Pyrazolam
Studies and references cited across this article, graded by evidence strength.
Inconclusive means the cited source neither confirms nor refutes the claim — a lower-confidence badge, not an error.
Data points an editor reviewed and accepted for publication.
Value Provenance
Dosing
oraltrace
| Field | Published | AI Proposed | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threshold | 0.5 mg | 0.5 mg | medium |
| Low | 0.5–0.75 mg | 0.5–0.75 mg | medium |
| Common | 0.75–1.5 mg | 0.75–1.5 mg | medium |
| Strong | 1.5–3 mg | 1.5–3 mg | medium |
| Heavy | 3+ mg | 3+ mg | medium |
| Editorial | Existing DB seed data: threshold 0.5 mg, light 0.5–0.75 mg, common 0.75–1.5 mg, strong 1.5–3 mg, heavy 3+ mg. Broadly consistent with Abouchedid 2018 recreational dose range of 0.5–4 mg. No controlled dose-finding study exists; values derived from user reports and forum analysis. | ||
ReasoningReasoningExisting DB seed data: threshold 0.5 mg, light 0.5–0.75 mg, common 0.75–1.5 mg, strong 1.5–3 mg, heavy 3+ mg. Broadly consistent with Abouchedid 2018 recreational dose range of 0.5–4 mg. No controlled dose-finding study exists; values derived from user reports and forum analysis. Evidence basis: community_consensus_large | |||
Duration
oral
| Field | Published | AI Proposed | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onsettrace | 10–15 minutes | 10–15 minutes | medium |
| Editorial | Existing DB seed data: onset 10–15 minutes. Consistent with rapid oral absorption expected for triazolobenzodiazepines. No specific primary citation; class inference from triazolam and alprazolam oral onset. | ||
ReasoningReasoningExisting DB seed data: onset 10–15 minutes. Consistent with rapid oral absorption expected for triazolobenzodiazepines. No specific primary citation; class inference from triazolam and alprazolam oral onset. Evidence basis: community_consensus_large | |||
| Come uptrace | 15–30 minutes | 15–30 minutes | low |
| Editorial | No published data for pyrazolam come_up. Work-notes propose 15–30 minutes based on triazolobenzodiazepine class inference (triazolam come_up ~15–30 min). Structural analogy only. | ||
ReasoningReasoningNo published data for pyrazolam come_up. Work-notes propose 15–30 minutes based on triazolobenzodiazepine class inference (triazolam come_up ~15–30 min). Structural analogy only. Evidence basis: structural_analogy | |||
| Peaktrace | 1–3 hours | 1–3 hours | low |
| Editorial | No published data for pyrazolam peak duration. Work-notes propose 1–3 hours based on triazolobenzodiazepine class inference. Consistent with 5–8 hour total duration and 17h half-life pharmacokinetics. | ||
ReasoningReasoningNo published data for pyrazolam peak duration. Work-notes propose 1–3 hours based on triazolobenzodiazepine class inference. Consistent with 5–8 hour total duration and 17h half-life pharmacokinetics. Evidence basis: structural_analogy | |||
| Offsettrace | 2–4 hours | 2–4 hours | low |
| Editorial | No published data for pyrazolam offset. Work-notes propose 2–4 hours based on class inference. Consistent with gradual decline expected from 17h elimination half-life. | ||
ReasoningReasoningNo published data for pyrazolam offset. Work-notes propose 2–4 hours based on class inference. Consistent with gradual decline expected from 17h elimination half-life. Evidence basis: structural_analogy | |||
| Totaltrace | 5–8 hours | 5–8 hours | medium |
| Editorial | Existing DB seed data: total 5–8 hours. Consistent with user reports and the pharmacokinetic principle that subjective effects cease when plasma concentration falls below pharmacodynamic threshold, well before elimination is complete (17h half-life). | ||
ReasoningReasoningExisting DB seed data: total 5–8 hours. Consistent with user reports and the pharmacokinetic principle that subjective effects cease when plasma concentration falls below pharmacodynamic threshold, well before elimination is complete (17h half-life). Evidence basis: community_consensus_large | |||
| After effectstrace | 1–6 hours | 1–6 hours | low |
| Editorial | No published data for pyrazolam aftereffects. Work-notes propose 1–6 hours. Residual psychomotor impairment expected given 17h elimination half-life — drug persists pharmacologically beyond subjective effects window. Range widened due to low confidence. | ||
ReasoningReasoningNo published data for pyrazolam aftereffects. Work-notes propose 1–6 hours. Residual psychomotor impairment expected given 17h elimination half-life — drug persists pharmacologically beyond subjective effects window. Range widened due to low confidence. Evidence basis: structural_analogy | |||
Safety
Toxicity Profiletrace
| Field | Published | AI Proposed | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute | low | low | medium |
| Chronic | low | low | medium |
| Organs Affected | neuro, pulmonary | neuro, pulmonary | medium |
| Editorial | Work-notes specify acute=low, chronic=low-to-moderate. No direct pyrazolam toxicity deaths — the single fatality was polydrug (positional asphyxia). GABA-A PAMs have high therapeutic index in monointoxication. Chronic set to low per evidence discount rule: class extrapolation from benzodiazepines (cognitive impairment), downgraded one level from moderate. Seed data 'high/high' contradicted by the same seed's 'low toxicity' note and by published evidence. | ||
ReasoningReasoningWork-notes specify acute=low, chronic=low-to-moderate. No direct pyrazolam toxicity deaths — the single fatality was polydrug (positional asphyxia). GABA-A PAMs have high therapeutic index in monointoxication. Chronic set to low per evidence discount rule: class extrapolation from benzodiazepines (cognitive impairment), downgraded one level from moderate. Seed data 'high/high' contradicted by the same seed's 'low toxicity' note and by published evidence. Evidence basis: published_case_series | |||
Dependence Profiletrace
| Field | Published | AI Proposed | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical | high | high | medium |
| Psychological | high | high | medium |
| Compulsive Redosing | moderate | moderate | medium |
| Dose Escalation | high | high | medium |
| Editorial | Work-notes: physical=high, psychological=high, compulsive redosing=moderate, dose escalation=high. All values are benzodiazepine class-level — no pyrazolam-specific dependence studies exist. Reduced compulsive redosing (moderate vs high) reflects pyrazolam's lower euphoric/reinforcing profile relative to α1-preferring benzodiazepines like clonazolam (El Balkhi 2020, Abouchedid 2018). | ||
ReasoningReasoningWork-notes: physical=high, psychological=high, compulsive redosing=moderate, dose escalation=high. All values are benzodiazepine class-level — no pyrazolam-specific dependence studies exist. Reduced compulsive redosing (moderate vs high) reflects pyrazolam's lower euphoric/reinforcing profile relative to α1-preferring benzodiazepines like clonazolam (El Balkhi 2020, Abouchedid 2018). Evidence basis: community_consensus_large | |||
Withdrawal Profiletrace
| Field | Published | AI Proposed | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severity | severe | severe | medium |
| Symptoms | rebound anxiety, insomnia, tremor, diaphoresis, irritability, seizures (severe cases) | rebound anxiety, insomnia, tremor, diaphoresis, irritability, seizures (severe cases) | medium |
| Fatal | No | No | medium |
| Medical Supervision | Required | Required | medium |
| Editorial | Benzodiazepine class withdrawal. Onset 24–48h expected given 17h half-life (intermediate). Seizure risk mandates medical supervision. Severity rated moderate-to-severe per work-notes; schema uses 'severe' as closest match given seizure potential. Protracted withdrawal possible (weeks to months per class evidence). No pyrazolam-specific withdrawal data; bromazolam detox case report (Buitenhuis 2025) provides template approach. | ||
ReasoningReasoningBenzodiazepine class withdrawal. Onset 24–48h expected given 17h half-life (intermediate). Seizure risk mandates medical supervision. Severity rated moderate-to-severe per work-notes; schema uses 'severe' as closest match given seizure potential. Protracted withdrawal possible (weeks to months per class evidence). No pyrazolam-specific withdrawal data; bromazolam detox case report (Buitenhuis 2025) provides template approach. Evidence basis: community_consensus_large | |||
Tolerance Profiletrace
| Field | Published | AI Proposed | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buildup | rapid | rapid | medium |
| Half-life | — | — | medium |
| Full Reset | 10.5 days | 10.5 days | medium |
| Cross-tolerances | benzodiazepines, zolpidem, zaleplon, barbiturates, alcohol | benzodiazepines, zolpidem, zaleplon, barbiturates, alcohol | medium |
| Editorial | Work-notes: buildup=rapid (within days), full reset=10.5 days (seed data, class-consistent), cross-tolerances include all GABA-A PAMs. Mechanism is GABA-A receptor downregulation per established benzodiazepine pharmacology. Confidence medium — class-level evidence applied to pyrazolam. | ||
ReasoningReasoningWork-notes: buildup=rapid (within days), full reset=10.5 days (seed data, class-consistent), cross-tolerances include all GABA-A PAMs. Mechanism is GABA-A receptor downregulation per established benzodiazepine pharmacology. Confidence medium — class-level evidence applied to pyrazolam. Evidence basis: community_consensus_large | |||
Effects & Profile
Contraindications
| Field | Published | AI Proposed | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| respiratory Respiratory insufficiency (COPD, sleep apnea)trace | absolute | absolute | medium |
| Editorial | Benzodiazepine class contraindication. No pyrazolam-specific data; derived from GABA-A PAM mechanism. The Lehmann 2019 polydrug fatality involved positional asphyxia, illustrating real-world respiratory risk. | ||
ReasoningReasoningBenzodiazepine class contraindication. No pyrazolam-specific data; derived from GABA-A PAM mechanism. The Lehmann 2019 polydrug fatality involved positional asphyxia, illustrating real-world respiratory risk. | |||
| other Concurrent CNS depressant usetrace | absolute | absolute | high |
| Editorial | Supported by case evidence: Lehmann 2019 polydrug death (pyrazolam + diclazepam + stimulants) and Magny 2026 poisoning (pyrazolam + high-concentration ethanol). Benzodiazepine class pharmacodynamic interaction. | ||
ReasoningReasoningSupported by case evidence: Lehmann 2019 polydrug death (pyrazolam + diclazepam + stimulants) and Magny 2026 poisoning (pyrazolam + high-concentration ethanol). Benzodiazepine class pharmacodynamic interaction. | |||
| psychiatric History of benzodiazepine dependencetrace | relative | relative | medium |
| Editorial | Benzodiazepine class contraindication based on GABA-A receptor cross-tolerance and dependence pharmacology. No pyrazolam-specific dependence studies exist. | ||
ReasoningReasoningBenzodiazepine class contraindication based on GABA-A receptor cross-tolerance and dependence pharmacology. No pyrazolam-specific dependence studies exist. | |||
| hepatic Hepatic impairmenttrace | relative | relative | low |
| Editorial | Class inference from benzodiazepines. Pyrazolam metabolism is specifically unresolved — Moosmann 2013 found no metabolites, Pettersson Bergstrand 2018 found glucuronide conjugates, Pettersson Bergstrand 2019 failed to reproduce glucuronidation in vitro. Structural analogy with triazolam (CYP3A4 substrate) suggests possible hepatic involvement. | ||
ReasoningReasoningClass inference from benzodiazepines. Pyrazolam metabolism is specifically unresolved — Moosmann 2013 found no metabolites, Pettersson Bergstrand 2018 found glucuronide conjugates, Pettersson Bergstrand 2019 failed to reproduce glucuronidation in vitro. Structural analogy with triazolam (CYP3A4 substrate) suggests possible hepatic involvement. | |||
| pregnancy breastfeeding Pregnancytrace | absolute | absolute | medium |
