Clorazepate is a water-soluble benzodiazepine derivative effective in the treatment of anxiety. It has also muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant actions. Studies in healthy men have shown that clorazepate dipotassium has depressant effects on the central nervous system. clorazepate is a prodrug since orally administered it is rapidly decarboxylated to form nordiazepam, there is essentially no circulating parent drug. Nordiazepam positively modulates GABAA receptors to produce anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects.

Nordazepam (INN; marketed under brand names Nordaz, Stilny, Madar, Vegesan, and Calmday) is a 1,4-benzodiazepine derivative with amnesic, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, muscle relaxant, and sedative properties. Nordazepam is an active metabolite of diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, clorazepate, prazepam, pinazepam, and medazepam, used primarily in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Nordazepam is a partial agonist at the GABAA receptor, which makes it less potent than other benzodiazepines, particularly in its amnesic and muscle-relaxing effects. Nordazepam’s elimination half-life is between 36 and 200 hours, with wide variation among individuals; factors such as age and gender are known to impact it. The variation of reported half-life are attributed to differences in nordazepam metabolism and that of its metabolites as nordazepam is hydroxylated to active metabolites such as oxazepam, before finally being glucuronidated and excreted in the urine. Common side effects of nordazepam include somnolence, which is more common in elderly patients and/or people on high-dose regimens. Hypotonia, which is much less common, is also associated with high doses and/or old age.

Clorazepate is a water-soluble benzodiazepine derivative effective in the treatment of anxiety. It has also muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant actions. Studies in healthy men have shown that clorazepate dipotassium has depressant effects on the central nervous system. clorazepate is a prodrug since orally administered it is rapidly decarboxylated to form nordiazepam, there is essentially no circulating parent drug. Nordiazepam positively modulates GABAA receptors to produce anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects.

Clorazepate is a water-soluble benzodiazepine derivative effective in the treatment of anxiety. It has also muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant actions. Studies in healthy men have shown that clorazepate dipotassium has depressant effects on the central nervous system. clorazepate is a prodrug since orally administered it is rapidly decarboxylated to form nordiazepam, there is essentially no circulating parent drug. Nordiazepam positively modulates GABAA receptors to produce anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects.