The amide derived from isovaleric acid, it is a colourless solid.

In humans, it acts as a mild anxiolytic at lower doses and as a mild sedative at higher dosages.

[1] Isovaleramide has been shown to be non-cytotoxic and does not act as a CNS stimulant.

It inhibits the liver alcohol dehydrogenases and has a reported LD50 of greater than 400 mg/kg when administered intraperitoneally in mice.

[2] It is a positive allosteric modulator of the GABAA receptor, similarly to isovaleric acid.