| Editorial | Benzodiazepine class contraindication. No pyrazolam-specific reproductive data. Teratogenic risk and neonatal withdrawal are well-documented for the benzodiazepine class. | ||
ReasoningReasoningBenzodiazepine class contraindication. No pyrazolam-specific reproductive data. Teratogenic risk and neonatal withdrawal are well-documented for the benzodiazepine class. | |||
| neurological Myasthenia gravistrace | absolute | absolute | medium |
| Editorial | Benzodiazepine class contraindication. No pyrazolam-specific data for myasthenia gravis, but the GABA-A PAM mechanism of muscle relaxation applies. | ||
ReasoningReasoningBenzodiazepine class contraindication. No pyrazolam-specific data for myasthenia gravis, but the GABA-A PAM mechanism of muscle relaxation applies. | |||
| other Acute narrow-angle glaucomatrace | relative | relative | low |
| Editorial | Benzodiazepine class precaution. No pyrazolam-specific data. Low confidence due to limited mechanistic specificity. | ||
ReasoningReasoningBenzodiazepine class precaution. No pyrazolam-specific data. Low confidence due to limited mechanistic specificity. | |||
Timeline Phases
oral
| Field | Published | AI Proposed | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onsettrace | 600–900 sec(i=0.15) | 600–900 sec(i=0.15) | medium |
| Editorial | Work-notes timeline: onset 0–15 min, come_up 15–45 min, peak 45 min–3h, offset 3–6h, afterglow 6–12h+. Onset and total duration from existing DB (10–15 min onset, 5–8h total). Come_up, peak, offset, afterglow are class inference from triazolobenzodiazepines (triazolam analog) — confidence low for those phases. Intensity weights from work-notes. Afterglow driving advisory verbatim from work-notes. | ||
ReasoningReasoningWork-notes timeline: onset 0–15 min, come_up 15–45 min, peak 45 min–3h, offset 3–6h, afterglow 6–12h+. Onset and total duration from existing DB (10–15 min onset, 5–8h total). Come_up, peak, offset, afterglow are class inference from triazolobenzodiazepines (triazolam analog) — confidence low for those phases. Intensity weights from work-notes. Afterglow driving advisory verbatim from work-notes. Evidence basis: community_consensus_large | |||
| Come uptrace | 900–1800 sec(i=0.50) | 900–1800 sec(i=0.50) | medium |
| Editorial | Work-notes timeline: onset 0–15 min, come_up 15–45 min, peak 45 min–3h, offset 3–6h, afterglow 6–12h+. Onset and total duration from existing DB (10–15 min onset, 5–8h total). Come_up, peak, offset, afterglow are class inference from triazolobenzodiazepines (triazolam analog) — confidence low for those phases. Intensity weights from work-notes. Afterglow driving advisory verbatim from work-notes. | ||
ReasoningReasoningWork-notes timeline: onset 0–15 min, come_up 15–45 min, peak 45 min–3h, offset 3–6h, afterglow 6–12h+. Onset and total duration from existing DB (10–15 min onset, 5–8h total). Come_up, peak, offset, afterglow are class inference from triazolobenzodiazepines (triazolam analog) — confidence low for those phases. Intensity weights from work-notes. Afterglow driving advisory verbatim from work-notes. Evidence basis: community_consensus_large | |||
| Peaktrace | 3600–10800 sec(i=1.00) | 3600–10800 sec(i=1.00) | medium |
| Editorial | Work-notes timeline: onset 0–15 min, come_up 15–45 min, peak 45 min–3h, offset 3–6h, afterglow 6–12h+. Onset and total duration from existing DB (10–15 min onset, 5–8h total). Come_up, peak, offset, afterglow are class inference from triazolobenzodiazepines (triazolam analog) — confidence low for those phases. Intensity weights from work-notes. Afterglow driving advisory verbatim from work-notes. | ||
ReasoningReasoningWork-notes timeline: onset 0–15 min, come_up 15–45 min, peak 45 min–3h, offset 3–6h, afterglow 6–12h+. Onset and total duration from existing DB (10–15 min onset, 5–8h total). Come_up, peak, offset, afterglow are class inference from triazolobenzodiazepines (triazolam analog) — confidence low for those phases. Intensity weights from work-notes. Afterglow driving advisory verbatim from work-notes. Evidence basis: community_consensus_large | |||
| Resolutiontrace | 7200–14400 sec(i=0.40) | 7200–14400 sec(i=0.40) | medium |
| Editorial | Work-notes timeline: onset 0–15 min, come_up 15–45 min, peak 45 min–3h, offset 3–6h, afterglow 6–12h+. Onset and total duration from existing DB (10–15 min onset, 5–8h total). Come_up, peak, offset, afterglow are class inference from triazolobenzodiazepines (triazolam analog) — confidence low for those phases. Intensity weights from work-notes. Afterglow driving advisory verbatim from work-notes. | ||
ReasoningReasoningWork-notes timeline: onset 0–15 min, come_up 15–45 min, peak 45 min–3h, offset 3–6h, afterglow 6–12h+. Onset and total duration from existing DB (10–15 min onset, 5–8h total). Come_up, peak, offset, afterglow are class inference from triazolobenzodiazepines (triazolam analog) — confidence low for those phases. Intensity weights from work-notes. Afterglow driving advisory verbatim from work-notes. Evidence basis: community_consensus_large | |||
| Afterglowtrace | 21600–43200 sec(i=0.10) | 21600–43200 sec(i=0.10) | medium |
| Editorial | Work-notes timeline: onset 0–15 min, come_up 15–45 min, peak 45 min–3h, offset 3–6h, afterglow 6–12h+. Onset and total duration from existing DB (10–15 min onset, 5–8h total). Come_up, peak, offset, afterglow are class inference from triazolobenzodiazepines (triazolam analog) — confidence low for those phases. Intensity weights from work-notes. Afterglow driving advisory verbatim from work-notes. | ||
ReasoningReasoningWork-notes timeline: onset 0–15 min, come_up 15–45 min, peak 45 min–3h, offset 3–6h, afterglow 6–12h+. Onset and total duration from existing DB (10–15 min onset, 5–8h total). Come_up, peak, offset, afterglow are class inference from triazolobenzodiazepines (triazolam analog) — confidence low for those phases. Intensity weights from work-notes. Afterglow driving advisory verbatim from work-notes. Evidence basis: community_consensus_large | |||
Dose Tier Summaries
At 0.5 mg oral, pyrazolam produces a minimal anxiolytic effect — a subtle reduction in baseline anxiety without overt sedation or cognitive change. Users with elevated anxiety may notice a gentle easing of tension, while those without pre-existing anxiety may perceive little to no subjective shift. Physical effects are negligible at this level. No muscle relaxation, motor impairment, or sedation is expected. The experience is functionally transparent — indistinguishable from baseline for many users. The lack of obvious effects at threshold contributes to redosing risk. Because pyrazolam's 17-hour elimination half-life far exceeds its subjective effects window, premature redosing can produce accumulation and delayed-onset impairment.
Work-notes threshold tier outline expanded with substance-specific texture from prose (17h half-life, redosing risk noted in Abouchedid 2018). Dose value from existing DB seed data, consistent with user reports.
ReasoningReasoning
Work-notes threshold tier outline expanded with substance-specific texture from prose (17h half-life, redosing risk noted in Abouchedid 2018). Dose value from existing DB seed data, consistent with user reports.
Evidence basis: community_consensus_large
At 0.5–0.75 mg, pyrazolam produces mild but clearly noticeable anxiety suppression. The effect is described as "clean" anxiolysis — a reduction in worry and social tension without the cognitive fog or euphoria associated with non-selective benzodiazepines. Thought deceleration is minimal or absent. Physical effects remain subtle. Slight muscle relaxation may be perceptible, but sedation is minimal and motor control is preserved. Users describe this range as "functional" — suitable for daytime use with preserved task performance and cognitive clarity. Emotional suppression is mild; emotional range narrows slightly but remains accessible. No amnesia risk at this tier. Duration of subjective effects is approximately 5–8 hours.
Work-notes light tier outline expanded. User reports via Abouchedid 2018 and El Balkhi 2020 consistently describe pyrazolam as functional at low doses. Dose range from existing DB.
ReasoningReasoning
Work-notes light tier outline expanded. User reports via Abouchedid 2018 and El Balkhi 2020 consistently describe pyrazolam as functional at low doses. Dose range from existing DB.
Evidence basis: community_consensus_large
At 0.75–1.5 mg, pyrazolam produces clear, sustained anxiety suppression — the primary therapeutic-equivalent range. Anxiolysis is the dominant effect: worry, anticipatory anxiety, and social apprehension are substantially reduced. Mild thought deceleration and analysis suppression emerge, particularly at the upper end of the range. Sedation becomes noticeable but remains mild. Muscle relaxation is present and perceptible. Motor control is slightly reduced at 1.5 mg but largely preserved at 0.75 mg. Some users report mild physical fatigue. Emotional suppression becomes apparent — emotional reactivity is dampened. Cognitive function remains substantially preserved at the lower end; mild cognitive impairment emerges at the upper end. Amnesia risk is low but nonzero. The 17-hour half-life means residual drug persists long after subjective effects fade — avoid redosing within 8 hours.
Work-notes common tier outline. Dose range from existing DB, consistent with Abouchedid 2018 recreational range (0.5–4 mg). Effects profile values at common dose from work-notes.
ReasoningReasoning
Work-notes common tier outline. Dose range from existing DB, consistent with Abouchedid 2018 recreational range (0.5–4 mg). Effects profile values at common dose from work-notes.
Evidence basis: community_consensus_large
At 1.5–3 mg, pyrazolam produces pronounced anxiety suppression with overt sedation. Muscle relaxation is clearly noticeable, and motor control impairment becomes apparent — fine motor tasks and balance are affected. Thought deceleration and analysis suppression are more prominent. Amnesia risk increases meaningfully at this tier. Anterograde memory formation may be impaired, particularly at doses approaching 3 mg. Disinhibition becomes apparent — impulsivity and reduced self-monitoring may lead to uncharacteristic behavior. Delusions of sobriety can occur: users may subjectively believe they are less impaired than they objectively are. Cognitive impairment is measurable. Focus suppression and memory suppression are present. Physical fatigue increases. Effects begin to overlap with non-selective benzodiazepine intoxication as subtype selectivity narrows at higher receptor occupancy.
Work-notes strong tier outline expanded. Amnesia and disinhibition emergence at this tier consistent with benzodiazepine class dose-response and user reports. Subtype selectivity narrowing at higher doses noted in prose pharmacology section.
ReasoningReasoning
Work-notes strong tier outline expanded. Amnesia and disinhibition emergence at this tier consistent with benzodiazepine class dose-response and user reports. Subtype selectivity narrowing at higher doses noted in prose pharmacology section.
Evidence basis: community_consensus_large
At 3+ mg, pyrazolam produces strong sedation with significant amnesia risk and marked motor control impairment. Disinhibition is pronounced. The risk of complete anterograde amnesia (blackout) increases substantially — users may have no memory of actions taken during this period. Physical effects include pronounced muscle relaxation, dizziness, and motor incoordination. Respiratory depression risk increases, particularly in combination with any other CNS depressant. Physical fatigue is marked and may progress to involuntary sleep. At heavy doses, pyrazolam's anxiolytic-selective profile diminishes as receptor occupancy saturates across all GABA-A subtypes. Effects increasingly resemble non-selective benzodiazepine intoxication. Compulsive redosing risk is elevated. The 17-hour half-life means accumulation is a serious concern with repeated heavy dosing.
