Pharmacology and hypnogenic properties of brotizolam in animals.

Brotizolam differs in pharmacological profile from other diazepines by virtue of its hypnogenic potency. It increases, whereas other diazepines reduce, sleep in the cat. With increasing doses, the latency to rapid eye movement sleep is lengthened and the proportion is reduced. Brotizolam has anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant properties. The effective anxiolytic and muscle relaxant doses are somewhat lower than those of diazepam, and the effective anti-convulsant dose is ten times lower. Barbiturate synergism in mice is lower with brotizolam than with diazepam, while alcohol-induced coma is prolonged over the same dose range. Side-effects of brotizolam are similar to those of other diazepines, but the therapeutic range is more favourable. Physical dependence as tested in the monkey seems to be low.