Nitrazolam

Nitrazolam is a benzodiazepine that has been sold online as a designer drug. It is closely related to clonazolam, only differing by the removal of a chlorine group at the 6th position on the benzene ring.

Pharmacology

Nitrazolam has been shown to have strong sedative, anxiolytic, and hypnotic properties. It is a agonist at the benzodiazepine receptor site where it exerts its effects. It has an average half-life of 2.5 hours, which means it is a relatively short-acting benzodiazepine.

Chemistry

Nitrazolam is a benzodiazepine, which means it is a compound made up of a benzene ring fused to a diazepine ring. It is a nitrobenzodiazepine, a subcategory of benzodiazepines that also includes drugs like flunitrazepam and clonazepam. Nitrazolam differs from other benzodiazepines in that it has a nitro group at the 7th position on the benzene ring, instead of a chlorine group which is commonly found in other benzodiazepines.

Legality

The legality of Nitrazolam varies from country to country. In the United Kingdom, it is a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, making it illegal to sell, buy, or possess without a license. In the United States, it is not specifically listed as a controlled substance, but it may be considered an analog of other controlled benzodiazepines, which would make its sale or possession without a license illegal.

See also

• List of benzodiazepines
• Designer drug
• Drug analog

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