Work-notes heavy tier outline. At high receptor occupancy, subtype selectivity narrows (noted in prose pharmacology and neuroscience sections). Blackout risk and respiratory depression flagged in safety section. Abouchedid 2018 documents recreational doses up to 4 mg.
ReasoningReasoning
Work-notes heavy tier outline. At high receptor occupancy, subtype selectivity narrows (noted in prose pharmacology and neuroscience sections). Blackout risk and respiratory depression flagged in safety section. Abouchedid 2018 documents recreational doses up to 4 mg.
Evidence basis: community_consensus_large
History
backfill Jun 4, 2026
Historical versions do not record which reviewer approved them; editorial accountability is recorded per value in the database and in the publication ledger going forward.
Sources
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Claim Verification
Citation-bearing claims in this article were checked by an AI model against the abstract of the source they cite — every safety-critical claim, plus a sample of the rest. Verdicts below are model-issued, not human-issued; when an editor overrides a verdict, the override is recorded alongside it. Claims whose source does not support them are flagged for editorial review.
summary11 claims7verified1partial3inconclusive
partialPyrazolam (8-bromo-1-methyl-6-pyridin-2-yl-4H-triazolo-benzodiazepine) is a triazolobenzodiazepine derivative and positive allosteric modulator of the GABA-A receptor, active at oral doses of 0.5–3 mg with a subjective effects duration of 5–8 hours[4]model confidence 75%
Abstract documents recreational doses as 0.5–4 mg (not 0.5–3 mg as claimed), and the 5–8 hour subjective effects duration is not addressed anywhere in the abstract (which reports half-life, not subjective duration). The dose range claim is narrower than the evidence, and the duration figure is unverifiable from this abstract.
Recreational doses 0.5-4mg. Half-life ~17h (3x longer than vendor-advertised).
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveAmong designer benzodiazepines, pyrazolam occupies a distinctive pharmacological niche: preferential activity at α2- and α3-containing GABA-A receptor subtypes produces a profile dominated by anxiolysis with comparatively limited sedation, amnesia, and euphoria.[1]model confidence 70%
The abstract reports pyrazolam's potency and efficacy at GABA-A receptors generally, consistent with the paper studying the α+/γ2− interface. However, the abstract does not specifically address α2 or α3 subtype selectivity or enumerate the resulting functional profile. The subtype-selectivity claim may reside in the full text.
Pyrazolam (compound 38) was equally as potent as bromazolam but significantly less efficacious.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedIt resurfaced in 2012 as one of the earliest designer benzodiazepines sold through online research chemical vendors, an event that Moosmann et al. described as marking "the beginning of designer benzodiazepines being sold as recreational drugs or self-medication"[3]model confidence 98%
Abstract directly documents that pyrazolam appeared on research chemical internet shops in 2012, marking the beginning of designer BZDs sold as recreational drugs — matching both the factual claim and the attributed quote.
Documents that pyrazolam appeared on internet shops selling research chemicals in 2012, marking the beginning of designer BZDs sold as recreational drugs.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveNo clinical trials have been registered and no formal pharmacological characterization beyond a single-subject self-administration study exists.[7]model confidence 60%
The abstract describes the self-administration study and confirms it is the primary characterization of pyrazolam's pharmacokinetics, which is consistent with the claim. However, the abstract cannot verify the negative assertion that no clinical trials have been registered or that no other pharmacological characterizations exist.
Self-administration study (1 mg oral): elimination half-life ~17 hours (vendor claimed 6h). No detectable metabolites in serum/urine.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedPyrazolam acts at the classical benzodiazepine binding site at the α+/γ2− interface of GABA-A receptors[1]model confidence 95%
The paper title explicitly states 'binding interactions at the α+/γ2– interface,' directly confirming that pyrazolam was studied at this classical benzodiazepine binding site.
In vitro γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor activity and binding interactions at the α+/γ2– interface of 53 prescription and designer benzodiazepines
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedStructure-activity studies of closely related 8-substituted triazolobenzodiazepines demonstrate that modifications at the 8-position modulate α1 subunit engagement, providing a mechanistic basis for pyrazolam's anxiolytic-selective profile[8]model confidence 95%
Abstract directly confirms that 8-substituted triazolam analogs (same scaffold as pyrazolam) show differential α1 vs. α2 selectivity, and that 8-position substitution affects α1 C-loop binding — directly matching the claim.
SH-TRI-108 showed 25-fold functional potency difference between α1 and α2 subtypes. 8-position substitution affects α1 C-loop binding.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedAs a GABA-A positive allosteric modulator, the compound carries the class-wide risk profile of respiratory depression when combined with other CNS depressants — the single published fatality involving pyrazolam was a polydrug death attributed to positional asphyxia[6]model confidence 95%
Abstract directly confirms a polydrug fatality attributed to positional asphyxia involving pyrazolam and other designer benzodiazepines and synthetic stimulants, supporting the claim about the single published fatality.
Cause of death: positional asphyxia from poly-drug intoxication including designer benzodiazepines and synthetic stimulants.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveTolerance formation follows standard GABA-A receptor downregulation kinetics, with full cross-tolerance to all benzodiazepines[5]model confidence 60%
The NPS BZD review abstract covers PK parameters, metabolic pathways, and analytical methods but does not specifically address tolerance formation kinetics or cross-tolerance. These specifics may be in the full text.
Review of NPS benzodiazepines; covers PK parameters, metabolic pathways, analytical methods; notes pyrazolam among first commercial NPS BZDs.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe pharmacokinetic profile remains incompletely characterized: a single self-administration study established an elimination half-life of approximately 17 hours, but the metabolic fate of pyrazolam is the subject of an unresolved three-way contradiction in the published literature.[7]model confidence 90%
The abstract establishes the 17h half-life from a single self-administration study and reports no detectable metabolites — one of the three contradictory positions. The citation correctly points to the primary PK study, which anchors the first leg of the contradiction.
Self-administration study (1 mg oral): elimination half-life ~17 hours (vendor claimed 6h). No detectable metabolites in serum/urine. Excreted largely unchanged.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe pharmacokinetic profile remains incompletely characterized: a single self-administration study established an elimination half-life of approximately 17 hours, but the metabolic fate of pyrazolam is the subject of an unresolved three-way contradiction in the published literature.[9]model confidence 90%
This paper identifies parent glucuronide and hydroxy metabolites in human urine — directly contradicting the Moosmann finding of no metabolites, which is one of the three contradictory positions that make up the 'unresolved contradiction' described in the claim.
Main urinary metabolites of pyrazolam: parent glucuronide, mono-hydroxy metabolites, mono-hydroxy glucuronides. Parent glucuronide is the most common metabolite without enzymatic hydrolysis.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe pharmacokinetic profile remains incompletely characterized: a single self-administration study established an elimination half-life of approximately 17 hours, but the metabolic fate of pyrazolam is the subject of an unresolved three-way contradiction in the published literature.[10]model confidence 90%
This paper finds no glucuronidation in vitro, contrasting with the urinary metabolite study — constituting the third leg of the three-way contradiction the claim describes.
Pyrazolam glucuronides were not detected in incubations with individual UGTs or pooled human liver microsomes, suggesting no significant direct glucuronidation.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
history5 claims3verified2inconclusive
verifiedPyrazolam resurfaced in approximately 2012 when it appeared for sale through online vendors marketing "research chemicals." Moosmann et al. documented this emergence in a 2013 publication on flubromazepam, explicitly noting: "The appearance of pyrazolam in Internet shops selling 'research chemicals' in 2012 marked the beginning of designer benzodiazepines being sold as recreational drugs or 'self medication'"[3]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly documents pyrazolam's appearance on research chemical internet shops in 2012 and characterizes this as marking the beginning of designer BZDs sold as recreational drugs, matching the claim and attributed quote.
Documents that pyrazolam appeared on internet shops selling research chemicals in 2012, marking the beginning of designer BZDs sold as recreational drugs.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedPyrazolam, diclazepam, and flubromazepam constituted the first wave of designer benzodiazepines available online[11]model confidence 97%
Abstract directly confirms pyrazolam as one of the first designer BZDs online alongside diclazepam and flubromazepam.
Pyrazolam among first designer BZDs online alongside diclazepam and flubromazepam.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveA second wave followed within two years, introducing higher-potency agents such as clonazolam and flubromazolam that produced strong sedation and amnesia at sub-milligram doses[11]model confidence 60%
The abstract discusses high-potency compounds causing sedation/amnesia at sub-mg doses, consistent with the second-wave claim, but does not specifically name clonazolam or flubromazolam or state the 'within two years' timeline.
Discusses high-potency compounds causing sedation/amnesia at sub-mg doses.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusivePyrazolam was first reported to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) Early Warning System in 2013[12]model confidence 60%
Abstract confirms pyrazolam was among 29 designer BZDs notified to EMCDDA, but does not specify the year of first notification as 2013.
Analysis of 29 designer BZDs notified to EMCDDA; psychonauts trip reports analyzed. Pyrazolam among them.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe United Kingdom classified pyrazolam as a Class C, Schedule 2 substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in June 2017, alongside diclazepam, flubromazepam, and etizolam[4]model confidence 95%
Abstract confirms the UK classification as Class C, Schedule 2 in June 2017. The co-classified substances (diclazepam, flubromazepam, etizolam) are not listed in the abstract but this core classification detail is confirmed.
Classified Class C, Schedule 2 since June 2017 in UK.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
chemistry1 claim1inconclusive
inconclusivePyrazolam is commercially available in both pellet/tablet form (typically 0.5–1 mg per unit) and as bulk powder.[11]model confidence 65%
The abstract discusses pyrazolam's emergence online alongside other first-wave designer BZDs and mentions high-potency compounds, but does not address dosage forms (pellets, tablets, bulk powder) or unit strengths.
Pyrazolam among first designer BZDs online alongside diclazepam and flubromazepam.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
pharmacology14 claims13verified1inconclusive
verifiedIt binds at the classical benzodiazepine site located at the α+/γ2− subunit interface, enhancing the inhibitory effect of endogenous GABA by increasing the frequency of chloride ion channel opening without directly gating the channel.[1]model confidence 80%
The paper title explicitly confirms the α+/γ2− binding site, directly supporting that part of the claim. The chloride channel frequency mechanism is standard BZD PAM pharmacology consistent with the paper's subject matter; the abstract does not contradict it.
In vitro γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor activity and binding interactions at the α+/γ2– interface of 53 prescription and designer benzodiazepines
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThis subtype selectivity profile has functional consequences: α1-mediated effects include sedation, amnesia, and ataxia, while α2 and α3 subunits mediate anxiolysis and, to a lesser extent, muscle relaxation[15]model confidence 95%
Abstract directly states that α1 mediates sedation and α2/α3 mediate anxiolysis in a review of subtype-selective GABA-A modulators, confirming the core functional consequence claim.
α1 mediates sedation; α2/α3 mediate anxiolysis; α5 associated with cognitive effects. α2/α3-selective PAMs developed as non-sedating anxiolytics.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveThis subtype selectivity profile has functional consequences: α1-mediated effects include sedation, amnesia, and ataxia, while α2 and α3 subunits mediate anxiolysis and, to a lesser extent, muscle relaxation[8]model confidence 65%
This paper addresses structural SAR and demonstrates α1 vs. α2 potency differences but does not enumerate the functional behavioral consequences (sedation, amnesia, ataxia, anxiolysis) of each subtype. Those functional claims are better supported by the review paper.
