Pinazepam, a benzodiazepine derivative, differs from other drugs of its class by the presence of an unsaturated bond, the propargyl group, at the N-1 position. In animals, pinazepam controls anxiety and aggressiveness and exerts anticonvulsant activity. In clinical trials with open or controlled design, pinazepam, compared with diazepam, showed significant and purely anxiolytic action in patients suffering from anxiety with or without somatic manifestations, particularly in gastrointestinal disorders. Even though it is not a specific hypnotic drug, it seems to help patients in whom the physiological course of the sleep is disturbed. Pinazepam is used in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia associated with anxiety.