Neither do I really.
Except for one reason and one only. Uniquely as far as I am aware, amongst GABAa agonists chlormethiazole has the additional property of inhibiting alcohol dehydrogenase. So it gets used in in-patient detox of alcoholics who need measures in their treatment which do not count fucking about with crap like Z-drugs, and most benzos. I'm not an alcoholic, so thats not the reason I use it. I take it for seizure prophylaxis, although it is not first line for seizures in the BNF, indeed I checked my copy and its..no-line, actually
But somehow I ended up taking it, at first twice a day although just persuaded my doc to give it three times daily. Its intermediate-acting, got some funky properties physically (the freebase at least, I've never tried making it in salt form, nor bromethiazole) it eats plastic like a starving concentration camp victim or war refugee with a pair of leather shoes, remarkably aggressive, welds plastic containers shut, or melts right through them. In fact even the pharmaceutical variety coming in capsules, which is the freebase, if left out on susceptible plastic surfaces will burn dents into the surface. Had an old computer keyboard, now afaik defunct and gone, but had left a pair of heminevrin caps on the top, and when I came back for them then I found that they had eaten their way into the keyboard and welded the cap outsides to the plastic. I had to stick in a syringe with a wide-bore needle, withdraw the contents and then QUICKLY dilute it with alcohol, shake it up into an suspensio then evaporate the alcohol before plugging the chlormethiazole base, emulsified with a bit of water.
Its somewhat volatile, as the intermediate thiazolethanol from the bisulfite/metabisulfite cleavage of thiamine (vitamin B1) seems to be (this seems active as well, to a degree at least. It stinks something heinous, and its of far lower potency than either chlormethiazole or bromethiazole. But, not inactive. And whilst crystalline it effloresces slowly and if stored in the open will slowly but steadily creep up and away.
Other than its use in alcoholics, almost the only indication is for elderly people for short term insomnia treatment. Its extremely clear-headed, no hangover that I have ever noted, and at least in my case, for seizures it is top notch, and not to mention I have been really quite astonished by the benign tolerance profile. Doubtless withdrawal from physical dependency would be horrific, as most GABAa agonists are. This one is a barbiturate binding site agonist at GABAa, so alcohol kinetics aside (its also very, very dangerous to drink on, especially if unused to it, and even then, small amounts only, take slowly if your going to drink at all) I am pretty amazed, in this day and age of filthy rotten Z-drugs and the weakest benzos available being first line for any benzo, that its still around. Even my GP, he commented when reminded that was what I am taking, when I needed a small dose increase (from twice to 3x a day), something like 'shit, that is a VERY old drug, almost surprised its still in use. And at that, the guy must be 70-something, certainly over 65, maybe even older. Close to retirement and afaik it was fairly antiquated when he started. And not indicated at all for seizure prophylaxis or treatment in the UK.
But, I'm on it already, however so, it works great, has a kick like an pissed off cassowary. Sod all hangover, seems like a low dependency-tolerance induction drug, and great for the seizures. Also, unlike the benzos, it actually can RELIABLY get me to sleep. Recreationally it needs only two notes of caution, bar the obvious do not mix with depressants or opioids unless already used to them. I take either a bit less than 0.5g morphine for my doses per day, plus a smaller amount of oxy, or else it is......replaced....with dipropionylmorphine, as, well its just superior for one and I like it better than almost any other opioid I've ever had. Plus it lasts a LOT longer. Nice sexy pair of legs on that girl, thats for sure. Long ones too
I'll have to reexamine tizanidine in that respect.
(actually I JUST found a full strip of 4mg zanaflex, and took a break from my work for a while lest it (plus a half bottle of DXM cough syrup) K.O me while actually working. That would not be pleasant. Can't afford to lose my project, and nor do I wish to be covered in corrosives again (in fairness those incidents happened when I was either pre- or just entering my teens, but still, the things that did it, don't take prisoners, even through leather gloves in one case).
Just had 16mg zanaflex, plus enough DXM to get my leetle grey cells booted up correctly, and a little DPM in order to keep the wolves at the door busy with pissing all over somebody else's front lawn. Lets see where this goes (tizanidine dosed orally)
Theres another commonly used adrenergic autoreceptor agonist in common medical use, lofexidine, used for assisting with the misery of opioid withdrawal/detox. Never had it though.
Guanfacine in particular is one I've really wanted to try out, as its meant to have nootropic potential. It isn't used clinically here, but when I have enough saved for my next cycle off life-giving memantine then I think I am going to look for it in the same place I'd get my memantine. I've wanted to give guanfacine a shot for ages.
The thing that puts me off DIYing these clonidine analogs is due to how insanely potent many of them are by weight.
For ex. with clonidine the dose per tablet is 25μg, and given the hypotensive effects it would take very little to drop somebody to the floor.
4-NEMD is a military-grade alpha2 adrenoreceptor agonist, developed as a nonlethal weapon. Could be interesting in carefully metered doses. I for some reason, love adrenergic autoreceptor agonsts. Could eat/plug the tizanidine for breakfast.