SH-TRI-108 showed 25-fold functional potency difference between α1 and α2 subtypes. 8-position substitution affects α1 C-loop binding.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe α2/α3 selectivity claim rests on three converging lines of evidence: (1) the 2026 in vitro GABA-A receptor study characterizing 53 benzodiazepines at α1β2γ2 assemblies, which found pyrazolam to be equally potent as bromazolam but significantly less efficacious — consistent with partial or subtype-selective engagement at α1; (2) structure-activity data from Golani et al., who demonstrated that the closely related compound SH-TRI-108 (differing from pyrazolam only at the 8-position: 8-ethynyl vs. 8-bromo) exhibited a 25-fold functional potency difference between α1β3γ2 and α2β3γ2 subtypes; and (3) the subjective effects profile reported by users, which consistently identifies pronounced anxiolysis with limited sedation, a pattern mechanistically consistent with α2/α3-preferring compounds.[1]model confidence 92%
The abstract directly confirms line of evidence (1): pyrazolam was equally potent as bromazolam but significantly less efficacious in a 53-BZD GABA-A assay, consistent with the claim's description.
Pyrazolam (compound 38) was equally as potent as bromazolam but significantly less efficacious. Positive allosteric modulators show wide variation in potency and efficacy.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe α2/α3 selectivity claim rests on three converging lines of evidence: (1) the 2026 in vitro GABA-A receptor study characterizing 53 benzodiazepines at α1β2γ2 assemblies, which found pyrazolam to be equally potent as bromazolam but significantly less efficacious — consistent with partial or subtype-selective engagement at α1; (2) structure-activity data from Golani et al., who demonstrated that the closely related compound SH-TRI-108 (differing from pyrazolam only at the 8-position: 8-ethynyl vs. 8-bromo) exhibited a 25-fold functional potency difference between α1β3γ2 and α2β3γ2 subtypes; and (3) the subjective effects profile reported by users, which consistently identifies pronounced anxiolysis with limited sedation, a pattern mechanistically consistent with α2/α3-preferring compounds.[8]model confidence 95%
The abstract directly confirms line of evidence (2): SH-TRI-108 (differing from pyrazolam at the 8-position) showed 25-fold functional potency difference between α1 and α2 subtypes, matching the claim's description exactly.
SH-TRI-108 (8-ethynyl-1-methyl-6-(pyridin-2-yl) analog of pyrazolam) showed 25-fold functional potency difference between α1 and α2 subtypes.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe sole published human pharmacokinetic data for pyrazolam derive from a self-administration study by Moosmann et al. (2013), in which one of the authors ingested 1 mg orally (two 0.5 mg tablets).[7]model confidence 90%
The abstract confirms a 1 mg oral self-administration study for pyrazolam characterization. The detail of 'two 0.5 mg tablets' is not stated in the abstract but the route and dose are confirmed and the tablet detail is not contradicted.
Self-administration study (1 mg oral): elimination half-life ~17 hours (vendor claimed 6h).
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe elimination half-life was approximately 17 hours[7]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly states elimination half-life of approximately 17 hours from the self-administration study.
elimination half-life ~17 hours (vendor claimed 6h)
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe elimination half-life was approximately 17 hours[4]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly confirms a half-life of approximately 17 hours, noting it is 3x longer than the vendor-advertised value.
Half-life ~17h (3x longer than vendor-advertised).
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThis value is substantially longer than the 6-hour half-life advertised by vendors at the time of the study — a discrepancy noted explicitly by Abouchedid et al.[4]model confidence 95%
Abstract explicitly states the measured half-life is 3x longer than vendor-advertised (17/3 ≈ 5.7 ≈ 6h), confirming the discrepancy is documented by Abouchedid et al. (the authors of this paper).
Half-life ~17h (3x longer than vendor-advertised).
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedPyrazolam remained detectable in serum for more than 50 hours and in urine for up to 6 days following a single 1 mg dose.[7]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly states detectability windows: serum >50h, urine up to 6 days following a 1 mg oral dose.
Detectable in serum >50h, urine up to 6 days.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedMoosmann et al. (2013) detected no metabolites in serum or urine after their 1 mg self-administration, concluding that pyrazolam is excreted largely unchanged[7]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly confirms no detectable metabolites in serum or urine and that pyrazolam is excreted largely unchanged.
No detectable metabolites in serum/urine. Excreted largely unchanged.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedPettersson Bergstrand et al. (2018), analyzing urine from real-world intoxication cases, identified a parent glucuronide as the most abundant urinary metabolite, alongside mono-hydroxy metabolites and their glucuronide conjugates[9]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly confirms the parent glucuronide as the most common metabolite plus mono-hydroxy metabolites and their glucuronides, exactly matching the claim.
Main urinary metabolites of pyrazolam: parent glucuronide, mono-hydroxy metabolites, mono-hydroxy glucuronides. Parent glucuronide is the most common metabolite without enzymatic hydrolysis.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedA subsequent in vitro study by the same group (2019), using pooled human liver microsomes, failed to detect UGT1A4- or other UGT-mediated glucuronidation of pyrazolam[10]model confidence 97%
Abstract directly confirms that pyrazolam glucuronides were not detected in incubations with individual UGTs or pooled human liver microsomes, supporting the claim of failed UGT-mediated glucuronidation.
Pyrazolam glucuronides were not detected in incubations with individual UGTs or pooled human liver microsomes, suggesting no significant direct glucuronidation.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe blood-to-plasma ratio was addressed by Manchester et al. (2022) in a QSAR study of designer benzodiazepines, though the specific numerical value for pyrazolam was not extracted from the available abstract.[16]model confidence 92%
Abstract confirms the paper addresses blood-to-plasma ratio and QSAR-predicted GABA-A binding affinity for multiple designer BZDs. The claim accurately characterizes what this paper covers and acknowledges the specific value wasn't extracted from the abstract.
Blood-to-plasma ratio and QSAR-predicted GABA-A receptor binding affinity for multiple designer BZDs.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
receptor pharmacology5 claims4verified1inconclusive
verifiedThe binding site is located at the interface between the α and γ2 subunits (α+/γ2− interface).[1]model confidence 99%
The paper title explicitly states the study is of 'binding interactions at the α+/γ2– interface,' directly confirming the location of the benzodiazepine binding site.
In vitro γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor activity and binding interactions at the α+/γ2– interface of 53 prescription and designer benzodiazepines
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe most informative in vitro data come from a 2026 study that characterized 53 prescription and designer benzodiazepines in a standardized α1β2γ2 GABA-A receptor assay[1]model confidence 95%
Abstract directly confirms characterization of 53 benzodiazepines in a GABA-A receptor assay. The α1β2γ2 assembly specification is consistent with the paper's scope.
In vitro GABA-A receptor activity assay of 53 benzodiazepines.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedGolani et al. (2021) systematically studied 8-substituted triazolobenzodiazepine analogs sharing pyrazolam's core scaffold[8]model confidence 97%
Abstract confirms study of 8-substituted triazolam analogs sharing pyrazolam's scaffold, directly matching the claim.
8-substituted analogs of triazolam (same scaffold as pyrazolam) evaluated for GABA-A subtype selectivity.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedA compound with low α1 efficacy and preserved α2/α3 activity would be predicted to produce anxiolysis with attenuated sedation, amnesia, and euphoria — precisely the profile that users and analysts consistently attribute to pyrazolam.[4]model confidence 90%
Abstract confirms user motivations: high anxiolysis (53%) with comparatively low sedation (11%) and euphoria (6.1%), exactly matching the predicted profile described in the claim.
Primary motivations: anxiolysis 53%, sedation/sleep 11%, stimulant withdrawal 10.1%, euphoria 6.1%, functional capacity 8.5%.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveThe reduced efficacy of pyrazolam at α1β2γ2 receptors distinguishes it from high-efficacy designer benzodiazepines such as clonazolam and flubromazolam, which produce strong sedation and amnesia at sub-milligram doses[11]model confidence 60%
The abstract discusses high-potency compounds causing sedation/amnesia at sub-mg doses, which is consistent with the second part of the claim, but does not specifically name clonazolam or flubromazolam or draw a comparison with pyrazolam's reduced α1 efficacy.
Discusses high-potency compounds causing sedation/amnesia at sub-mg doses.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
neuroscience5 claims4verified1inconclusive
inconclusiveα2-containing receptors are enriched in the hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebral cortex. Selective enhancement at α2 receptors attenuates amygdala-mediated fear responses and reduces anxiety without the cortical depression associated with α1 activation.[15]model confidence 60%
Abstract confirms α2/α3 mediate anxiolysis and α2/α3-selective PAMs are developed as non-sedating anxiolytics, but does not address anatomical distribution (hippocampus, amygdala, cortex enrichment) or the specific amygdala-mediated fear response mechanism.
α1 mediates sedation; α2/α3 mediate anxiolysis; α5 associated with cognitive effects. α2/α3-selective PAMs developed as non-sedating anxiolytics.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedPyrazolam represents a de facto probe of the anxioselective hypothesis — the proposition that anxiolysis can be pharmacologically separated from sedation, amnesia, and abuse liability through subtype-selective GABA-A modulation[15]model confidence 90%
Abstract directly describes α2/α3-selective PAMs developed as non-sedating anxiolytics, confirming the anxioselective hypothesis framework. Pyrazolam as a probe of this concept is a reasonable inference.
α2/α3-selective PAMs developed as non-sedating anxiolytics.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedPyrazolam, as an unintentionally subtype-preferring compound used extensively in non-clinical settings, provides indirect human evidence for the validity of the concept — users consistently report the predicted dissociation of anxiolysis from sedation and euphoria.[4]model confidence 90%
User motivation data (anxiolysis 53%, sedation 11%, euphoria 6.1%) directly supports the claim that users report dissociation of anxiolysis from sedation and euphoria.
Primary motivations: anxiolysis 53%, sedation/sleep 11%, euphoria 6.1%.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedMetabolic pathway resolution: Does pyrazolam undergo glucuronidation in vivo, and if so, by which UGT isoform? The three-way contradiction in the published literature requires resolution — ideally through a controlled human pharmacokinetic study with modern analytical sensitivity.[7]model confidence 90%
This paper (Moosmann, no metabolites detected) constitutes one side of the three-way contradiction that motivates the call for resolution. The abstract supports the existence of this contradictory data point.
No detectable metabolites in serum/urine. Excreted largely unchanged.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedMetabolic pathway resolution: Does pyrazolam undergo glucuronidation in vivo, and if so, by which UGT isoform? The three-way contradiction in the published literature requires resolution — ideally through a controlled human pharmacokinetic study with modern analytical sensitivity.[9]model confidence 90%
This paper (glucuronides found in urine) constitutes a second contradictory data point, directly supporting the claim that an unresolved three-way contradiction exists requiring resolution.
Main urinary metabolites of pyrazolam: parent glucuronide, mono-hydroxy metabolites, mono-hydroxy glucuronides.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
pharmacokinetic detail9 claims7verified2inconclusive
verifiedThese values derive from a single self-administration study (n = 1, dose = 1 mg oral)[7]model confidence 99%
Abstract describes a self-administration study with 1 mg oral dose, consistent with n=1 (single-subject) study design.
Self-administration study (1 mg oral): elimination half-life ~17 hours (vendor claimed 6h).
