Clofexamide (also known as amichlophene) is a synthetic chemical compound that was employed as an antidepressant agent. It was marketed primarily as a component of the combination drug clofezone, which also contained the nonsteroidal anti‑inflammatory drug (NSAID) phenylbutazone. Clofezone was indicated for the treatment of joint and muscular pain, leveraging the analgesic effects of phenylbutazone together with the purported antidepressant activity of clofexamide. The combination product has been discontinued and is no longer available on the market.
Chemical and Physical Data
- IUPAC name: 2‑(4‑chlorophenoxy)-N‑[2‑(diethylamino)ethyl]acetamide
- Molecular formula: C₁₄H₂₁ClN₂O₂
- Molar mass: 284.78 g·mol⁻¹
- CAS Registry Number: 1223‑36‑5
- PubChem CID: 28554
- SMILES:
CCN(CC)CCNC(=O)COC1=CC=C(C=C1)Cl - InChI:
InChI=1S/C14H21ClN2O2/c1-3-17(4-2)10-9-16-14(18)11-19-13-7-5-12(15)6-8-13/h5-8H,3-4,9-11H2,1-2H3,(H,16,18)
Pharmacological Profile
Clofexamide belongs to the class of antidepressants, though its precise mechanism of action has not been extensively characterized in contemporary literature. The drug was formulated for oral, rectal, and topical administration. No Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification code has been assigned to clofexamide, reflecting its limited and discontinued clinical use.
Clinical Use and Status
- Indication: As part of clofezone, clofexamide was used to alleviate musculoskeletal pain, presumably by providing an adjunctive antidepressant effect that could modulate pain perception.
- Regulatory status: The compound is listed as discontinued and is not presently marketed in any major pharmaceutical jurisdiction.
Legal and Regulatory Information
- No specific legal restrictions or scheduling information are recorded for clofexamide; its status as a discontinued drug implies that it is not subject to active regulatory control in contemporary pharmacopeias.
References
- Berger, A.; Wachter, H. (1998). Hunnius Pharmazeutisches Wörterbuch (8th ed.). Walter de Gruyter Verlag. p. 343. ISBN 3‑11‑015793‑4.
- Reinicke, C.; Helbing, M.; Klingenfeld, U.; Lasaroff, I.; Wessel, G. (December 1984). “Comparative studies on the bioavailability of various drug forms of phenylbutazone and clofezone (Perclusone)”. Die Pharmazie 39 (12): 824–827. PMID 6241720.
This entry reflects information available from reliable sources as of the latest edit.