Gidazepam

The following information was compiled in January 2026 and is subject to change as new research is conducted and as new information becomes available:

Description: Gidazepam is a novel designer benzodiazepine that acts as a prodrug for the active N-dealkylated metabolite desalkylgidazepam. Gidazepam was first synthesized in 1997 for therapeutic anxiolytic use; however, gidazepam has been identified in seized drug materials since 2022.¹ Gidazepam and desalkylgidazepam are reported to have positive allosteric modulating activity at the GABA_A receptor, with gidazepam rapidly absorbed into the blood and rapid conversion to desalkylgidazepam.^1,2 In vivo studies have shown that gidazepam does not produce the sedative and muscle relaxant effects to the same degree as other designer benzodiazepines.³ Gidazepam and desalkylgidazepam are not currently scheduled in the United States. Gidazepam was first identified at the CFSRE in September 2025 and confirmed after acquiring standard reference material. Gidazepam has been identified in two street-level drug materials to date at the CFSRE, both originating from the Northeastern United States. Gidazepam was identified alongside other novel drugs (e.g., 5,6-dichloro desmethylchlorphine, N-pyrrolidino ethylene isotonitazene) and ketamine.

Class:

Benzodiazepine

Appearance:

Drug Material

Formula:

C17H15BrN4O2

MW:

387.2

[M+]:

386

[M+H]+:

387.0457

IUPAC:

2-(7-bromo-2-oxo-5-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-1-yl)acetohydrazide

Report Date:

January 13, 2026