Mebutamate is a biscarbamate drug that has anxiolytic, sedative, and antihypertensive effects. It is marketed under many trade names, including Capla and Dormate. Its preparation was reported in a 1959 US patent to Carter Products. It is less well known that mebutamate is also hypnotic. In a 1967 study, L. Tetreault, P. Richer, and J. M. Bordeleau in Montreal found that, at a dose of 600 mg, mebutamate has hypnotic properties that "affect the duration and quality of sleep induction, and the duration and quality of sleep, without disturbing the state of the subject upon awakening and during the morning." A higher dose (900 mg) did not change the overall effect, which was "consistently between that of secobarbital at 200 mg and 100 mg." The authors did not observe any significant side effects. Mebutamate is one of many GABAergic drugs which act via allosteric agonism of the GABAA receptor at the beta-subreceptor similar to barbiturates. In contrast, benzodiazepines act at the alpha-subreceptor. As such, carbamates and barbiturates, possess analgesic properties which the benzodiazepine class of drugs does not.

Hypertensive Disease Study (1962):
Mebutamate is reported to lower the blood pressure and, at the same time, not decrease the cardiac output. The action (vasodilation) is said to be mediated through the central nervous system by action on certain areas of the hypothalamus and medulla, not by direct effect on ganglia or blood vessels. Because of the reported action and effects of mebutamate, a preliminary clinical evaluation was undertaken to determine 1) the effectiveness of this drug in the treatment of hypertensive patients, and 2) any side effects which might occur with its use.

Hypertensive Disease Study Conclusion:
It is concluded that mebutamate is an effective anti hypertensive drug; however the dosage should be adjusted according to the requirements of the individual patient. It does not produce postural hypotension or interfere with the physiologic mechanisms which regulate the blood pressure. It can be used safely with other forms of therapy required for concomitant disease. Mebutamate is effective within a similar range of cases as reserpine but does not produce the severe side effects associated with the latter.

Mebutamate is a sedative and anxiolytic drug with anti-hypertensive (blood pressure lowering) effects comparable to those of other barbiturates but is only around 1/3rd the potency of secobarbital as a sedative. Side effects include dizziness and headaches. This compound belongs to the class of organic compounds known as carbamate esters.