As a result, when compared to other sedative and anxiolytic drugs such as benzodiazepines like diazepam, it is a safer form of tranquilizing.

Medically, benzoctamine is used as a treatment for anxious outpatients to control aggression,[2] enuresis,[3] fear, and minor social maladjustment in children.

Other animal studies also point to the drug as a possible mechanism by which to reduce blood pressure through the adrenergic system.

[6] There is a relationship between anxiety and adreno-corticosteroid activity, with raised levels commonly being reported as an indication of stress.

[9] There are usually many risks associated with using sedatives on patients who are suffering from respiratory failure, which has made it difficult to administer tranquillizing medications in situations when they are desirable.

It is not known why this drug is safe and its benzodiazepine cousins are not, but a possible explanation for this phenomenon might come from its similarity in structure to tricyclic antidepressants, which have also been shown to not cause respiratory failure.

[8] While further experimentation is necessary, this study points to benzoctamine's possible consideration for sedation in respiratory failure patients.

Not much is understood about how benzoctamine produces its anti-anxiety effects, but rat studies have shown that the possible mechanism of action is by way of increased turnover of catecholamines.

[14] In addition to serotonin it has also been shown to decrease epinephrine, dopamine, and norepinephrine turnover by antagonizing their receptors.

[18] The average time to achieve peak plasma concentrations is 1 hour[5] and the volume of distribution for a 70 kg person is 1–2 L/kg.