Abstract

SIDE EFFECTS OF TETRAZEPAM, A MYORELAXANT DRUG, STUDIED ON ANTS AS MODELS

Marie-Claire Cammaerts*

ABSTRACT

Tetrazepam® is the active substance of, among others, Epsipam®, i.e., of drugs acting as myorelaxant. Though being very efficient, Epsipam® is no longer authorized in a few European lands, but is still used in all the other countries. To know is the European withdrawal of Epsipam® is valid, we studied, on ants as models, some of its potential physiological and ethological adverse effects. We found that it affected the ants‟ food intake, activity, orientation, audacity, tactile perception, social relationships, stress, cognition, learning and memory. The ants did not adapt themselves to these side effects and developed dependence on the drug consumption. After weaning, the effect of the drug soon and quickly, linearly decreased in about 14 hours. Withdrawing Epsipam® can thus be considered valid. However, since this drug is more efficient than other similar ones, we propose that, in every land, practitioners care of their patients using a small amount of Epsipam® (2 tablets) during the shortest possible time period (1-3 days) and monitor them as for the occurrence of the side effects we here revealed (e.g., food intake, movements, social relationships, dependence …).

Keywords: Audacity, cognition, dependence, food intake, movements, social interactions.