Benzodiazepines and barbiturates are both used in the treatment of anxiety. However, benzodiazepines are preferred over barbiturates for several reasons.
Both drugs act on the GABA-A receptor, which is an ionotropic receptor with a chloride channel, by enhancing the effect of the GABA neurotransmitter. The latter usually binds to the receptor and opens the chloride channel, allowing for the entrance of chloride and causing the hyperpolarization of the cell and therefore its inhibition. Benzodiazepines and barbiturates both enhance this effect of GABA on its receptor but through different mechanisms. Benzodiazepines bind the receptor at the allosteric site and increase the current of Cl-, which reflects the amount of Cl- crossing the membrane
Both drugs act on the GABA-A receptor, which is an ionotropic receptor with a chloride channel, by enhancing the effect of the GABA neurotransmitter. The latter usually binds to the receptor and opens the chloride channel, allowing for the entrance of chloride and causing the hyperpolarization of the cell and therefore its inhibition. Benzodiazepines and barbiturates both enhance this effect of GABA on its receptor but through different mechanisms. Benzodiazepines bind the receptor at the allosteric site and increase the current of Cl-, which reflects the amount of Cl- crossing the membrane