Anxiety and the Benzodiazepine Receptor

Abstract

The chapter presents several compounds with high affinity for the benzodiazepine receptor, but without anticonflict or anticonvulsant effects, such as R015-1788 and CGS 8216. These agents however, prevent benzodiazepines eliciting their usual anticonvulsant, sedative, and anticonflict actions in animals. In man, it has been shown that R015-1788 reverses the effect of the benzodiazepines. These compounds act as antagonists at the benzodiazepine receptor and may ultimately find clinical utility in reversal of the sedative effects of benzodiazepines following overdose or administration for surgical or diagnostic procedures. A third group of benzodiazepine receptor ligands, represented by the β-..