Selective Actions on Sleep or Anxiety by Exploiting GABA-A/Benzodiazepine Receptor Subtypes

Are agents that act at benzodiazepine receptors making a comeback as anxiolytics? Benzodiazepines, once the most widely prescribed of all drugs, are still used to treat anxiety. All currently marketed benzodiazepines share rapid onset of sedativehypnotic, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties. Choice of agent for each of these indications is largely a function of differential half-lives and marketing considerations rather than a consequence of any real selectivity of therapeutic action.