Nitrazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine with intermediate onset commonly used to treat panic disorders, severe anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. A benzodiazepine derivative used as an anticonvulsant and hypnotic.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Nitrazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. This drug affects central benzodiazepine receptors, which are associated with inhibitory GABA (gamma amino butyric acid)receptors, leading to enhanced GABA binding activity. GABA is a major neurotransmitter in the brain, which causes somnolence, relaxation of muscles, a decrease in anxiety and general central nervous system depression. Nitrazepam has anticonvulsant properties that may be attributed to its ability to bind to voltage-dependent sodium channels. Sustained repetitive firing seems to be limited by benzodiazepines effect of slowing recovery of sodium channels from inactivation.
- Primary indication
- Used to treat short-term sleeping problems (insomnia), such as difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and early-morning awakening.Curator reviewed · 2 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C15H11N3O3 · 281.2661 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2002
- Also known as
- N-desmethylnimetazepam
- Code names
- N05CD02 · NSC-58775 · RO 4-5360 · RO 5-3059
- Brand names
Resolves to
KJONHKAYOJNZEC-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILES[O-][N+](=O)C1=CC2=C(NC(=O)CN=C2C2=CC=CC=C2)C=C1What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Nitrazepam, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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