Etifoxine for anxiety (alternative to benzos)

[Rafterman]

Hey guys, 

Has anyone heard of/tried Etifoxine before? It's a Russian pharmaceutical used to treat anxiety. In studies it seems to act similar to a benzo on the GABA system, enacting a sense of calm anxiolysis without any of the memory impairment or cognitive dulling usually included with benzo use.

It sounds like a really interesting alternative to anyone needing the effects of benzos without feeling like your brain has been turned into mush. There's even a study that shows rats seem to prefer it to Di@z! It doesn't seem to have many experience reports available, which is probably because it's primarily a med used in Russia. Not prescribed anywhere in the West.

I've ordered some and it should be here in 2/3 weeks depending on the shipping times. Probably a bit longer cuz, y'know, Christmas I'll come back here and post how effective/ineffective it is once it arrives in the post.

Hey Glousck,
I remember when it was all the rage in Russia, France and, I believe, in Argentina. May still be. I haven't read much on it in a while. I remember that it was once thought that it would compete in the US benzo market, even though technically not a benzo. Could be why it was never approved for use here. You know how the FDA often protects the big profit meds by cutting any potential competition off at the knees. I do know that it is often talked about more as a potentiator for benzo's, than a standalone anxiolytic. I am guessing that it may be of use as both. I am wondering how powerful it can be if it is not listed as controlled substance in any country. I find that odd. You would think that any med that worked as they say it does, has no potential for habituation, and was not controlled, would soon be known as the aspirin of the 21st century. Word tends to get around when something is at that level. But it is still possible that it slipped below the radar. Would be interested to know how things turn out.  RM

Those are some really interesting points you've made, I wasn't even aware it had been used in France and Argentina as well! I have my own opinions as to why it may still be relatively unknown although for the most part it's purely speculation. Firstly, there seems to be a tendency from the West to be incredibly resistant to the potential success of any non-Western drug treatments in general, regardless of if they originated in Russia or not. Chinese herbal medicines have been around for hundreds of years and present an excellent safety profile in general yet they've never been taken under the wing of Western psychiatric care, merely sold in stores as homeopathic medicine. That's just one example but my point is a lot of the branded medicine available from your doctor for neurological treatments have origins with the Western chemist's who designed them, all the way through to their development phases and finally once prescribed. Everything stays local. Take more well-known Russian pharmaceuticals such as Semax, Cerebrolysin, Bromantane, Phenibut the list goes on...all of these have multiple studies which attest to the various and wide-ranging benefits these drug can offer. I'm not saying it's a conspiracy of any sort, but perhaps Big Pharma will take years or even decades before they're prepared to go outside the status quo and take a chance on non-Western medicine.

Secondly - and this point may lead you to believe I am wearing a very stylish tin foil hat on my head but after researching I honestly believe this to be true - I think the biggest issue presented in a reluctance for more countries to take on new medications is because of Big Pharma. I really do. The money they make from meds like antidepressants every year is in the billions, and it is utterly insane. Doctors have been told by management to push these drugs on people without an understanding of their mechanism of action or their numerous side effects. A year back my stepmother went to the Doctors with a migraine and was given an SSRI! With this information that meds like antidepressants and benzos are a consistent profit churned for Big Pharma every single year, perhaps we should consider what kind of effect introducing new neurological drugs to the market for depression, anxiety etc would have on these existing pharmaceutical giants. Easy: it cuts into their profits. Suddenly Average Joe has found a new med with greater efficiency, less side effects and less cost to treat his mental health with. Suddenly less and less people stop handing their hard-earned wages over to Big Pharma. Profit margins go down and their pockets stop getting fatter. If we look at the many benefits of CBD oil and cannabis, it seems somewhat strange that when something has been proven to help people, there is still huge resistance for Big Pharma to prescribe it. Again, cannabis and CBD oil have been effective in treating a host of mental and physical health issues including depression...yet SSRI/SNRIs are still a first-line treatment for depression by most doctors. 

I understand the truth is immensely more comple
x than just "IT'S A CONSPIRACY!" but I really do think those two points play a part - who knows how big or small - as to why you rarely ever hear of these kind of drugs being prescribed over here.

Tin foil hat...lol.  Far from it! Wow. I think that you absolutely nailed it on each of the theories that you presented. Very interesting stuff. I think very much along the same lines and am sometimes looked upon as a conspiracy theorist (I don't mean on the forum. Everyone I have interacted with here is open-minded and way ahead of the curve). What you said makes so much sense that I do not see how any intellectually honest person can read it and not begin doing their research and give things a hard second look. I love discussing the FDA, DEA, Big Pharma, and their role in anything to do with the approval and distribution of medication. Does your knowledge of such things come from an inquisitive nature and the ability to put 2 and 2 together? Or is it something more? Just curious, and looking forward to reading anything else that you have to say in future posts. Regards, RM