Metizolam Facts
Depressant;
Description
Metizolam (desmethyletizolam) is a synthetic depressant of the thienotriazolodiazepine class. It amplifies the brain's primary calming signal — GABA — producing sedation, reduced anxiety, and muscle relaxation.
Subjective effects include sedation, anxiety suppression, muscle relaxation, memory gaps, and reduced mental sharpness. The experience is defined by what disappears — tension, anxiety, and edge — rather than any arrival of pleasure, and is less euphoric than most designer benzodiazepines.[1]
Metizolam can cause physical dependence with repeated use; taken alone, fatal overdose is rare.[2][3] The dominant danger is combination with opioids, alcohol, or other depressants — together they suppress breathing in ways that can kill, and standard hospital screens may not detect metizolam.[4]
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Starts in 30 – 90 minLasts 5 – 8 hoursAfter-effects 10 – 30 hours
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- Low
- Chronic toxicity
- Moderate
- Physical dependence
- High
- Psychological dependence
- Moderate
- Withdrawal
- Severe · fatal · medical supervision
- Compulsive redosing
- Moderate
Tolerance
- Builds
- Rapid
- Fully resets after
- 10 days
- Carries over to
- benzodiazepines;
thienodiazepines; zolpidem; zopiclone; zaleplon
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Perception
- none likely · 5 possible, including Visual acuity suppression, Vestibular distortion, Double vision
- Body
- Muscle relaxation;
Sedation; +7 possible, including Motor control impairment, Dizziness, Nystagmus (eye wobbles) - Thinking
- none likely · 18 possible, including Cognitive impairment, Information processing suppression, Memory suppression
- Feeling
- Anxiety suppression;
+2 possible - Self
- none likely · 6 possible, including Communication suppression, Craving
- Time
- none likely · 1 possible, including Temporal disorientation
Who shouldn't take it
Combinations60 recorded
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
- Try to wake them — shout, firm sternal rub
- If unresponsive or breathing is impaired, call emergency services
- Place them in the recovery position — critical, they can choke on vomit
- Monitor breathing continuously; be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR
- Never leave them alone to "sleep it off"
- 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
References
- [1]^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
- [2]^Brunetti P, Giorgetti R, Tagliabracci A, Huestis MA, Busardò FP (2021) Designer Benzodiazepines: A Review of Toxicology and Public Health Risks — Pharmaceuticals doi:10.3390/ph14060560
- [3]^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
- [4]^Manchester KR, Lomas EC, Waters L, Dempsey FC, Maskell PD (2018) The emergence of new psychoactive substance (NPS) benzodiazepines: A review. — Drug testing and analysis doi:10.1002/dta.2211