The report presents a review of etomidate and structurally related compounds and subsequent recommendations regarding their classification and scheduling.

Etomidate is a drug that has sedative effects and is used medically as an intravenous general anaesthetic. In recent years evidence of significant levels of misuse of etomidate and related compounds has emerged in Asia, particularly by administration from vaping devices.

Medical Use
1.1. Etomidate (ethyl-1-((R)-1-phenylethyl)imidazole-5-carboxylate) is a compound that acts as a positive allosteric modulator of the gamma aminobutyric acid-A (GABA-A) receptor, resulting in central nervous system (CNS) depressant (sedative) effects [Etomidate SmPC].
1.2. It is licensed for use in humans as an ultra-short-acting (rapid onset and rapid offset) intravenous drug for the induction of anaesthesia, although because of it unwanted effects, it is typically only used in “high-risk patients” as it does not cause significant respiratory or cardiovascular depression [Valk 2021]....