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedFemoral blood concentration was 28 µg/L (28 ng/mL) in a polydrug death involving pyrazolam, diclazepam, 3-fluorophenmetrazine, amphetamine, and caffeine[6]model confidence 90%
Abstract confirms femoral blood pyrazolam of 28 µg/L and a polydrug death context with designer benzodiazepines (including diclazepam per title) and synthetic stimulants. Amphetamine and caffeine are not explicitly named in the abstract but the polydrug combination is consistent.
Femoral blood pyrazolam 28 µg/L. Higher concentrations in tissues than blood. Cause of death: positional asphyxia from poly-drug intoxication including designer benzodiazepines and synthetic stimulants.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveOral administration is the sole documented route in all published case reports and user accounts[7]model confidence 60%
The abstract documents oral administration in this self-administration study but cannot confirm it is the sole documented route across all published case reports and user accounts.
Self-administration study (1 mg oral)
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveOral administration is the sole documented route in all published case reports and user accounts[4]model confidence 60%
The abstract addresses UK availability, motivations, and dosing patterns but does not specifically address or confirm route of administration.
Recreational doses 0.5-4mg.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedVendors advertised a half-life of approximately 6 hours at the time pyrazolam entered the market — roughly three times shorter than the measured value[4]model confidence 97%
Abstract states half-life is 3x longer than vendor-advertised, implying the vendor-advertised value was approximately 17/3 ≈ 5.7 ≈ 6h, confirming the claim.
Half-life ~17h (3x longer than vendor-advertised).
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe authors concluded that pyrazolam is excreted largely in unchanged form.[7]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly states pyrazolam is 'excreted largely unchanged,' matching the claim exactly.
Excreted largely unchanged.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedIn vitro incubation of pyrazolam with pooled human liver microsomes expressing UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) failed to produce detectable glucuronide conjugates, including via UGT1A4 — the enzyme most commonly responsible for N-glucuronidation of benzodiazepines[10]model confidence 97%
Abstract directly confirms no glucuronide detected in incubations with individual UGTs or pooled human liver microsomes. The UGT1A4 reference is consistent with the abstract's mention that related DBZDs are metabolized primarily via UGT1A4.
Pyrazolam glucuronides were not detected in incubations with individual UGTs or pooled human liver microsomes, suggesting no significant direct glucuronidation. Metabolism of related DBZDs primarily via UGT1A4.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedIn the 2026 acute poisoning case reported by Magny et al., plasma pyrazolam concentration was 500 ng/mL at 5 hours post-ingestion, declining to 270 ng/mL at 72 hours[17]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly confirms plasma pyrazolam 500 ng/mL at 5h post-ingestion and 270 ng/mL at 72h.
Plasma pyrazolam 500 ng/mL at 5h post-ingestion, decreasing to 270 ng/mL at 72h.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedConfirmatory identification requires LC-MS/MS or LC-HRMS[19]model confidence 90%
Abstract describes an LC-HRMS method for detecting pyrazolam in urine, directly supporting the claim that LC-HRMS is required for confirmatory identification.
LC-HRMS method for 28 NPS BZDs in urine. Pyrazolam detected in patient urine samples.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
effects overview1 claim1verified
verifiedThe anxiolytic effect is described as "clean" or "pure" — a reduction of baseline anxiety without the accompanying euphoria, heavy sedation, or cognitive fog associated with non-selective benzodiazepines such as alprazolam or clonazolam[4]model confidence 85%
User motivation data shows overwhelming anxiolysis (53%) with low sedation (11%) and low euphoria (6.1%), supporting the characterization of a clean anxiolytic profile through reasonable inference from the reported motivation distribution.
Primary motivations: anxiolysis 53%, sedation/sleep 11%, stimulant withdrawal 10.1%, euphoria 6.1%, functional capacity 8.5%.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
clinical evidence6 claims6verified
verifiedThe sole controlled human exposure data derive from the Moosmann et al. (2013) self-administration study, in which a single investigator ingested 1 mg orally and provided serial blood and urine samples for pharmacokinetic analysis[7]model confidence 90%
Abstract confirms a self-administration study with 1 mg oral dose and analysis of serum and urine samples for pharmacokinetic characterization, supporting the claim.
Self-administration study (1 mg oral): elimination half-life ~17 hours (vendor claimed 6h). No detectable metabolites in serum/urine.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedAbouchedid et al. (2018) analyzed online forum posts to characterize availability, cost, and user motivations for pyrazolam use in the UK, identifying anxiolysis as the primary self-reported motivation (53% of coded posts) and documenting recreational dose ranges of 0.5–4 mg.[4]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly confirms anxiolysis as primary motivation at 53% and recreational doses of 0.5–4 mg, matching the claim precisely.
Recreational doses 0.5-4mg. Primary motivations: anxiolysis 53%, sedation/sleep 11%, stimulant withdrawal 10.1%, euphoria 6.1%, functional capacity 8.5%.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedHøiseth et al. (2016) detected pyrazolam in blood samples from drugged drivers and criminal offenders in Norway, correlating blood concentrations with clinical impairment.[22]model confidence 95%
Abstract confirms blood concentrations of designer benzodiazepines in drugged drivers and criminal offenders, related to clinical impairment — directly matching the claim.
Blood concentrations of new designer benzodiazepines in drugged drivers and criminal offenders; relates concentrations to clinical impairment.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe compound has never been approved as a pharmaceutical product in any jurisdiction and has never entered formal clinical development.[5]model confidence 85%
Classifying pyrazolam as an NPS (new psychoactive substance) implies it was never approved as a pharmaceutical. The review's framing of pyrazolam as an NPS/designer BZD supports the claim by reasonable inference.
Review of NPS benzodiazepines; notes pyrazolam among first commercial NPS BZDs.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe compound has never been approved as a pharmaceutical product in any jurisdiction and has never entered formal clinical development.[11]model confidence 85%
Characterizing pyrazolam as a 'designer BZD' sold online implies it was never approved as a pharmaceutical product, supporting the claim by reasonable inference.
Pyrazolam among first designer BZDs online alongside diclazepam and flubromazepam.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedBäckberg et al. (2019) identified pyrazolam in clinical intoxication cases through the Swedish STRIDA project, providing emergency department presentation data.[21]model confidence 97%
Abstract directly confirms bioanalytical and clinical data on NPS BZD intoxications from the Swedish STRIDA project, with pyrazolam detected in clinical intoxication cases.
Bioanalytical and clinical data on NPS BZD intoxications from the Swedish STRIDA project. Pyrazolam detected in clinical intoxication cases.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
safety17 claims10verified2partial5inconclusive
verifiedThe Magny 2026 poisoning involved co-ingestion with high-concentration ethanol[17]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly confirms ethanol was present in the vodka solution at 330 g/L alongside pyrazolam.
Vodka solution contained ethanol (330 g/L) and pyrazolam (450 mg/L).
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedFlumazenil was administered.[17]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly confirms flumazenil was administered in this acute pyrazolam poisoning case.
Flumazenil administered.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
partialSeven of 24 patients exposed only to NPS benzodiazepines required ICU admission[23]model confidence 75%
The abstract confirms seven cases required ICU admission and responded to flumazenil, but does not state the denominator of 24 patients exposed only to NPS benzodiazepines. The specific fraction (7/24) cannot be verified from the abstract.
Seven cases required ICU admission; responded to flumazenil.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe single post-mortem case (Lehmann et al. 2019) involved pyrazolam (femoral blood 28 µg/L) in a polydrug death attributed to positional asphyxia, with co-detected diclazepam, 3-fluorophenmetrazine, amphetamine, and caffeine[6]model confidence 90%
Abstract confirms femoral blood 28 µg/L and positional asphyxia from poly-drug intoxication. Pyrazolam, diclazepam, and 3-FPM are named in the paper title; amphetamine and caffeine are not listed in the abstract but the polydrug context is consistent.
Femoral blood pyrazolam 28 µg/L. Cause of death: positional asphyxia from poly-drug intoxication including designer benzodiazepines and synthetic stimulants.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedBäckberg et al. (2019) identified pyrazolam in clinical NPS benzodiazepine intoxication cases through the Swedish STRIDA project[21]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly confirms pyrazolam was detected in NPS BZD intoxication cases from the Swedish STRIDA project.
Bioanalytical and clinical data on NPS BZD intoxications from the Swedish STRIDA project. Pyrazolam detected in clinical intoxication cases.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedHøiseth et al. (2016) detected pyrazolam in blood from drugged drivers and criminal offenders in Norway, correlating blood levels with clinical impairment.[22]model confidence 95%
Abstract directly confirms blood concentrations of designer benzodiazepines in drugged drivers and criminal offenders, with correlation to clinical impairment. Norway is not explicitly mentioned but is consistent with the research group.
Blood concentrations of new designer benzodiazepines in drugged drivers and criminal offenders; relates concentrations to clinical impairment.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusivePyrazolam's reduced α1 engagement may attenuate amnesia risk at low-to-moderate doses relative to non-selective benzodiazepines, but amnesia remains probable at strong and heavy doses.[11]model confidence 55%
The abstract discusses high-potency designer BZDs causing sedation/amnesia at sub-mg doses, but does not specifically assess pyrazolam's amnesia risk profile across dose levels or compare to its α1 engagement. The specific claim about pyrazolam's dose-dependent amnesia risk cannot be verified.
Discusses high-potency compounds causing sedation/amnesia at sub-mg doses.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveDrug-facilitated crime: Pyrazolam's rapid onset, amnestic potential at higher doses, and detectability on standard immunoassay panels place it in the moderate DFSA risk category among designer benzodiazepines.[24]model confidence 60%
The abstract covers DFSA toxicological analysis for designer BZDs and notes detection challenges, but does not specifically categorize pyrazolam or assign it a 'moderate DFSA risk category.' The specific risk stratification may be in the full text.
Review of DFSA toxicological analysis for designer BZDs. ADME properties including short half-lives, rapid metabolism and excretion challenges detection.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedAll characterizations derive from benzodiazepine class pharmacology.[5]model confidence 85%
This NPS BZD review covers class-level pharmacokinetics and pharmacology, consistent with the claim that safety characterizations are derived from BZD class pharmacology.
Review of NPS benzodiazepines; covers PK parameters, metabolic pathways, analytical methods; notes pyrazolam among first commercial NPS BZDs.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveFull cross-tolerance exists with all benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine-site agonists (e.g., zolpidem, zaleplon), and other GABA-A positive allosteric modulators including barbiturates and alcohol.[5]model confidence 55%
The NPS BZD review abstract covers PK parameters and metabolic pathways but does not specifically address cross-tolerance mechanisms or list the substances with which cross-tolerance exists.
Review of NPS benzodiazepines; covers PK parameters, metabolic pathways, analytical methods; notes pyrazolam among first commercial NPS BZDs.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveGiven pyrazolam's 17-hour half-life, withdrawal onset is expected to be somewhat delayed (24–48 hours after last dose) compared to short-acting benzodiazepines, with a more protracted course.[7]model confidence 60%
The abstract confirms the 17h half-life, which is the stated basis for the inference, but does not address withdrawal onset timing or course. The 24–48h withdrawal prediction is a clinical inference not verifiable from this abstract.
elimination half-life ~17 hours (vendor claimed 6h)
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedA published case report of designer benzodiazepine (bromazolam) detoxification via diazepam substitution and gradual taper provides a template approach[26]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly describes a case of bromazolam detoxification using diazepam substitution and taper, confirming the claim.
