BENZODIAZEPINE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does benzodiazepine mean? 

• BENZODIAZEPINE (noun)
  The noun BENZODIAZEPINE has 1 sense:

1. any of several similar lipophilic amines used as tranquilizers or sedatives or hypnotics or muscle relaxants; chronic use can lead to dependency

  Familiarity information: BENZODIAZEPINE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BENZODIAZEPINE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of several similar lipophilic amines used as tranquilizers or sedatives or hypnotics or muscle relaxants; chronic use can lead to dependency

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("benzodiazepine" is a kind of...):

antianxiety drug; anxiolytic; anxiolytic drug; minor tranquilizer; minor tranquilliser; minor tranquillizer (a tranquilizer used to relieve anxiety and reduce tension and irritability)

muscle relaxant (a drug that reduces muscle contractility by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses or by decreasing the excitability of the motor end plate or by other actions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "benzodiazepine"):

alprazolam; Xanax (an antianxiety agent (trade name Xanax) of the benzodiazepine class)

chlordiazepoxide; Libritabs; Librium (a tranquilizer (trade names Librium and Libritabs) used in the treatment of alcoholism)

diazepam; Valium (a tranquilizer (trade name Valium) used to relieve anxiety and relax muscles; acts by enhancing the inhibitory actions of the neurotransmitter GABA; can also be used as an anticonvulsant drug in cases of nerve agent poisoning)

estazolam; ProSom (a frequently prescribed sleeping pill (trade name ProSom))

Ativan; lorazepam (tranquilizer (trade name Ativan) used to treat anxiety and tension and insomnia)

midazolam; Versed (an injectable form of benzodiazepine (trade name Versed) useful for sedation and for reducing pain during uncomfortable medical procedures)

nitrazepam (a hypnotic and sedative drug of the benzodiazepine type)

Restoril; temazepam (a frequently prescribed benzodiazepine (trade name Restoril); takes effect slowly and lasts long enough to help those people who wake up frequently during the night)

Halcion; triazolam (a form of benzodiazepine (trade name Halcion) frequently prescribed as a sleeping pill; usually given to people who have trouble falling asleep)

 Context examples 

The hydrochloride salt form of chlordiazepoxide, a long-acting benzodiazepine with anxiolytic, sedative and hypnotic activity.

(Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

Chlordiazepoxide exerts its effect by binding to the benzodiazepine site at the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-chloride ionophore complex in the central nervous system (CNS).

(Chlordiazepoxide, NCI Thesaurus)

It is an increase in the number of people who died from overdoses of Valium and other benzodiazepines.

(‘Sticky’ gene may help Valium calm nerves, National Institutes of Health)

Unlike typical benzodiazepine anxiolytics, this agent does not exert anticonvulsant or muscle relaxant effects and lacks prominent sedative effects.

(Buspirone, NCI Thesaurus)

An orally active, benzodiazepine type, selective cholecystokinin B receptor (CCKBR; CCK2R; gastrin receptor) antagonist with potential gastric acid reducing and antiproliferative activity.

(Cholecystokinin B Receptor Antagonist YF476, NCI Thesaurus)

A benzodiazepine with anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant properties.

(Clorazepate Dipotassium, NCI Thesaurus)

A benzodiazepine non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor.

(Nevirapine, NCI Thesaurus)

A synthetic benzodiazepine derivative with anxiolytic and sedative hypnotic properties.

(Oxazepam, NCI Thesaurus)

Midazolam exerts its effect by binding to the benzodiazepine receptor at the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-chloride ionophore complex in the central nervous system (CNS).

(Midazolam, NCI Thesaurus)

Diazepinomicin also selectively binds to the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (BZRP), a receptor highly expressed in certain cancer cells, thus inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in BZRP-expressing cells.

(Diazepinomicin, NCI Thesaurus)