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How do benzodiazepines work?
When taken orally, benzodiazepines are absorbed in the stomach and small intestine and metabolized by the liver. Benzodiazepines are highly fat soluble and accumulate in fatty tissue.
Excretion is through sweating, saliva, urine, faeces and breast milk.
The benzodiazepines operate widely in the brain, affecting emotional reactions, memory, thinking, control of consciousness, muscle tone and coordination. The benzodiazepines enhance the action of the neurotransmitter, GABA(Gamma Amino Butyric Acid). Neurotransmitters are chemicals which enable the brain cells to transmit impulses from one to another. They are released from brain cells by electrical signals. Once released, the neurotransmitters signal inhibition or excitation of neighboring brain cells.
GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter. The function of GABA is to slow or calm things down. Benzodiazepines increase the efficiency of GABA, thus causing greater inhibition or calming. | 
