While benzodiazepines, like Lorezepam, and baclofen both work on GABA receptors, their mechanism of action is quite different. Benzos target the GABA “A” receptor, which is a chloride channel, while baclofen targets the GABA “B” receptor, which is a G-protein coupled receptor and regulates a different set of molecules from GABA “A”. So it’s possible that arbaclofen has a safer tolerability profile in children than benzos because of this reason.
-Michael Gertner, MS
PhD Candidate in Neuroscience
Albert Einstein College of Medicine