Dehydroemetine

Dehydroemetine

Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	International Drug Names
ATC code	P01AX09 (WHO)
Identifiers
IUPAC name (11bS)-2-[[(1R)-6,7-Dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl]methyl]-3-ethyl-9,10-dimethoxy-4,6,7,11b-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[2,1-a]isoquinoline
CAS Number	4914-30-1 Y
PubChem CID	21022
ChemSpider	19773 N
UNII	7S79QT1T91
KEGG	D00828 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL547470 N
ECHA InfoCard	100.023.220
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C29H38N2O4
Molar mass	478.62 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
SMILES O(c1cc2c(cc1OC)[C@H](NCC2)CC\5=C(/CC)CN4[C@H](c3c(cc(OC)c(OC)c3)CC4)C/5)C
InChI InChI=1S/C29H38N2O4/c1-6-18-17-31-10-8-20-14-27(33-3)29(35-5)16-23(20)25(31)12-21(18)11-24-22-15-28(34-4)26(32-2)13-19(22)7-9-30-24/h13-16,24-25,30H,6-12,17H2,1-5H3/t24-,25+/m1/s1 N Key:XXLZPUYGHQWHRN-RPBOFIJWSA-N N
NY (what is this?)

Dehydroemetine is a synthetically produced antiprotozoal agent similar to emetine in its anti-amoebic properties and structure (they differ only in a double bond next to the ethyl substituent), but it produces fewer side effects. In the United States, it is manufactured by Roche.

Its exact mechanism is not known, but in vitro it inhibits translocation.

It is distributed by the Center for Disease Control on a basis as an investigational drug for the treatment of metronidazole-resistant amoebiasis.

Some examples of the use of dehydroemetine in the treatment of amoebic infections include:

A 1980 report described the use of dehydroemetine in treatment of herpes zoster, a condition which can produce painful neurological symptoms. The study involved 40 patients, all of whom were over 60, and compared dehydroemetine treatment to another drug. The study reported patients treated with dehydroemetine experienced relief of neuralgia with no changes in cardiovascular functions.

Dehydroemetine has been investigated as a treatment for Leishmania infection.