Doral is part of a group of medications known as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines have several different effects on the body, including:
- Relaxing muscles
- Reducing anxiety
- Causing sleepiness
- Stopping seizures
- Impairing short-term memory.
All benzodiazepine medications can have these effects to some degree, depending on the specific medication and the dose. They work in the brain by enhancing the effects of
gamma-aminobutyric acid (
GABA), a chemical that is naturally calming. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain. This is why Doral and other benzodiazepines are known as mild tranquilizers, sedatives, or central nervous system depressants (CNS depressants).
Doral is not approved for treating
insomnia in children or adolescents. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children.
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend Doral for treating something other than insomnia. Currently, using the drug to treat
anxiety disorders is considered an
off-label use.
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