ABSTRACT
This chapter describes trade name, classification, approved indications for psychological disorders, available dosage forms, storage, and compatibility, usual dosage and administration, relative contraindications, and clinically significant drug interactions of ethchlorvynol. Ethchlorvynol overdosage requires emergency symptomatic medical support of body systems with attention to increasing ethchlorvynol elimination. Ethchlorvynol pharmacotherapy has been generally associated with gastrointestinal complaints. Concurrent alcohol use may increase the CNS depressant action of ethchlorvynol. Advise patients to avoid, or limit, their use of alcohol while receiving ethchlorvynol pharmacotherapy. Abrupt discontinuation of long-term ethchlorvynol pharmacotherapy, or regular personal use, may result in the ethchlorvynol withdrawal syndrome. This withdrawal syndrome is characterized by signs and symptoms similar to those associated with the alcohol and barbiturate withdrawal syndromes. Abrupt discontinuation of ethchlorvynol pharmacotherapy consisting of dosages as low as 1,000 mg daily has been associated with a severe ethchlorvynol withdrawal syndrome, including convulsions and delirium. Ethchlorvynol reportedly decreases the prothrombin time response among patients receiving oral anticoagulants.
