Orphenadrine 83-98-7
Orphenadrine (sold under the brand names Norflex, Mephenamin, Disipal, Banflex, Flexon, Biorphen, Brocasipal, Dolan and others) is an anticholinergic drug of the ethanolamine antihistamine class with prominent CNS and peripheral actions used to treat painful muscle spasm and other symptoms and conditions as well as some aspects of Parkinson's Disease. It is closely related to diphenhydramine and therefore related to other drugs used for Parkinson's like benztropine and trihexyphenidyl and is also structurally related to nefopam, a centrally-acting yet non-opioid analgesic. The combination of anticholinergic effects and CNS penetration make orphenadrine useful for pain of all aetiologies including pain from radiculopathy, muscle pain, headaches, and many others. Some patients report that it feels like orphenadrine and similar drugs help both NSAIDs and opioids find the pain. Orphenadrine has approximately 58 per cent of the anticholinergic potency of atropine at equivalent doses. Orphenadrine is most often used against pain and muscle spasm of various aetiologies including lumbago, sciatica, and injury. It is quite useful against allergic symptoms and other histimine-related effects, such as those from hayfever, other allergies, and histamine release from many opioid analgesics. Orphenadrine is in many cases helpful against migraine and cluster headaches and is also used for treating some aspects of Parkinson's Disease including side effects caused by the main therapy in place. Where available for prescription compounding, orphenadrine can also be prepared for topical administration and works slightly better than diphenhydramine for this purpose. The orphenadrine salt used for Parkinsonism is the hydrochloride, whereas the muscle relaxant tablet are the citrate, and manufacturers' descriptions of orphenadrine indicate that the salts are not interchangeable; one reason may be that the citrate can be irritating when injected. Euphoria is an effect reported by many patients and orphenadrine has been investigated for use against depression, as first reported in June 1958 in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Like many first-generation antihistamines and chemically-similar anticholinergics, orphenadrine can also cause excitement and insomnia, particularly in children and the elderly. Orphenadrine also works on smooth muscle in a manner identical to that of dicyclomine (Bentyl) and will impact Irritable Bowel Syndrome in a similar fashion.
History
This drug was first synthesised in the late 1940s in Europe and the citrate and hydrochloride were both patented in the United States by Parke-Davis in July 1951. Currently, orphenadrine preparations are made in the United States and Canada by Parke-Davis and other companies including 3M. Known as Disipal, orphenadrine HCl was advertised by the Riker company for Parkinsonism, low back pain, and having a useful anti-depressant effect which helps in treating such conditions -- http://www. decodog. com/inven/MD/md30554. jpg
| Systematic (IUPAC) name: | N,N-dimethyl-2-[(2-methylphenyl)- phenyl-methoxy]-ethanamine |
|---|---|
| Orphenadrine CAS number: | 83-98-7 |
| ATC code: | M03BC01 N04AB02 |
| PubChem: | 4601 |
| DrugBank: | APRD00097 |
| Formula: | C18H23N1O1 |
| Molecular mass: | 269.381 g/mol |
| Orphenadrine Assay/Purity: | Typically NLT 98% |
