[Pharmacological and toxicological aspects of benzodiazepine compounds (author's transl)].

The fact that the benzodiazepines, like the neuroleptic drugs, combine with receptors makes the duration of their combination with the receptors and differences in their affinity to them a matter of great importance. Correlation between the blood levels of the drugs and the duration of their effects obtains only within certain dose limits. Barbiturates inhibit the effect of excitatory mechanisms whereas benzodiazepines enhance the effect of physiological inhibitory mechanisms. The shape of the dose response curve is greatly influenced by the so-called ceiling phenomenon. A new compound of the benzodiazepine family has been developed which holds out hope of better control on account of its pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties. As it is water-soluble local tolerance is also likely to be improved.