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Deschloroetizolam Facts

Depressant; Anxiolytic; Thienodiazepine; GABA-A receptor positive allosteric modulator

Description

Deschloroetizolam — also known as etizolam-2 — is a synthetic depressant of the thienotriazolodiazepine class. It amplifies the brain's main inhibitory signal (GABA), slowing neuronal activity throughout the central nervous system.[1]

Subjective effects include sedation, anxiety relief, muscle relaxation, mild euphoria, and cognitive slowing. The experience is a slow-settling, diffuse calm — less sharp and less rewarding than etizolam, placing it among the mildest designer benzodiazepines.[2]

Deschloroetizolam produces high abuse liability — physical dependence develops within days, and stopping abruptly after regular use risks life-threatening seizures.[3] The greatest acute danger is combining it with opioids, alcohol, or other depressants, which can shut down breathing — the mechanism behind nearly all designer benzodiazepine deaths.[4]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 1 mgLight2 – 4 mgCommon4 – 6 mgStrong6 – 12 mgHeavy12+ mg

Starts in 15 – 30 minLasts 8 – 10 hoursAfter-effects 3 – 6 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Low
Chronic toxicity
Moderate
Physical dependence
High
Psychological dependence
High
Withdrawal
Life-threatening · fatal · medical supervision
Compulsive redosing
Moderate

Tolerance

Builds
Rapid
Fully resets after
10.5 days
Carries over to
benzodiazepines; thienodiazepines; Z-drugs (partial); barbiturates (partial); alcohol (partial)

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
none likely · 5 possible, including Spatial disorientation, Vestibular distortion, Visual acuity suppression
Body
Sedation; Muscle relaxation; Motor control impairment; +7 possible, including Dizziness, Headache, Nystagmus (eye wobbles)
Thinking
Thought deceleration; Cognitive impairment; +14 possible, including Analysis suppression, Decision impairment, Information processing suppression
Feeling
Anxiety suppression; +2 possible
Self
none likely · 4 possible, including Communication suppression, Craving
Time
none likely · 1 possible, including Temporal disorientation

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Severe respiratory insufficiency; Concurrent opioid use; Concurrent alcohol use; Concurrent benzodiazepine or sedative use; Concurrent GHB/GBL use; Acute narrow-angle glaucoma
Relative
Obstructive sleep apnea; Myasthenia gravis; History of substance use disorder; Hepatic impairment; CYP3A4 inhibitor therapy; CYP2C19 poor metabolizer status; Pregnancy

Combinations60 recorded

Lethal (1)
Opioids
Dangerous (21)
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Antipsychotics; Atypical antipsychotics; Benzodiazepines; Buprenorphine, Kratom; Cannabis, THC; Clonidine, Guanfacine; Gabapentin, Pregabalin; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Local anesthetics; Naltrexone; SNRIs; Stimulants; Synthetic cannabinoids; Ibogaine; Ketamine, DXM, PCP; MAOIs; NSAIDs; Poppers (Alkyl nitrites); Poppers, Nitrates
Caution (26)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/deschloroetizolam
Not graded (12)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

  • Extreme drowsiness — can't stay awake or be roused
  • Confusion, slurred speech, severe loss of coordination
  • Slow, shallow, or irregular breathing
  • Unconsciousness / unresponsive; limp, floppy body
  • Blue lips or fingertips
  • Vomiting while sedated (choking / aspiration risk)
  • Cold, clammy skin; weak pulse

What to do

  1. Try to wake them — shout, firm sternal rub
  2. If unresponsive or breathing is impaired, call emergency services
  3. Place them in the recovery position — critical, they can choke on vomit
  4. Monitor breathing continuously; be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR
  5. Never leave them alone to "sleep it off"
  6. Do not give other drugs, stimulants, or more depressants

Most depressant overdoses resolve with airway protection, breathing support, and monitoring. The danger is respiratory depression and choking on vomit — sharply worse when combined with opioids or alcohol. GHB/GBL overdoses often involve sudden deep unconsciousness and may self-resolve, but airway protection is essential.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^Trincavelli ML, Da Pozzo E, Daniele S, Martini C (2012) The GABAA-BZR complex as target for the development of anxiolytic drugs — Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry PMID:22204488
  2. [2]
    ^El Balkhi S, Monchaud C, Herault F, Geniaux H, Saint-Marcoux F (2020) Designer benzodiazepines' pharmacological effects and potencies: How to find the information — Journal of Psychopharmacology doi:10.1177/0269881119901096
  3. [3]
    ^Navarrete F, Marín-Mayor M, Martínez-Hostyn L, Rubio G, Manzanares J (2026) Benzodiazepine Dependence: Clinical and Molecular Aspects, Preventive Strategies and Therapeutic Approaches. — International journal of molecular sciences doi:10.3390/ijms27031430
  4. [4]
    ^Greenblatt HK, Greenblatt DJ (2019) Designer Benzodiazepines: A Review of Published Data and Public Health Significance — Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development doi:10.1002/cpdd.667
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