Designer benzodiazepines versus prescription benzodiazepines: can structural relation predict the next step? 2021

Raneem E Moustafa, and Fuad Tarbah, and Huda Sulaiman Saeed, and Suleiman I Sharif
Department of Pharmacy Practice & Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Designer benzodiazepines are a part of the recently discovered abuse synthetic drugs called Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) which need to be controlled due to their constantly growing market. Most of them are derived from the medically approved benzodiazepines used nowadays yet, may possess stronger effects, more toxicity, and longer durations of action. Some differences have also been observed in their detection and characteristics, in addition to the variations discovered in postmortem redistribution and drug stability. All these major alterations in features can result from only minor structural modifications. For example, a classic benzodiazepine (BZD) like diazepam only lacks one fluorine atom which exists in its derivatized designer drug, diclazepam, making substantial differences in activity. For this reason, it is essential to study the designer drugs in order to identify their dangers and distinguish them thus rule out their abuse and control the spread of such drugs. This review would highlight the distinct characteristics of some of the most commonly abused designer benzodiazepine analogies in relation to their original prescription BZD compounds.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D003975 Diazepam A benzodiazepine with anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, sedative, muscle relaxant, and amnesic properties and a long duration of action. Its actions are mediated by enhancement of GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID activity. 7-Chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one,Apaurin,Diazemuls,Faustan,Relanium,Seduxen,Sibazon,Stesolid,Valium
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001569 Benzodiazepines A group of two-ring heterocyclic compounds consisting of a benzene ring fused to a diazepine ring. Benzodiazepine,Benzodiazepine Compounds
D015198 Designer Drugs Drugs designed and synthesized, often for illegal street use, by modification of existing drug structures (e.g., amphetamines). Of special interest are MPTP (a reverse ester of meperidine), MDA (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine), and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Many drugs act on the aminergic system, the physiologically active biogenic amines. Customized Drug,Customized Drugs,Designer Drug,Drug, Customized,Drug, Designer,Drugs, Customized,Drugs, Designer
D055656 Prescriptions Directions written for the obtaining and use of PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS; MEDICAL DEVICES; corrective LENSES; and a variety of other medical remedies. Prescriptions, Non-Drug,Prescriptions, Nondrug,Non-Drug Prescription,Non-Drug Prescriptions,Nondrug Prescription,Nondrug Prescriptions,Prescription,Prescription, Non-Drug,Prescription, Nondrug,Prescriptions, Non Drug

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