Mechanism of action<unk>  is a high-affinity ligand of positive modulator sites of GABAA receptors, which enhances GABAergic inhibition of neurotransmission in the central nervous system. The ultrashort half-life gives<unk>  a unique advantage over other hypnotics because of its lack of next-day residual effects on driving and other performance-related skills. Unlike nonselective benzodiazepine drugs and zopiclone, which distort the sleep pattern,<unk>  appears to induce sleep without disrupting the natural sleep architecture. A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials which compared benzodiazepines against<unk>  or other Z-drugs such as zolpidem, zopiclone, and eszopiclone has found few clear and consistent differences between<unk>  and the benzodiazepines in terms of sleep onset latency, total sleep duration, number of awakenings, quality of sleep, adverse events, tolerance, rebound insomnia, and daytime alertness.<unk>  has a pharmacological profile similar to benzodiazepines, characterized by an increase in slow wave deep sleep (SWDS) with rapid onset of hypnotic action.<unk>  is a full agonist for the benzodiazepine α1 receptor located on the GABAA receptor complex in the body, with lower affinity for the α2 and α3 subsites. It selectively enhances the action of GABA similar to, but more selectively than benzodiazepines.<unk> , although not a benzodiazepine, maintains a very similar pharmacological profile nonetheless, known for inducing hypnotic effects by α1 subreceptor sites, anxiolytic and muscle relaxant effects via α2 and α3 subsites, with negligible anticonvulsant properties (via α5 subsite), as<unk>  action is modulated at benzodiazepine receptor sites. The elimination half-life of<unk>  is about 1–1.5 hours. The absorption rate of<unk>  is rapid and the onset of therapeutic effects is typically breached within 5–15 minutes following ingestion.<unk>  should be understood as an ultrashort-acting sedative-hypnotic drug for the treatment of insomnia.<unk>  increases EEG power density in the δ-frequency band and a decrease in the energy of the θ-frequency band Pharmacokinetics<unk>  is primarily metabolised by aldehyde oxidase, and its half-life can be affected by substances which inhibit or induce aldehyde oxidase. Taken orally,<unk>  reaches full concentration in about one hour. It is extensively metabolised into 5-oxozaleplon and 5-oxodesethylzaleplon (the latter via desethylzaleplon), with less than 1% of it excreted intact in urine.
Zaleplon
Bretylium
Toremifene
Tasimelteon
Dezocine
Suvorexant
Icatibant
Fenproporex