Articles: benzodiazepines-pharmacokinetics.
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Current drug metabolism · Nov 2010
ReviewMetabolism of benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic-hypnotic drugs: an analytical point of view.
A review with 132 references. Several kinds of anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs are currently available on the market. Although BZDs are surely the most frequently prescribed among them, several chemically unrelated compounds have been commercialised, which can provide similar or even higher efficacy and tolerability. ⋯ The most important studies on the metabolic characteristics of several non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics and hypnotics are reported and briefly discussed in this review; moreover, the analytical methods related to these studies are also described and commented upon and their characteristics are highlighted. Finally, an update is included on recent (2007-2010) metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies on benzodiazepines. A monograph is included for each of the following drugs: zolpidem, zaleplon, zopiclone, ramelteon, buspirone and tandospirone; updates are included for the following benzodiazepines: alprazolam, bromazepam, diazepam, flunitrazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, oxazepam and triazolam.
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Five benzodiazepine derivatives are currently approved for the treatment of sleep disorders. Important differences exist among the drugs in the physicochemical properties of lipid solubility and protein binding and in pharmacokinetic properties of absorption, distribution, elimination, and clearance. These differences may account for observed variations in clinical action and side effects during and after treatment. Bases for understanding and predicting differences among benzodiazepine hypnotics are discussed.