Prazepam
Pronunciation:PRAY-zee-pam (also pronounced PRAZ-eh-pam)
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number:2955-38-6
Formal Names:Centrax, Demetrin, Verstran
Type:Depressant (benzodiazepine class).Seepage 21
Federal Schedule Listing:Schedule IV (DEA no. 2764)
USA Availability:Prescription
Pregnancy Category:None
Uses.In the human body this long-acting drug converts into desmethyldi-
azepam, which is called a metabolite. Desmethyldiazepam is the major meta-
bolite ofdiazepam and also a metabolite ofclorazepate dipotassium and
chlordiazepoxide. Some researchers believe this metabolite produces the main
drug effects of prazepam and that prazepam should therefore be considered
a prodrug (meaning the substance itself has little drug value but that within
the body it converts into another substance that is beneficial). Prazepam re-
semblesoxazepamboth in chemistry and in its effects.
Prazepam is used medically to relieve anxiety and is considered as effective
asalprazolamandlorazepamfor that purpose even though they are much
stronger drugs than prazepam. One study found prazepam to work better
than diazepam for treating anxiety, although diazepam is about twice as po-
tent. A comparison with chlordiazepoxide showed mixed results; chlordiaze-
poxide produced faster general betterment of anxiety, but prazepam was more
effective at improving particular symptoms. Prazepam has also been used
successfully for treatment of depression and crankiness. One clinical trial pro-
duced weight gain in patients using the drug, but perhaps this was due to
better appetite resulting from better mood, rather than an inherent weight-
promoting quality of the drug. Some scientists have wondered if the drug
improves mood simply by helping patients to get better sleep; researchers
investigating that question concluded that the drug does have antianxiety
qualities causing the improvement. In evaluating results of a rat experiment,
researchers concluded that prazepam may be useful for treating high blood
pressure. Animal studies also find the drug to be a muscle relaxant and to
reduce convulsions.
The drug has been used to help alcoholics withdraw fromalcohol.Inone
study group several patients had experienced delirium tremens when with-