quazepam

Quazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine used primarily for the short-term treatment of insomnia, including difficulty falling asleep, frequent nocturnal awakenings, and early morning awakenings. It was developed by Schering Corporation in the 1970s and first approved in the US in 1985. Quazepam is unique among benzodiazepines due to its relatively high selectivity for Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-1, which are associated with sleep induction. This selectivity may result in fewer muscle relaxant effects compared to other benzodiazepines. The drug acts as a central nervous system depressant by potentiating the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at GABA-A receptors, leading to increased chloride ion influx and neuronal hyperpolarization. Quazepam has two active metabolites with long half-lives that contribute to its pharmacological effects[1][3][4][5].

Brand names

Doral

Other names

7-chloro-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-2H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2-thione