Pyrazolam (SH-I-04) is a
benzodiazepine
Benzodiazepines (BZD, BDZ, BZs), sometimes called "benzos", are a class of depressant drugs whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring. They are prescribed to treat conditions such as anxiety disorders, ...
derivative originally developed by a team led by
Leo Sternbach
Leo Sternbach (May 7, 1908 – September 28, 2005) was a Polish American chemist who is credited with first synthesizing benzodiazepines, the main class of tranquilizers.
Background and family
Sternbach was born on May 7, 1908, in Opatija, K ...
at
Hoffman-La Roche
F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, commonly known as Roche, is a Swiss multinational healthcare company that operates worldwide under two divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Its holding company, Roche Holding AG, has shares listed on the SIX S ...
in the 1970s. It has since been "rediscovered" and sold as a
designer drug
A designer drug is a structural or functional analog of a controlled substance that has been designed to mimic the pharmacological effects of the original drug, while avoiding classification as illegal and/or detection in standard drug tests. Des ...
since 2012.
Pyrazolam has structural similarities to
alprazolam
Alprazolam, sold under the brand name Xanax, among others, is a fast-acting, potent tranquilizer of medium duration in the triazolobenzodiazepine (TBZD) class, which are benzodiazepines (BZDs) fused with a triazole ring. It is most commonly u ...
and
bromazepam
Bromazepam, sold under many brand names, is a benzodiazepine. It is mainly an anti-anxiety agent with similar side effects to diazepam (Valium). In addition to being used to treat anxiety or panic states, bromazepam may be used as a premedicant ...
. Unlike other benzodiazepines, pyrazolam does not appear to undergo metabolism, instead being excreted unchanged in the urine.
It is most selective for the α
2 and α
3 subtypes of the
GABAA receptor.
Legal Status
United Kingdom
In the UK, pyrazolam has been classified as a
Class C drug
These drugs are known in the UK as ''controlled drugs'', because this is the term by which the act itself refers to them. In more general terms, however, many of these drugs are also controlled by the Medicines Act 1968, there are many other drug ...
by section 5 of the May 2017 amendment to
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 along with several other designer benzodiazepine drugs.
See also
*
List of benzodiazepine designer drugs
The below tables contain a sample list of benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine analogs that are commonly prescribed, with their basic pharmacological characteristics, such as half-life and equivalent doses to other benzodiazepines, also listed, al ...
References
{{GABAAR PAMs
Triazolobenzodiazepines
GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators
Designer drugs
2-Pyridyl compounds
Bromoarenes