Nitrazolam Explained

Nitrazolam is a triazolobenzodiazepine (TBZD), which are benzodiazepine (BZD) derivatives,^[1] that has been sold online as a designer drug.^{[2] [3]}

It is closely related to clonazolam or flunitrazolam, only differing by the removal of a chlorine or fluorine group respectively at the benzene ring.

A study in mice indicated that nitrazolam can be several times more potent than diazepam as an antagonist of electroshock-induced tonic-extensor convulsions but less potent than diazepam at preventing the righting reflex.^[4]

Nitrazolam has been used as an example compound to demonstrate the microscale synthesis of reference materials utilizing polymer‐supported reagents.^[5]

Legal status

United Kingdom

In the UK, nitrazolam has been classified as a Class C drug by the May 2017 amendment to The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 along with several other designer benzodiazepine drugs.^[6]

See also

• Adinazolam
• Alprazolam (licensed)
• Flubromazolam
• Nifoxipam
• Nitemazepam
• Pyrazolam
• Triazolam (licensed)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Patent US3987052 - 6-Phenyl-4H-s-triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazepines ]. The Upjohn Company . 19 October 1976 . Hester Jr JB .
2. Web site: Nitrazolam . New Synthetic Drugs Database.
3. Moosmann B, Bisel P, Franz F, Huppertz LM, Auwärter V . Characterization and in vitro phase I microsomal metabolism of designer benzodiazepines - an update comprising adinazolam, cloniprazepam, fonazepam, 3-hydroxyphenazepam, metizolam and nitrazolam . Journal of Mass Spectrometry . 51 . 11 . 1080–1089 . November 2016 . 27535017 . 10.1002/jms.3840 . 2016JMSp...51.1080M .
4. Hester JB, Rudzik AD, Kamdar BV . 6-phenyl-4H-s-triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazepines which have central nervous system depressant activity . Journal of Medicinal Chemistry . 14 . 11 . 1078–81 . November 1971 . 5165540 . 10.1021/jm00293a015 .
5. Dowling G, Kavanagh PV, Eckhardt HG, Twamley B, Hessman G, McLaughlin G, O'Brien J, Brandt SD . 6 . An approach to shortening the timeframe between the emergence of new compounds on the drugs market and the availability of reference standards: The microscale syntheses of nitrazolam and clonazolam for use as reference materials, utilizing polymer-supported reagents . Drug Testing and Analysis . 10 . 7 . 1198–1208 . March 2018 . 29542872 . 10.1002/dta.2383 . 205763816 .
6. Web site: The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2017.