Avizafone
(Pro-Diazepam) is a water-soluble
prodrug
A prodrug is a pharmacologically inactive medication or compound that, after intake, is metabolized (i.e., converted within the body) into a pharmacologically active drug. Instead of administering a drug directly, a corresponding prodrug can be ...
of the
benzodiazepine
Benzodiazepines (BZD, BDZ, BZs), colloquially known as "benzos", are a class of central nervous system (CNS) depressant, depressant drugs whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring. They are prescribed t ...
derivative
diazepam
Diazepam, sold under the brand name Valium among others, is a medicine of the benzodiazepine family that acts as an anxiolytic. It is used to treat a range of conditions, including anxiety disorder, anxiety, seizures, alcohol withdrawal syndr ...
. It can be administered
intramuscular
Intramuscular injection, often abbreviated IM, is the injection of a substance into a muscle. In medicine, it is one of several methods for parenteral administration of medications. Intramuscular injection may be preferred because muscles hav ...
ly.
Avizafone is metabolised by enzymes in the blood to form the active drug diazepam. It is used mainly as an
antidote
An antidote is a substance that can counteract a form of poisoning. The term ultimately derives from the Greek term φάρμακον ἀντίδοτον ''(pharmakon antidoton)'', "(medicine) given as a remedy". An older term in English which is ...
to poisoning with
organophosphate
In organic chemistry, organophosphates (also known as phosphate esters, or OPEs) are a class of organophosphorus compounds with the general structure , a central phosphate molecule with alkyl or aromatic substituents. They can be considered ...
nerve agent
Nerve agents, sometimes also called nerve gases, are a class of organic chemistry, organic chemicals that disrupt the mechanisms by which nerves transfer messages to organs. The disruption is caused by the blocking of acetylcholinesterase (ACh ...
s.
See also
*
Alprazolam triazolobenzophenone
Alprazolam triazolobenzophenone is a chemical compound that is a prodrug for the benzodiazepine derivative alprazolam. At neutral pH it readily cyclizes to alprazolam, while in acidic conditions alprazolam undergoes a ring-opening reaction back t ...
*
Rilmazafone
Rilmazafone (リスミー, Rhythmy, previously known as 450191-S) is a water-soluble prodrug developed in Japan. Inside the human body, rilmazafone is converted into several benzodiazepine metabolites that have sedative and hypnotic effects.
Ril ...
References
Antidotes
2-Aminobenzophenones
GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators
Benzodiazepine prodrugs
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