Benzodiazepines belong to a group of described as anti-anxiety agents. They work by relaxing muscles in the body because theory suggests that anxiety causes tension, thus relaxation reduces anxiety.
At a Polish university in 1930, Leo Sternbach tried to isolate some organic chemicals thought to contain the necessary properties. The equipment at the time was not sophisticated enough to prove the results of the experiments.
Sternbach moved to New Jersey to start work at Hoffmann-LaRoche. With more sophisticated technology available he began experimenting and determined that the previous analysis was incorrect.
Many years later a vial was discovered containing some of Sternbach's compounds. Over the years the compound had altered its structure so when it was analyzed it proved successful. It was named chlordiazepoxide and marketed as Librium.
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The chemistry behind the alteration was not understood and considerable time passed before the exact synthesis could be duplicated. These derivatives developed into such drugs as diazepam, marketed as Valium, and flurazepam, marketed as Dalmane.
Benzodiazepines work by relaxing muscle tissue, slowing heart rates and supressing responses to external stimuli.
There is still debate about the effects of benzodiazepines during pregnancy.
Benzodiazepines can be responsible for congenital malformationsAny abnormality which is present at birth. Also called birth defects, they can arise from genetic inheritance or acquired during gestation through disease or drugs.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. in newborns.
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