Benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine receptor agonists (e.g., zaleplon [Sonata], zolpidem [Ambien]) are widely used to treat anxiety and insomnia, even though antidepressants are first-line therapy for anxiety disorders based on the evidence.1 In this issue of American Family Physician, Drs. Ramar and Olson review the management of insomnia and other sleep disorders.2 When benzodiazepines are use...

UNLABELLED In an effort to clarify the mechanism of action of isoflurane, we studied the effect of flumazenil on mice chronically treated with isoflurane or diazepam. Mice were pretreated with diazepam, isoflurane, or saline, with and without flumazenil. After 2 wk, responses to isoflurane and diazepam were assessed, and central benzodiazepine receptor (CBR) binding characteristics were assayed...

Li et al. (Reports, 30 January, p. 555) reported on a crystal structure for a translocator protein (TSPO) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides in which some of the electron density is modeled as a porphyrin. The analysis of the x-ray data discussed here suggests that this assignment is incorrect.

A new series of 2-substituted-5-[2-(2-halobenzyloxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazoles was designed and synthesized as anticonvulsant agents. Electroshock and pentylenetetrazole-induced lethal convulsion tests showed that the introduction of an amino group at position 2 of 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring and a fluoro substituent at ortho position of benzyloxy moiety had the best anticonvulsant activity. Our resul...

benzodiazepine overdose is the most commonly encountered drug overdose in iran. it has been reported by many authors that flumazenil possesses highly specific antagonistic activity on central benzodiazepine receptors. we conducted a prospective study on 150 patients brought to the toxicology emergency ward in loghman-hakim hospital with benzodiazepine overdose to assess the efficacy of flumazen...

BACKGROUND Primary care physicians prescribe benzodiazepines for the treatment of anxiety. Although most patients use the benzodiazepines appropriately, some patients experience benzodiazepine abuse, addiction, or physical dependence, each one of which is a distinct syndrome. Benzodiazepine dependence, which relates to the development of tolerance and an abstinence syndrome, can be produced by ...

new derivatives of 2-[2-(2-chlorophenoxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole as candidates for agonistic effect on benzodiazepine receptors were synthesized. conformational analysis and superimposition of energy minima conformers of the novel compounds on estazolam, a known benzodiazepine agonist, revealed that the main proposed benzodiazepine pharmacophores were well matched. in pharmacological evaluatio...

Benzodiazepine drugs may impair breathing during sleep, leading to the development of sleep-disordered breathing or, in subjects with sleep apnoea, an increase in the severity of pre-existing apnoeas. Flumazenil is a selective benzodiazepine-antagonist. We hypothesized that endogenous ligands of benzodiazepine receptors might contribute to the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate benzodiazepine receptor expression on leukocytes from patients with symptomatic or silent myocardial ischemia. BACKGROUND Silent myocardial ischemia is frequently observed in patients with coronary artery disease. Pain can be effectively controlled by various endogenous mechanisms. Benzodiazepines and their receptors play key roles in pain,...