Bromazolam

8-bromo-1-methyl-6-phenyl-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazepine

Brom, Bromaz, XLI-268

Psychoactive Class

Depressant Anxiolytic GABAergic Muscle Relaxant

Chemical Class

Bromazolam is a synthetic triazolobenzodiazepine first synthesized in 1976 but never marketed for medical use.¹ It emerged as a designer drug, first definitively identified in Sweden by the EMCDDA in 2016.² Structurally, it is the bromo analogue of alprazolam and produces comparable sedative and anxiolytic effects at a similar potency.³⁴ As with other benzodiazepines, bromazolam carries significant habit-forming potential and poses risks of dependence with repeated use.³

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Threshold~0.5 mg

Light0.5-1 mg

Moderate1-2 mg

Strong2-4 mg

Heavy4+ mg

Duration

Onset15-45 minutes

After Effects1-12 hours

Total5-8 hours

Subjective Effects

The experience closely resembles that of alprazolam and other benzodiazepines, dominated by heavy sedation, anxiety relief, and muscle relaxation with little in the way of sensory alteration. Cognitive and motor impairment scale with dose, and recall of the period after ingestion frequently becomes partial or absent. At high doses the experience can shift into delirium accompanied by auditory and visual hallucinations, followed by deep sleep.

Physical

The body feels heavy, relaxed, and uncoordinated, with drowsiness, lethargy, and fatigue as the baseline state. Impaired balance, ataxia, slurred speech, dizziness, and muscle weakness are common, and palpitations are occasionally reported.

Impairment

Dizziness Physical fatigue

Sedation

Sedation is the defining physical effect, progressing from drowsiness to deep sleep as the dose increases.

Cognitive

The headspace is one of dulled, slowed cognition and diminished anxiety. Thinking and self-assessment become impaired, confusion is common at higher doses, and anterograde amnesia frequently blanks out memory of the experience.

Suppressions

Cognition is broadly dampened, with impaired reasoning and self-assessment that worsens with dose.

Visual

Visual effects are suppressive at common doses, limited to blurring of vision; visual hallucinations occur only at high doses alongside delirium.

Auditory

Auditory hallucinations are reported at high doses, usually as part of a delirious state.

Reagent Testing

Loading reagent data

Expected colorimetric results are being prepared.

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Bromazolam acts as a positive allosteric modulator at the GABAA receptor, binding non-selectively at the benzodiazepine site across multiple receptor subtypes. It displays highest affinity for the α5 and α2 subunits (Ki of 0.62 nM and 0.69 nM, respectively) with somewhat lower but still high affinity at the α1 subunit (Ki of 2.81 nM).⁵

Pharmacokinetics

Bromazolam undergoes hepatic phase I metabolism through hydroxylation, catalyzed primarily by CYP3A4, CYP2B6, and CYP2C19, with additional contributions from CYP3A5 and CYP2C9.⁶ Phase II metabolism involves glucuronidation of both the parent compound and its hydroxylated metabolites, mediated by several UGT enzymes including UGT1A4, UGT2B10, UGT2B4, UGT1A3, UGT1A6, UGT1A9, UGT2B7, and UGT2B15.⁶

Interactions

Dangerous

Highest risk

These combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.

AlcoholGHB/GBLOpioidsTramadol

Unsafe

Avoid

There is considerable risk of physical harm when taking these combinations, they should be avoided where possible.

DiphenhydraminePCP

Caution

Use caution

These combinations are not usually physically harmful, but may produce undesirable effects, such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. Extreme use may cause physical health issues. Synergistic effects may be unpredictable. Care should be taken when choosing to use this combination.

DXMKetamineMXE

TripSit

Tolerance

Full Tolerance

As with prescription benzodiazepines, repeated use of bromazolam can produce tolerance alongside dependence and addiction. No specific timeframe for tolerance onset has been characterised, as epidemiological data remain scarce and most available information derives from case studies and individual reports.

Cross Tolerance

Benzodiazepines, GABAergic depressants

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Moderate

Bromazolam demonstrates abuse potential comparable to other benzodiazepines.⁵ Drug discrimination studies in rats showed full dose-dependent substitution for midazolam, with an ED50 of 0.54 mg/kg, indicating significant reinforcing properties mediated through α1 subunit binding.⁵⁷

Physical

High

Physical dependence develops with regular use, similar to prescription benzodiazepines.⁵ Chronic use leads to neuroadaptation requiring continued dosing to avoid withdrawal symptoms.⁵⁷

Psychosis Risk

At high doses, bromazolam may induce delirium and auditory or visual hallucinations.⁵ These effects are dose-dependent and not typically observed at standard doses.

Seizure Risk

While bromazolam possesses anticonvulsant properties at typical doses, high doses may paradoxically induce seizures. Benzodiazepine withdrawal is also associated with seizure risk, though specific data for bromazolam is limited.

History & Culture

Bromazolam was first synthesized in 1976 as part of benzodiazepine research, representing a structural modification of alprazolam where the chlorine atom is replaced with bromine.¹⁴ Despite its early synthesis, the compound was never…

Legality

By Country

United StatesUnscheduled (federal); Schedule I pending January 2026

Currently unscheduled at the federal level.¹¹ Pursuant to a Drug Enforcement Administration notice, bromazolam will be placed into Schedule I on January 14, 2026 for two years with a possible one-year extension.¹¹ Several states, including Virginia, have independently classified bromazolam as Schedule I at the state level, though notably excluding the related analog phenazolam.¹² Despite its current federal unscheduled status, arrests have occurred for mismarketing bromazolam as alprazolam in counterfeit Xanax-shaped tablets, resulting in counterfeit drug charges.¹³ The U.S. Department of Justice reported in June 2022 that bromazolam seizures were surging nationwide, frequently detected alongside fentanyl in the illicit drug supply.¹⁴

United KingdomClass C

Classified as a Class C controlled substance under UK drug control legislation.¹⁰ Class C represents the lowest tier of controlled substances, with possession, supply, and production without authorization constituting criminal offenses.

References

Source Pages

Citations

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