Imidazenil is an imidazobenzodiazepine with the profile of a partial agonist. Animal studies have shown that it does not produce sedation or ataxia in rats nor does it potentiate the effects of alcohol (Guisti et al. 1993). Imidazenil has a low intrinsic activity at the GABAA receptor and therefore causes only slight enhancement of GABA-ergic tone. Its efficacy may, however, be increased when GABA tone is reduced, which could lead to its being active only in conditions where GABA tone is altered. This may well make it an ideal treatment for anxiety and epilepsy.
