Brain mechanisms associated with therapeutic actions of benzodiazepines: focus on neurotransmitters.
The sedative, muscle relaxant, antianxiety, and anticonvulsant effects of benzodiazepines may involve several distinct mechanisms because dissociation among these actions can be demonstrated with various drugs. Neurotransmitters displaying prominent interactions with benzodiazepines include gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000494:pharmacology; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D001665:Binding Sites; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects; D005998:Glycine / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001463:Barbiturates; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D012701:Serotonin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005998:Glycine; D009638:Norepinephrine