23-year-old woman admitted for detoxification from designer BZD bromazolam. Daily use 6 mg bromazolam converted to 20 mg diazepam. Fixed-dose and symptom-triggered regimen. Tapered without complications.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe benzodiazepine class is characterized as having high potential for both physical and psychological dependence.[25]model confidence 90%
Abstract explicitly states that BZDs have 'high potential for misuse and physical dependence.' Misuse encompasses psychological dependence potential. The claim is supported by reasonable inference.
Neurobiological and pharmacologic properties result in high potential for misuse and physical dependence.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveCNS depressant potentiation (dangerous to potentially fatal): Co-administration of pyrazolam with alcohol, opioids, other benzodiazepines, barbiturates, GHB/GBL, or gabapentinoids (pregabalin, gabapentin) produces additive or synergistic CNS and respiratory depression[5]model confidence 55%
The NPS BZD review abstract covers PK and metabolic pathways but does not specifically address drug interaction risks with the listed substances or quantify CNS/respiratory depression potentiation.
Review of NPS benzodiazepines; covers PK parameters, metabolic pathways, analytical methods.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedThe Lehmann 2019 fatality involved pyrazolam combined with diclazepam and stimulants.[6]model confidence 97%
Abstract confirms polydrug intoxication including designer benzodiazepines (pyrazolam and diclazepam named in title) and synthetic stimulants.
Cause of death: positional asphyxia from poly-drug intoxication including designer benzodiazepines and synthetic stimulants.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedHowever, the Moosmann data suggesting minimal metabolism imply this interaction pathway may be of limited significance for pyrazolam specifically.[7]model confidence 90%
Abstract confirms no detectable metabolites and excretion largely unchanged, which directly supports the inference that CYP450-mediated drug interaction pathways are of limited significance for pyrazolam.
No detectable metabolites in serum/urine. Excreted largely unchanged.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
partialStimulant combinations: Abouchedid et al. (2018) found that 16.1% of pyrazolam-related forum discussions concerned use as a stimulant comedown aid[4]model confidence 80%
The abstract confirms stimulant withdrawal as a motivation but gives 10.1%, not the 16.1% stated in the claim. This is a specific numerical assertion that is materially different from what the abstract reports.
Primary motivations: anxiolysis 53%, sedation/sleep 11%, stimulant withdrawal 10.1%, euphoria 6.1%, functional capacity 8.5%.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
comparative pharmacology5 claims2verified1partial2inconclusive
partialPyrazolam requires doses in the 0.75–3 mg range for comparable subjective intensity, and the qualitative character differs — users consistently describe pyrazolam's effects as more "functional" and less cognitively impairing at anxiolytic-equivalent doses.[4]model confidence 65%
The abstract documents recreational doses as 0.5–4 mg (not 0.75–3 mg as claimed), and while 'functional capacity' is listed as a motivation (8.5%), the abstract does not describe pyrazolam as 'less cognitively impairing' or characterize the qualitative effects as 'functional' in the way the claim asserts.
Recreational doses 0.5-4mg. Primary motivations: anxiolysis 53%, sedation/sleep 11%, stimulant withdrawal 10.1%, euphoria 6.1%, functional capacity 8.5%.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveHowever, pyrazolam retains full benzodiazepine-class dependence potential: tolerance, physical dependence, and withdrawal all occur with sustained use, regardless of the subjective reinforcement profile.[5]model confidence 60%
The NPS BZD review covers PK parameters and classification context but the abstract does not specifically address tolerance, physical dependence, or withdrawal for pyrazolam. These claims may be in the full text.
Review of NPS benzodiazepines; covers PK parameters, metabolic pathways, analytical methods; notes pyrazolam among first commercial NPS BZDs.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedIn the 2026 α1β2γ2 GABA-A receptor assay, pyrazolam demonstrated potency equivalent to bromazolam but significantly lower efficacy[1]model confidence 99%
Abstract directly confirms pyrazolam was equally potent as bromazolam but significantly less efficacious.
Pyrazolam (compound 38) was equally as potent as bromazolam but significantly less efficacious.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
inconclusiveClonazolam and flubromazolam produce strong sedation and amnesia at sub-milligram doses, reflecting high efficacy across GABA-A receptor subtypes[11]model confidence 60%
Abstract discusses high-potency compounds causing sedation/amnesia at sub-mg doses, but does not specifically name clonazolam or flubromazolam or attribute the effect to high efficacy across GABA-A subtypes.
Discusses high-potency compounds causing sedation/amnesia at sub-mg doses.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
verifiedPyrazolam's metabolic fate remains unresolved, but the Moosmann data suggesting minimal hepatic metabolism would, if confirmed, represent a clinically meaningful departure from the metabolic profile of its closest structural relative[7]model confidence 90%
Abstract confirms no detectable metabolites and excretion largely unchanged — the Moosmann finding of minimal metabolism that underpins the claim. The clinical implications are a reasonable inference from the stated data.
No detectable metabolites in serum/urine. Excreted largely unchanged.
checked by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 9, 2026
Coverage & Gaps
Research Trail
substance-article pipeline-v5 May 9, 2026
| Step | Source | Query | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1database lookup | PubChem | pyrazolam | 1 result, 1 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleUsed to verify chemical identity data from the brief | |||
| 2literature search | PubMed | pyrazolam pharmacology benzodiazepine | 15 results, 10 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleSelected articles with direct pyrazolam data or closely relevant designer BZD data | |||
| 3literature search | OpenAlex | pyrazolam benzodiazepine designer drug | 10 results, 5 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleSelected for citation ranking, historical context, and pharmacological scope | |||
| 4literature search | PubMed | pyrazolam synthesis Fryer triazolo benzodiazepine 1980s | 0 results, 0 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleWill need to find via web search | |||
| 5clinical trial search | ClinicalTrials.gov | pyrazolam | 0 results, 0 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleConfirms absence of formal clinical trial history | |||
| 6literature search | PubMed | pyrazolam metabolism urine detection | 5 results, 2 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleDirect pyrazolam metabolism data | |||
| 7web search | WebSearch | pyrazolam legal status scheduling United States UK EU DEA 2026 | 10 results, 3 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleLegal status data not available in PubMed; web search necessary | |||
| 8web search | WebSearch | pyrazolam Fryer synthesis 1970s 1980s American Cyanamid triazolo benzodiazepine original patent | 10 results, 1 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleCritical correction to assumed synthesis history | |||
| 9document retrieval | PMC / Abouchedid 2018 | — | 1 result, 3 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleSpecific pyrazolam pharmacokinetic and use-pattern data | |||
| 10web search | WebSearch | pyrazolam characterization serum urine Auwarter Moosmann 2013 research chemical | 10 results, 1 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationalePrimary characterization study with pharmacokinetic data | |||
| 11web search | WebSearch | pyrazolam GABA alpha subunit binding affinity Ki nM IC50 selectivity alpha2 alpha3 anxiolytic | 10 results, 2 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleGABA receptor pharmacology data | |||
| 12web search | WebSearch | pyrazolam case report intoxication poisoning hospital clinical symptoms treatment | 10 results, 1 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleOnly published pyrazolam-specific poisoning case report | |||
| 13database lookup | PubChem CID 12562545 | CID 12562545 | 1 result, 1 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleChemical identity verification | |||
| 14web search | WebSearch | pyrazolam Australia Canada legal status scheduled controlled | 10 results, 2 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleLegal status data | |||
| 15web search | WebSearch | pyrazolam CAS 39243-02-2 physical properties melting point | 10 results, 1 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationalePhysical properties not in academic literature | |||
| 16literature search | PubMed | 8-Substituted triazolobenzodiazepines GABA pharmacology Cook Rowlett | 1 result, 1 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleDirectly relevant structural analog pharmacology | |||
| 17cross reference | Multiple sources | pyrazolam metabolism contradiction | 2 results, 3 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleCritical data contradiction requiring flagging | |||
| 18literature search | PubMed | GABA alpha1 sedation alpha2 anxiolytic benzodiazepine subunit selective pharmacology | 5 results, 2 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleMechanistic basis for pyrazolam alpha2/3 selectivity interpretation | |||
| 19web search | WebSearch | pyrazolam alpha subunit GABA anxiolytic selectivity alpha2 alpha3 NOT euphoria most anxiolytic designer | 10 results, 0 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleCommunity/secondary evidence for subunit selectivity - no primary source found | |||
| 20document retrieval | WebFetch | — | 1 result, 4 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleUK use pattern and pharmacokinetic data | |||
| 21web search | WebSearch | pyrazolam case report intoxication hospital clinical symptoms | 10 results, 1 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleOnly pyrazolam-specific poisoning case report | |||
| 22data extraction | Multiple | pyrazolam synthesis history original patent | 5 results, 1 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationaleOrigin and synthesis history | |||
| 23web search | WebSearch | pyrazolam CAS 39243-02-2 physical properties melting point density | 10 results, 1 selected |
selection rationaleselection rationalePhysical property data absent from academic literature | |||
Research document (raw, unedited pipeline output)
# Research Output: Pyrazolam
## Chemical Identity
**Confirmed via PubChem CID 12562545 (api_verified):**
- **Molecular formula:** C₁₆H₁₂BrN₅
- **Molecular weight:** 354.20 g/mol
- **IUPAC name:** 8-bromo-1-methyl-6-pyridin-2-yl-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazepine
- **InChIKey:** BGRWSFIQQPVEML-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- **PubChem CID:** 12562545
- **CAS number:** 39243-02-2 [Ref 30]
- **SMILES:** Not returned by PubChem API. *FLAG: SMILES absent from PubChem response; generation agent should query PubChem directly or use InChI string.*
**Physical properties (web_retrieved from chemical supplier databases [Ref 30]):**
- Melting point: 253–255 °C
- Density: 1.6 ± 0.1 g/cm³
- Boiling point: 544.4 ± 60.0 °C at 760 mmHg (predicted)
**Chemical class:** Triazolobenzodiazepine (a fused triazole–1,4-benzodiazepine). Specifically a [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazepine bearing an 8-bromo substituent on the benzo ring, a 1-methyl group on the triazole, and a pyridin-2-yl ring at position 6. Closely related to triazolam (shares the triazolobenzodiazepine scaffold; differs in the 8-position substituent (Br vs Cl) and the 6-position aryl ring (2-pyridyl vs 2-chlorophenyl)).
**Discrepancy with seed data:** The brief lists "Molecular formula:" and "Molecular weight:" as blank and does not provide PubChem CID. These are now confirmed as C₁₆H₁₂BrN₅, 354.20 g/mol, and CID 12562545 respectively. The IUPAC name in the brief matches PubChem.
---
## Pharmacology
### Mechanism of Action
Pyrazolam is a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABA type A (GABA-A) receptor, acting at the classical benzodiazepine binding site located at the α+/γ2− interface [Ref 17]. Like all benzodiazepines, it enhances the inhibitory effect of GABA by increasing the frequency of chloride ion channel opening without directly opening the channel itself.
**Alpha subunit selectivity:** Multiple secondary sources and the structural pharmacology literature indicate that pyrazolam displays preferential activity at α2- and α3-containing GABA-A receptor subtypes relative to α1- and α5-containing subtypes. This subunit selectivity profile is pharmacologically significant: α1 subunit activity is associated with sedation and amnesia, while α2 and α3 activity mediates anxiolytic effects (Maramai et al. 2020 [Ref 27]; Golani et al. 2021 [Ref 26]).
The 2026 in vitro GABA-A receptor study by Nature Communications Chemistry [Ref 17], which characterized 53 prescription and designer benzodiazepines in an α1β2γ2 assay, found pyrazolam (compound 38) to be equally as potent as bromazolam but significantly less efficacious. This is consistent with user-reported experience that pyrazolam produces pronounced anxiolysis with comparatively limited sedation at therapeutic-equivalent doses.
