Diethylmalonylurea

/ˌdaɪˌɛθəlˌmæləˈnaɪljʊˈriːə/ noun

Definition

A barbiturate drug once used as a sedative and sleeping medication, though it's now rarely prescribed due to better alternatives.

Etymology

From 'diethyl' (two ethyl groups) + 'malonyl' (a chemical unit) + 'urea' (a nitrogen compound). Created in early 20th-century laboratories as chemists were discovering how to make synthetic drugs.

Kelly Says

This was one of thousands of barbiturates synthesized between 1900-1950, a era when chemists were so excited about their new creations that many drugs went to market with minimal safety testing—something that wouldn't happen today.

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