What is Etifoxine? (Benefits & Side Effects)
Etifoxine (Etafenoxine or Stresam) is an anxiolytic and anticonvulsant drug that was developed in Germany and first marketed in the 60s. It is approved for treating generalized anxiety disorder and managing seizures.
Etifoxine belongs to a class of drugs called phenylalkylamines, which are mainly used as antidepressants, but which also function as anxiolytics and anticonvulsants. Etifoxine is closely related to the antidepressant drug Mianserin, with both being part of the same chemical class.
Etifoxine and Mianserin are both thought to increase the amount of serotonin (i.e. Serotonin Antagonist or SSRI) and norepinephrine (i.e. Noradrenergic Antagonist or NDRI) neurotransmitters in the brain, which, if depleted, can cause depression and anxiety symptoms.
Etifoxine is a serotonin antagonist drug that works by blocking the 5HT3 receptors found in the brain which is what is responsible for stimulating most of the effects of serotonin. As such, Etifoxine has mainly anxiolytic and antidepressant properties and can be used to treat mood disorders.
How does Etifoxine work?
Etifoxine belongs to a family of drugs called phenylalkylamines. This class shares many of the same properties, so we know that Etifoxine will likely share similar effects with other drugs in its class.
The phenylalkylamines are mainly used as antidepressants (i.e. Phenelzine), but they are also effective as anti-anxiety medications (i.e. Mianserin). They are also a class of drugs used to treat seizures (i.e. Phenytoin).
The exact mechanism of action that Etifoxine works through is not fully understood; however, it is thought to work similarly to other serotonin antagonists.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that acts as a modulator in the central nervous system by controlling communication between nerve cells in various areas of the brain. It also directly controls various physical and psychological processes, such as mood, appetite and sexual activity.
Serotonin antagonists work by blocking the serotonin receptors found in the brain which is what causes most of the effects.
Serotonin antagonists are mainly used to treat depression and anxiety by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain (i.e. Serotonin Antagonist or SSRI).
Etifoxine is a serotonin antagonist that works by blocking the 5HT3 receptors found in the brain which is what is responsible for stimulating most of the effects of serotonin.
As it blocks these receptors, Etifoxine will act as an anxiolytic and antidepressant drug by increasing serotonin activity in the brain, thereby causing a reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms.
What are some benefits & side effects of Etifoxine?
Etifoxine is a relatively new anxiolytic drug with only a handful of clinical studies available. As such, most of the information available is anecdotal or presented by the manufacturers.
Some of the benefits of Etifoxine that have been reported by users include an improvement in quality of sleep, mood enhancement and improvement in symptoms of anxiety.
Etifoxine is widely considered to be a relaxing and calming drug with properties similar to benzodiazepines like Valium.
As it is also an antidepressant, some users have also reported significant improvements in their overall mood as well as an increase in motivation and energy levels.
Users have also reported the relaxation effects of Etifoxine to be significantly longer lasting than those drugs in its class like buspirone or diazepam, with most users reporting effects lasting anywhere between 12-24 hours.
There have also been no reported cases of withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing Etifoxine, however, as it is a CNS depressant, users should also be aware that this drug should not be used in conjunction with other CNS depressants or alcohol.
Other side effects of Etifoxine include nausea and headaches. Withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue and irritability may also occur if the drug is stopped suddenly.
Where can I get more information about Etifoxine?
Etifoxine is not approved by the FDA for use in the U.S., so there is not an official prescribing information sheet available.
Nonetheless, we have found some useful information about Etifoxine from the internet.
We recommend reading through our reviews and other content on Etifoxine as it will give you a good idea of what this drug is supposed to do, but please note that this is not an endorsement and any information provided should be used at your own risk:
In Summary
Etifoxine is a serotonin antagonist and anxiolytic drug derived from the phenylalkylamine class of drugs.
It acts as a benzodiazepine like Valium and is a racemic mixture of the two active enantiomers, which means that it contains equal amounts of both S- and R-isomers. Its effects are similar to other antidepressants, anxiolytics and sleep aids like valium.
They share many of the same benefits, but it may be more effective than benzodiazepines because of its antidepressant and anxiolytic properties.
It is not approved by the FDA for use in the U.S., so there is not an official prescribing information sheet available at this time. Nonetheless, we have found some useful information about Etifoxine from the internet.
We recommend reading through our reviews and other content on Etifoxine as it will give you a good idea of what this drug is supposed to do, but please note that this is not an endorsement and any information provided should be used at your own risk.