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Benzodiazepines Research Paper

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The benzodiazepines, with their anxiolytic, sedative, anticonvulsant and myorelaxant properties are commonly used in the fields of psychiatry and neurology. They were originally introduced as an alternative to meprobamate and the barbiturates, as their lethal dosage was only slightly higher than their therapeutic dose. With the rise in the prescription of benzodiazepines for short-term insomnia and anxiety relief, and the subsequent rise of cases featuring benzodiazepine abuse, it seems ever more important that an alternative devoid of abuse and dependence potential is found, without compromising effectiveness. Dependence is much more likely when used long-term, as tolerance is built up and the dosage escalates. Several alternatives exist for …show more content…

When the two rings are combined, the nitrogen atoms found on the diazepine ring occupy the 1 and 5 positions. They bring about their anxiolytic effects by increasing the levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an amino acid which acts on the central nervous system to depress nervous activity. As no known neurotransmitter has been found that would be compatible with a benzodiazepine receptor binding site, it is thought that they bind allosterically to the GABAA receptor. Evidence of this includes that GABA stimulates the binding of benzodiazepines, and similarly, benzodiazepines facilitate the synaptic effects of …show more content…

The majority of GABAA receptors contain an alpha-1, 2, 3 or 5 subunits. The receptor allows for the transmission of Cl- anions when its ligand, GABA, docks to it between the alpha and beta subunits. The binding of GABA to its receptor enlarges the chloride channels, and so allowing more chloride ions to move into the neuron, hyperpolarising it. The effect of this is to slow down the rate of neuronal firing. It also contains other allosteric binding sites, allowing for benzodiazepines, barbiturates, alcohol, meprobamate and other drugs to affect it. The subunit to which a benzodiazepine binds is shown to contribute to its effects: binding at the alpha-1 or 5 subunits leads to sedation, while binding to the alpha-2 or 3 subunits is associated with

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