Diproqualone is a quinazolinone class GABAergic and is an analogue of

methaqualone Methaqualone is a hypnotic sedative. It was sold under the brand names Quaalude ( ) and Sopor among others, which contained 300 mg of methaqualone, and sold as a combination drug under the brand name Mandrax, which contained 250 mg me ...

developed in the late 1950s by a team at Nogentaise de Produits Chimique. It was marketed primarily in France and some other European countries. It has sedative,

anxiolytic An anxiolytic (; also antipanic or antianxiety agent) is a medication or other intervention that reduces anxiety. This effect is in contrast to anxiogenic agents which increase anxiety. Anxiolytic medications are used for the treatment of anxiet ...

antihistamine Antihistamines are drugs which treat allergic rhinitis, common cold, influenza, and other allergies. Typically, people take antihistamines as an inexpensive, generic (not patented) drug that can be bought without a prescription and provid ...

and analgesic properties, resulting from its agonist activity at the β subtype of the GABA_a receptor, antagonist activity at all

histamine receptor The histamine receptors are a class of G protein–coupled receptors which bind histamine as their primary endogenous ligand. There are four known histamine receptors: * H1 receptor * H2 receptor * H3 receptor * H4 receptor Comparison Ther ...

s, inhibition of the

cyclooxygenase-1 Cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1), also known as prostaglandin G/H synthase 1, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1 or prostaglandin H2 synthase 1, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''PTGS1'' gene. In humans it is one of two cyclooxygenases. ...

enzyme, and possibly its agonist activity at both the

sigma-1 receptor The sigma-1 receptor (σ1R), one of two sigma receptor subtypes, is a chaperone protein at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that modulates calcium signaling through the IP3 receptor. In humans, the σ1 receptor is encoded by the ''SIGMAR1'' gen ...

and

sigma-2 receptor The sigma-2 receptor (σ2R) is a sigma receptor subtype that has attracted attention due to its involvement in diseases such as cancer and neurological diseases. It is currently under investigation for its potential diagnostic and therapeutic use ...

(the function of these receptors and their clinical relevance has not yet been determined). Diproqualone is used primarily for the treatment of inflammatory pain associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and more rarely for treating insomnia, anxiety and neuralgia. Diproqualone is the only analogue of methaqualone that is still in widespread clinical use, due to its useful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in addition to the sedative and anxiolytic actions common to other drugs of this class. There are still some concerns about the potential of diproqualone for abuse and overdose, and so it is not sold as a pure drug but only as the camphosulfonate salt in combination mixtures with other medicines such as

ethenzamide Ethenzamide (2-ethoxybenzamide) is a common analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug that is used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains. It is also an ingredient in numerous cold medications and many prescription analge ...

References

Sedatives Analgesics Diols Quinazolinones GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators Lactams {{sedative-stub

See also

References