Psychosis and Convulsions Following Withdrawal From Ethchlorvynol

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Abstract
AFTER extensive publicity given the addicting properties of barbiturates over the last decade, many physicians have turned to nonbarbiturate sedatives in hopes of avoiding physical and psychological dependence. Unfortunately, more extensive experience in the use of these drugs as long-term daily sedatives, has demonstrated that many which were originally thought to be "safe" are capable of producing drug dependence. We would like to report that ethchlorvynol (Placidyl), or ethyl β-chlorovinyl ethynyl carbinol, may be another example of such a drug. Ethchlorvynol was introduced in 1955 and it was initially thought that it would not produce dependence.1 The drug was sold for four years without a prescription in Canada, and this policy was not changed until 1959, when Cahn2 reported four cases of excessive ethchlorvynol intake. Two of his patients showed marked ataxia, accompanied by confusion and disorientation in one patient, and two further patients suffered from withdrawal phenomena