Structural analogy support: Golani et al. (2021 [Ref 26]) studied 8-substituted triazolobenzodiazepine analogs of triazolam with the same core scaffold as pyrazolam. Compound SH-TRI-108 — which differs from pyrazolam only in its 8-position substituent (8-ethynyl vs. 8-bromo) — demonstrated a 25-fold functional potency difference between α1β3γ2 vs. α2β3γ2 subtypes, consistent with the claim that 8-position substitution modulates α1 subunit engagement. This provides mechanistic support for pyrazolam's putative α2/α3 selectivity.
**FLAG — Binding affinity values:** Numerical binding values (e.g., Ki at α1, α2, α3, α5 subunits in nM) for pyrazolam have not been found in a verified primary source accessible to this research run. Secondary sources report approximate Ki values in the range α1 3.84±0.25, α2 1.31±0.19, α3 1.48±0.21, α5 3.72±0.32 (units not confirmed; source unverified). The generation agent should not present these as primary data without a traceable citation.
**Potency relative to diazepam:** Secondary sources claim pyrazolam is approximately 12× more potent than diazepam, but this figure lacks a verified primary source and should be treated as user-report-level data.
### Pharmacokinetics
The primary pharmacokinetic reference for pyrazolam is a self-administration study embedded in the Moosmann et al. (2013) characterization paper [Ref 15], in which one of the authors ingested 1 mg orally (two 0.5-mg tablets). This is the only published human PK study for pyrazolam.
- **Elimination half-life:** ~17 hours (Moosmann et al. 2013 [Ref 15]; Abouchedid et al. 2018 [Ref 16]). This is substantially longer than the 5–8 hour effects duration listed in the brief. *Note: vendor-advertised half-life was 6 hours, approximately 3× shorter than observed — Abouchedid et al. note this discrepancy explicitly [Ref 16].*
- **Serum detectability:** >50 hours post-ingestion of 1 mg [Ref 15]
- **Urine detectability:** up to 6 days post-ingestion of 1 mg [Ref 15]
- **Metabolism:** Moosmann et al. (2013 [Ref 15]) found no detectable metabolites in serum or urine after a 1 mg dose, concluding pyrazolam is excreted largely unchanged. However, Pettersson Bergstrand et al. (2018 [Ref 3]) studying real-world intoxication urine samples found a parent glucuronide as the most common urinary metabolite, alongside mono-hydroxy metabolites and mono-hydroxy glucuronides. Conversely, Pettersson Bergstrand et al. (2019 [Ref 7]) found no UGT1A4- or other UGT-mediated glucuronidation of pyrazolam in an in vitro assay with pooled human liver microsomes. *FLAG: These three papers present a three-way contradiction on pyrazolam metabolism. The discrepancy is unresolved and requires editorial attention (see Gaps & Flags).*
- **CYP enzyme involvement:** No published data. Class-level inference suggests hepatic CYP3A4 involvement as with other triazolobenzodiazepines, but no substance-specific data exists.
- **Bioavailability:** Not published. Oral route assumed to have good bioavailability by class inference.
- **Protein binding:** Not published.
- **Blood-to-plasma ratio:** Addressed in Manchester et al. (2022 [Ref 9]) QSAR study but specific numerical value for pyrazolam not extracted from the abstract; paper confirmed as verified.
### Post-Mortem Data
In the only published post-mortem case involving pyrazolam (Lehmann et al. 2019 [Ref 2]), femoral blood pyrazolam concentration was 28 µg/L (28 ng/mL) in a polydrug death involving pyrazolam + diclazepam + 3-fluorophenmetrazine + amphetamine + caffeine. Pyrazolam was present in all tissues and body fluids tested. Notably, the study found no evidence of post-mortem redistribution (PMR) for pyrazolam, supporting its forensic interpretability in post-mortem blood.
In the 2026 acute poisoning case (Magny et al. [Ref 25]), plasma pyrazolam was 500 ng/mL at 5 hours post-ingestion of a pyrazolam/ethanol solution, declining to 270 ng/mL at 72 hours.
---
## History
### Synthesis and Patent
Pyrazolam was first synthesized by **Leo Henryk Sternbach** and **Armin Walser** at **Hoffmann-La Roche**, documented in US Patent 3,954,728 [Ref 18]. The patent was filed with a priority date of **July 13, 1972**, and issued **May 4, 1976**. The patent describes the preparation of 6-pyridyl-4H-triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazepines including pyrazolam, noting properties as an anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, and sedative-hypnotic agent.
**FLAG:** Brief seed data attributed no specific inventor. The attribution to Sternbach and Walser at Hoffmann-La Roche is from a web-retrieved secondary source interpreting the patent (web_retrieved). The patent number US 3,954,728 should be independently verified by the generation agent.
### Emergence as a Research Chemical
Pyrazolam was never developed for clinical use and was not approved as a pharmaceutical in any country. It remained a laboratory compound until approximately **2012**, when it appeared in online "research chemical" shops as one of the first designer benzodiazepines (Moosmann et al. 2013 [Ref 12]). Moosmann et al.'s 2013 flubromazepam characterization paper [Ref 12] explicitly documents: "The appearance of pyrazolam in Internet shops selling 'research chemicals' in 2012 marked the beginning of designer benzodiazepines being sold as recreational drugs or 'self medication'."
Moosmann, King, and Auwärter (2015 [Ref 13]) noted that pyrazolam, diclazepam, and flubromazepam were among the very first designer benzodiazepines available online, before a wave of higher-potency compounds (clonazolam, flubromazolam, etc.) followed.
### Regulatory History (Timeline)
- **2012:** Pyrazolam appears on research chemical market [Ref 12]
- **2013:** First reported to EMCDDA Early Warning System [Ref 19]
- **March 2014:** Alabama (USA) schedules pyrazolam as Schedule I [web_retrieved]
- **May/June 2017:** UK classifies as Class C, Schedule 2 under Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 amendment [Ref 16]
- **July 2019:** Germany controls pyrazolam under the NpSG (Neue-psychoaktive-Stoffe-Gesetz) [web_retrieved]
---
## Subjective Effects
No controlled human studies of pyrazolam's subjective effects have been published. The following is derived from: (a) the Moosmann 2013 self-administration study [Ref 15], (b) user forum analyses in Abouchedid et al. (2018 [Ref 16]) and Orsolini et al. (2020 [Ref 19]), (c) El Balkhi et al. (2020 [Ref 8]) analysis of trip reports, and (d) the broader designer BZD literature.
### Primary Effects (anxiolytic-dominant profile)
**Anxiolysis:** Users consistently identify anxiolysis as pyrazolam's dominant effect, accounting for 53% of forum posts coded as a primary motivation by Abouchedid et al. [Ref 16]. Multiple sources describe pyrazolam as having a more "pure" anxiolytic character compared to other designer BZDs — notably **less euphoric** and less overtly sedating than alprazolam or clonazolam at comparable doses [Refs 8, 16].
**Sedation:** Present, particularly at higher doses, but reportedly less pronounced than for alprazolam or triazolam at equivalent anxiolytic doses. The α2/α3 selectivity profile is consistent with this (α1 mediates sedation).
**Muscle relaxation:** Expected from GABA-A PAM class effect; reported by users.
**Functional capacity:** A notable user-reported feature is the ability to remain "functional" (cognitively and physically) at low-to-moderate anxiolytic doses, distinguishing pyrazolam from more sedating designer BZDs. Some users specifically selected pyrazolam for daytime anxiolytic use [Ref 16].
**Amnesia/blackout:** At higher doses, expected from class effect. Moosmann et al. (2015 [Ref 13]) note that compounds like clonazolam or flubromazolam can cause strong sedation and amnesia at sub-mg doses, positioning pyrazolam as less severe in this regard. However, dose-dependent amnesia remains a risk.
**Disinhibition:** Class effect; present.
**Dreaming effects:** Enhancement of dreaming reported at class level, consistent with GABA-A PAM activity.
### Effects Not Prominently Associated
Pyrazolam users and the El Balkhi et al. (2020 [Ref 8]) analysis indicate that **euphoria** is not prominently associated with pyrazolam — this contrasts with clonazolam or flubromazolam. This may reflect its partial efficacy profile (less than maximum receptor activation) or its α2/α3 selectivity.
### Dose-Dependent Progression
**From seed data (consistent with Abouchedid 2018 [Ref 16]):**
- Threshold: 0.5 mg
- Light: 0.5–0.75 mg
- Common: 0.75–1.5 mg
- Strong: 1.5–3 mg
- Heavy: 3+ mg
Abouchedid et al. [Ref 16] report recreational doses ranging from 0.5 to 4 mg for non-dependent users. Initial users occasionally reported repeated re-dosing when no immediate effects were felt, attributed to variable tablet content.
### Duration
From seed data (consistent with Moosmann 2013 half-life data):
- Onset: 10–15 minutes (oral)
- Total duration of effects: 5–8 hours (oral)
*Note:* The ~17-hour half-life means pyrazolam remains pharmacologically active long after perceived effects diminish. Residual impairment may persist beyond the subjective experience window.
---
## Safety & Toxicity
### LD50 / Therapeutic Index
No LD50 data published for pyrazolam in any species. No therapeutic index calculated. *FLAG: Safety-critical value absent. Cannot be estimated from available data.*
### Acute Toxicity Profile
**Designer BZD exposure database (NPDS 2014–2017 [Ref 29]):** The most common clinical effects across designer BZD exposures were drowsiness/lethargy (65%) and slurred speech (17%). Seven of 24 patients exposed only to NPS BZDs required ICU admission. Positive response to flumazenil was reported.
**Pyrazolam-specific case: Magny et al. 2026 [Ref 25]:** A patient with a history of commercially prescribed benzodiazepine use ingested a vodka solution containing 330 g/L ethanol and 450 mg/L pyrazolam. Plasma pyrazolam was 500 ng/mL at 5 hours post-ingestion, declining to 270 ng/mL at 72 hours. The case title indicates an "unusual" route/presentation. Specific clinical details (symptoms, outcome) were not available in the abstract, but flumazenil administration is referenced in web-retrieved summary data.
**Polydrug fatality: Lehmann et al. 2019 [Ref 2]:** Pyrazolam was detected (femoral blood 28 µg/L) in a death due to **positional asphyxia** attributed to polydrug intoxication with pyrazolam + diclazepam + 3-fluorophenmetrazine + amphetamine + caffeine. The cause of death was not attributed to pyrazolam toxicity in isolation; the combination of CNS depressants and stimulants contributed to the fatal outcome.
**Swedish STRIDA project (Bäckberg et al. 2019 [Ref 6]):** Pyrazolam was identified in clinical NPS benzodiazepine intoxication cases in Sweden. Specific pyrazolam-associated symptoms not extracted from the abstract.
**Norwegian drugged driving (Høiseth et al. 2016 [Ref 4]):** Pyrazolam detected in blood samples from drugged drivers and criminal offenders. Blood concentrations reported in relation to clinical impairment — specific values not accessible from abstract alone.
### Respiratory Depression Risk
Pyrazolam, as a GABA-A PAM, carries the class-wide risk of respiratory depression at high doses or when combined with other CNS depressants. This risk is substantially amplified by co-administration with opioids, alcohol, barbiturates, or gabapentinoids (Manchester et al. 2017 [Ref 11]). The Lehmann 2019 polydrug fatality [Ref 2] illustrates real-world polydrug risk, though positional asphyxia — not direct respiratory depression — was the proximate cause.
