Clonazepam and 5-hydroxytryptophan-induced myoclonic stereotypy.

The effect of clonazepam on a behavioral model of increased whole brain serotonin activity was investigated. While clonazepam induces a moderate elevation of whole brain serotonin, the drug fails to potentiate or inhibit 5-hydroxytryptophan-induced stereotypy in young guinea pigs. These results suggest that despite drug induced alterations in serotonin concentration clonazepam does not hava an effect on the physiologic activity of serotonin and may not exert its pharmacologic activity by influencing serotonin within the brain.