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Beyond the benzodiazepines: The search for new anxiolytics. A summary of pre‐clinical approaches
Author(s) -
File Sandra E.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.470020304
Subject(s) - anxiolytic , benzodiazepine , sedative , anti anxiety agents , anxiety , pharmacology , clinical efficacy , medicine , psychology , psychiatry , receptor
The clinical efficacy of the benzodiazepines in reducing anxiety is widely accepted. However, the search for novel anxiolytics continues, motivated by the hope of finding a non‐sedative anxiolytic. This article reviews the pre‐clinical evidence for new compounds as it relates both to their anxiolytic actions in animal tests and to their sedative potential. Drugs acting at sites on the GABA‐benzodiazepine receptor complex are discussed, as well as the potential importance of aminergic and peptidergic pathways.