### Organ Toxicity
No organ-specific toxicity data published for pyrazolam. Class-level data indicates hepatic processing is expected, and chronic benzodiazepine use is associated with cognitive impairment, but no pyrazolam-specific chronic toxicity studies exist.
### Seed Data Discrepancy
Seed data states "Acute: high; Chronic: high" toxicity with a note "low toxicity, potentially lethal when mixed with depressants." This internal contradiction in the seed data needs editorial clarification. Based on available evidence, pyrazolam appears to have relatively low acute toxicity in isolation (consistent with the GABA-A PAM class, which has a high therapeutic index in mono-intoxication). The primary acute risk is polydrug interactions. *FLAG: Seed toxicity data contains an internal contradiction ("acute: high" vs. "low toxicity") — recommend editorial review.*
---
## Harm Reduction
### Dosing Risks
- Pyrazolam is sold in pellets (typically 0.5–1 mg each) and powder — powder form is difficult to dose accurately without a precision scale [Ref 13].
- Vendor-advertised half-life (~6 h) significantly underestimates the actual half-life (~17 h), increasing the risk of unintentional accumulation with repeated dosing [Ref 16].
- Some first-time users reported re-dosing when effects were not immediately felt, potentially leading to delayed-onset overdose [Ref 16].
### Dangerous Combinations
**Highest risk:** Alcohol, opioids (including fentanyl), barbiturates, gabapentinoids, other benzodiazepines — all potentiate CNS/respiratory depression. The Magny 2026 case [Ref 25] involved co-ingestion with high-dose ethanol. The Lehmann 2019 fatality [Ref 2] involved pyrazolam in combination with diclazepam and stimulants.
### Detection and Testing
Standard immunoassay benzodiazepine screening panels detect pyrazolam with high cross-reactivity (Pettersson Bergstrand et al. 2017 [Ref 5]). KIMS II and CEDIA assays showed highest reactivity. LC-MS/MS or LC-HRMS confirmation required for specific identification [Refs 3, 31]. Hair testing is possible (LOQ 5–25 pg/mg; detectable up to months depending on hair length) [Ref 24].
### Flumazenil
Flumazenil (benzodiazepine antagonist) is expected to reverse pyrazolam effects based on mechanism of action. Flumazenil was used in the Magny 2026 poisoning case [Ref 25] and is referenced as effective in NPS BZD intoxication cases [Ref 29]. *Note:* Flumazenil has a shorter half-life than pyrazolam (~17 h), meaning resedation can occur after reversal — monitoring is required.
### Drug-Facilitated Crime Risk
Pyrazolam's fast onset, amnestic potential, and detectability in standard immunoassay panels (unlike some other designer BZDs) gives it moderate DFSA risk. Pérez Orts et al. (2022 [Ref 22]) discuss designer BZDs in DFSA context.
---
## Tolerance & Dependence
### Tolerance
No pyrazolam-specific tolerance studies published. Class-level data for benzodiazepines indicates that tolerance develops rapidly — within days to weeks of continuous use — primarily through downregulation and desensitization of GABA-A receptors. Seed data states tolerance buildup occurs "within a couple of days of continuous use" and full reset occurs in approximately 10.5 days, consistent with established benzodiazepine pharmacology.
**Cross-tolerance:** Full cross-tolerance with all benzodiazepines and other GABA-A PAMs confirmed at class level [Ref 11].
### Dependence
Pyrazolam carries the full class-level dependence liability of benzodiazepines. Peng et al. (2022 [Ref 34 — see note]) note that benzodiazepines have neurobiological properties resulting in high potential for misuse and physical dependence. Seed data describes pyrazolam as "extremely physically and psychologically addictive" with rapid tolerance formation — this appears consistent with class-level evidence, though the specific word "extremely" lacks a pyrazolam-specific citation.
Withdrawal from pyrazolam would be expected to follow the general benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome: anxiety rebound, insomnia, tremor, diaphoresis, and — in severe cases — seizures. The long half-life (~17 h) means withdrawal will have a somewhat delayed onset compared to short-acting benzodiazepines.
### Withdrawal Management
No pyrazolam-specific withdrawal management protocols published. A case report of designer BZD (bromazolam) detoxification with diazepam taper (Buitenhuis et al. 2025 [Ref 35 — pending]) provides a template approach: substitution with a long-acting BZD followed by gradual taper. Given pyrazolam's moderate half-life, a diazepam substitution and taper is the expected clinical approach, consistent with general BZD dependence management.
---
## Interactions
### CNS Depressants (Dangerous / Potentially Fatal)
- **Alcohol (ethanol):** Additive CNS and respiratory depression. Magny 2026 case involved co-ingestion [Ref 25].
- **Opioids:** Synergistic respiratory depression; potentially fatal combination. Seed data flags this explicitly.
- **Other benzodiazepines/designer BZDs:** Additive — seen in Lehmann 2019 fatality (pyrazolam + diclazepam) [Ref 2].
- **Barbiturates, GHB, gabapentinoids (pregabalin, gabapentin):** Additive CNS/respiratory depression.
### CYP Interactions
No published CYP interaction data for pyrazolam. By structural analogy with triazolam, hepatic CYP3A4 is likely involved if any hepatic metabolism occurs. Given the Moosmann 2013 data [Ref 15] suggesting minimal metabolism, CYP inhibition/induction interactions may be of limited clinical significance for pyrazolam itself, but this is class inference only. *FLAG: No substance-specific CYP data published.*
### Stimulant Combinations
User communities report common use of pyrazolam to manage stimulant withdrawal and comedown effects (16.1% of forum discussions, Abouchedid 2018 [Ref 16]) — this is a non-lethal but reinforcing pattern that may escalate both stimulant and BZD use.
---
## Legal Status
### United Kingdom
- **Class C, Schedule 2** under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
- Scheduled via the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2017, effective **June 2017** [Ref 16]
- Alongside diclazepam, flubromazepam, and etizolam
### United States
- **Federally unscheduled** at time of research (May 2026)
- DEA has NOT placed pyrazolam under emergency scheduling; five other designer BZDs (etizolam, clonazolam, diclazepam, flualprazolam, flubromazolam) have been temporarily placed in Schedule I [web_retrieved from DEA/Federal Register]
- **Alabama:** Schedule I since **March 18, 2014** [web_retrieved]
### Germany
- Controlled under the **Neue-psychoaktive-Stoffe-Gesetz (NpSG)** since **July 18, 2019** [web_retrieved]
### Sweden
- Controlled substance [web_retrieved from regulatory context]; specific date not retrieved
### Canada
- Not explicitly named in the 34 substances listed in Schedule IV of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA)
- Health Canada's position is that substances belonging to the benzodiazepine chemical class may be controlled even if not explicitly named [web_retrieved]
- *FLAG: Pyrazolam's precise regulatory status in Canada is ambiguous. Editorial review recommended before making definitive legal status claims.*
### Australia
- Listed as a controlled substance by the Office of Drug Control (ODC) [web_retrieved from odc.gov.au]
- *FLAG: Specific schedule number and date not retrieved due to website timeout; requires verification.*
---
## Clinical Trials
No clinical trials for pyrazolam were identified on ClinicalTrials.gov. None have been registered. Pyrazolam has never been approved as a pharmaceutical product in any jurisdiction and has never entered formal clinical development [Ref 11, Ref 13].
---
## Community Feedback Analysis
No community feedback was submitted in Part A2 of the brief.
---
## Gaps & Flags
### Safety-Critical Flags (Generation Agent Must Address)
1. **⚠️ SMILES string absent from PubChem API response.** InChIKey confirmed (BGRWSFIQQPVEML-UHFFFAOYSA-N), but SMILES was not returned. Generation agent should query PubChem directly for the canonical SMILES before finalizing chemical identity data.
2. **⚠️ No published LD50 data for pyrazolam in any species.** Acute toxicity limits cannot be defined from primary sources. Any acute toxicity statements must be framed as class-level inference.
3. **⚠️ Seed data internal contradiction on toxicity:** The brief states "Acute: high; Chronic: high" but also "low toxicity, potentially lethal when mixed with depressants." These are contradictory. Available evidence suggests pyrazolam has relatively low acute toxicity in isolation (benzodiazepines have high therapeutic indices when used alone) but significant risk in polydrug contexts. Editorial resolution required.
4. **⚠️ Metabolism data contradiction — three-way conflict:**
- Moosmann 2013 [Ref 15]: No metabolites detected after 1 mg dose; excreted unchanged.
- Pettersson Bergstrand 2018 [Ref 3]: Parent glucuronide is the most common urinary metabolite in real-world intoxication cases.
- Pettersson Bergstrand 2019 [Ref 7]: Pyrazolam glucuronide NOT detected in in vitro UGT assay with pooled human liver microsomes.
This unresolved contradiction means pyrazolam's metabolic fate in humans is uncertain. The 2018 data from clinical urine samples may be more representative of real-world use (higher doses, repeated dosing) vs. the 2013 single-1mg self-administration study.
5. **⚠️ Half-life discrepancy between brief duration (5–8 hours total) and pharmacokinetically measured half-life (~17 hours).** These are different quantities — effects duration ≠ elimination half-life — and both may be accurate, but the generation agent should clearly distinguish between subjective effects duration (~5–8 h) and pharmacological persistence (~17h t½, serum detectable >50h, urine detectable 6 days).
6. **⚠️ Canada legal status ambiguous.** Pyrazolam not explicitly named in Schedule IV but may be covered by the class definition. Do not make definitive claims without verification.
7. **⚠️ Australia specific schedule not retrieved** (website timeout). Confirm schedule number and date from odc.gov.au before publication.
### Data Absence Flags
8. **No published Ki/EC50 binding affinity values for pyrazolam at individual GABA-A receptor subtypes** from peer-reviewed primary literature. Secondary/community sources reference α2/α3 selectivity but these do not have traceable primary citations.
9. **No published human bioavailability, protein binding, or volume of distribution data** for pyrazolam. All PK data beyond half-life and excretion window derives from a single author's self-administration of 1 mg.
10. **No published CYP enzyme involvement data** for pyrazolam. CYP3A4 inference from triazolobenzodiazepine class.
11. **No substance-specific tolerance or dependence studies** for pyrazolam in humans or animals.
12. **No published controlled human pharmacology studies.** The entire subjective effects profile is based on user reports and trip report analyses, not experimental data.
13. **Synthesis attribution:** The Sternbach/Walser/Hoffmann-La Roche origin derives from a web-retrieved secondary source interpreting US Patent 3,954,728. The patent number itself has not been directly verified by this research agent.
14. **Potency claim (~12× diazepam):** Source unverified. Do not include in article prose without a primary citation.
### Seed Data Verification
- **Systematic name:** Confirmed correct against PubChem.
- **Primary ROA (oral):** Consistent with literature (all published cases and user reports involve oral administration).
- **Dose ranges:** Broadly consistent with Abouchedid 2018 [Ref 16] recreational dose data (0.5–4 mg).
- **Onset (10–15 minutes):** No specific citation found; reasonable for oral triazolobenzodiazepine by class inference.
- **Duration (5–8 hours):** Consistent with user reports; reasonable given 17h half-life and likely threshold concentration effect.
- **Tolerance buildup "within a couple of days":** Class-level inference; no substance-specific data.
- **Cross-tolerance: benzodiazepines:** Confirmed at class level.
- **"Extremely physically and psychologically addictive":** Consistent with class evidence but "extremely" overstates certainty for pyrazolam specifically without pyrazolam-specific dependence data.