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Oral chloral hydrate
Chloral hydrate is a sedative-hypnotic that enhances inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system, primarily through potentiation of GABA receptors.
Chloral hydrate is a sedative-hypnotic that enhances inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system, primarily through potentiation of GABA receptors. Used for Insomnia, Procedural sedation, Anxiety.
At a glance
| Generic name | Oral chloral hydrate |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Seoul National University Hospital |
| Drug class | Sedative-hypnotic |
| Target | GABA-A receptor |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Neurology / Sleep Medicine |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Chloral hydrate is a prodrug that is metabolized to trichloroethanol, which acts as a positive allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors. This enhancement of GABAergic inhibitory signaling depresses central nervous system activity, producing sedation and hypnotic effects. The drug has been used clinically for over a century as a short-acting sedative for insomnia and procedural sedation.
Approved indications
- Insomnia
- Procedural sedation
- Anxiety
Common side effects
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Dependence with chronic use
Key clinical trials
- WASPE Sleep Adjustment for Children Aged 0-4 Years Undergoing Radiation Therapy (NA)
- A Comparison Between Oral Melatonin With Nasal Sevoflurane Versus Oral Chloral Hydrate With Nasal Sevoflurane in Sedation of Children Undergoing Brain MRI (NA)
- Comparison of Oral Chloral Hydrate and Combination of Intranasal Dexmedetomidine and Ketamine for Procedural Sedation in Children (NA)
- Buccal Midazolam Versus Intranasal Dexmedetomidine Plus Oral Chloral Hydrate in Inguinal Hernia Repair (NA)
- Comparison of Oral Chloral Hydrate and Combination of Intranasal Dexmedetomidine and Ketamine for Rescue After Failed Pediatric Procedural Sedation (NA)
- Sedation and Nursing Management in EEG Recording in Children (NA)
- The Role of Melatonin in the Effective Attainment of Sleep Electroencephalograms (EEG) in Children (PHASE3)
- Comparison Between Oral and Enema of Chloral Hydrate (NA)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Oral chloral hydrate CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Oral chloral hydrate updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Seoul National University Hospital portfolio CI