C15H10BrClN2O PC

CAS number

51753-57-2 PC

Molar mass (g/mol)

349.61 PC

IUPAC name (computed by PubChem)

7-bromo-5-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one PC

SMILES

C1C(=O)NC2=C(C=C(C=C2)Br)C(=N1)C3=CC=CC=C3Cl PC

InChIKey

CGMJQQJSWIRRRL-UHFFFAOYSA-N PC

PubChem CID

40113

IUPAC name

7-Bromo-5-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one WP

Pop culture

No references added yet.

References

1. Journal / agency World Health Organization
2. Other Something happened
3. Journal / agency Corkery JM, Schifano F, Ghodse AH. Phenazepam. Human Psychopharmacology. May 2012. doi:10.1002/hup.2222 · PMID 22407587
4. Journal / agency Kriikku P, Wilhelm L, Rintatalo J, Hurme J, Kramer J, Ojanperä I. Phenazepam abuse in Finland: Findings from apprehended drivers, post-mortem cases and police confiscations. Forensic Science International. July 2012. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.02.006 · PMID 22391477
5. Journal / agency Mrozkowska J, Vinge E, Borna C. Abuse of phenazepam--new phenomenon in Sweden. Benzodiazepine derivative from Russia caused severe intoxication. Läkartidningen. 2009. PMID 19350785
6. Journal / agency Maskell PD, De Paoli G, Nitin Seetohul L, Pounder DJ. Phenazepam: the drug that came in from the cold. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. April 2012. doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2011.12.014 · PMID 22390996
7. Journal / agency Manchester KR, Waters L, Haider S, Maskell PD. The blood-to-plasma ratio and predicted GABAA-binding affinity of designer benzodiazepines. Forensic Toxicology. July 2022. doi:10.1007/s11419-022-00616-y · PMID 36454409 · PMC9715504
8. Journal / agency 关于印发《非药用类麻醉药品和精神药品列管办法》的通知. 27 September 2015
9. Other New York Nurse Sentenced for Selling Unapproved "Party Drug" Phenazepam on the Internet. October 10, 2012
10. Other Bill to Ban Zannie Passes. 2012-05-21
11. Other 'Air Freshener' Contains Potentially Deadly Contolled [sic] Drug. 2 March 2012
12. Other Controlled Substances List - Adopted by Alabama State Board of Health
13. Harm reduction site PHENAZEPAM
14. Other Phenazepam / Home Office. 2012-04-12
15. Other The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2012. 2012-01-27
16. Other Letter from Lord Henly to the ACMD. 2012-01-27
17. Other ACMD letter on further advice on the classification of two steroidal substances - February 2012. 2012-02-14
18. Other Draft Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2012. 2012-04-23
19. Other A Change to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: control of pipradrol-related compounds and phenazepam. 7 Jun 2012
20. Other Valtioneuvoston asetus huumausaineina pidettävistä aineista, valmisteista ja kasveista annetun valtioneuvoston asetuksen liitteen IV muuttamisesta
21. Other Постановление Правительства Российской Федерации от 18.09.2020 № 1495 "О внесении изменений в некоторые акты Правительства Российской Федерации"
22. Harm reduction site Seven substances "scheduled" at the 59th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs
23. Other State Register of Medicines: Bromdihydrofluorobenzodiazepine. Prescribing Information Lists
24. Other Baselt R. Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man. 2011

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