Mephenesin

Mephenesin
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	International Drug Names
ATC code	M03BX06 (WHO) ;
Identifiers
	IUPAC name 3-(2-methylphenoxy)propane-1,2-diol;
CAS Number	59-47-2 ;
PubChem CID	4059;
ChemSpider	3919 ;
UNII	7B8PIR2954;
KEGG	D02595 ;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL229128 ;
NIAID ChemDB	017830;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID4023254 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.000.389
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C10H14O3
Molar mass	182.219 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
	SMILES O(c1ccccc1C)CC(O)CO;
	InChI InChI=1S/C10H14O3/c1-8-4-2-3-5-10(8)13-7-9(12)6-11/h2-5,9,11-12H,6-7H2,1H3 ; Key:JWDYCNIAQWPBHD-UHFFFAOYSA-N ;
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Mephenesin (INN), also called myanesin, is a centrally acting muscle relaxant. It can be used as an antidote for strychnine poisoning. Mephenesin however presents with the major drawbacks of having a short duration of action and a much greater effect on the spinal cord than the brain, resulting in pronounced respiratory depression at clinical doses and therefore a very low therapeutic index. It is especially dangerous and potentially fatal in combination with alcohol and other depressants. Mephenesin was the inspiration for the synthesis of a derivative of 1,3-propanediol, meprobamate, by Bernard Ludwig and Frank Berger, the first tranquilizer to see widespread clinical use. Mephenesin is no longer available in North America but is used in Italy and a few other countries. Its use has largely been replaced by the related drug methocarbamol, which is better absorbed.

Mephenesin may be an NMDA receptor antagonist. Mephenesin was previously used in France as an OTC muscle relaxant called Décontractyl but was taken out of production by Sanofi Aventis and due to a French Health Ministry decree in July 2019.