Chemicals and Drugs

GABA Modulators

Substances that do not act as agonists or antagonists but do affect the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID receptor-ionophore complex. GABA-A receptors (RECEPTORS, GABA-A) appear to have at least three allosteric sites at which modulators act: a site at which BENZODIAZEPINES act by increasing the opening frequency of GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-activated chloride channels; a site at which BARBITURATES act to prolong the duration of channel opening; and a site at which some steroids may act. GENERAL ANESTHETICS probably act at least partly by potentiating GABAergic responses, but they are not included here.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Substances that do not act as agonists or antagonists but do affect the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID receptor-ionophore complex. GABA-A receptors (RECEPTORS, GABA-A) appear to have at least three allosteric sites at which modulators act: a site at which BENZODIAZEPINES act by increasing the opening frequency of GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-activated chloride channels; a site at which BARBITURATES act to prolong the duration of channel opening; and a site at which some steroids may act. GENERAL ANESTHETICS probably act at least partly by potentiating GABAergic responses, but they are not included here.

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Classification

Broader headings

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See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

7 entry terms
  • GABAergic Modulators
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Modulators
  • Acid Modulators, gamma-Aminobutyric
  • Modulators, GABA
  • Modulators, GABAergic
  • Modulators, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • gamma Aminobutyric Acid Modulators

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

24 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

general or unspecified; prefer specifics

MeSH Record

History Note

95

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D27.505.519w.625.240.500
  2. D27.505.696.577.240.500

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. GABA Modulators. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D018757. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D018757
  2. GABA Modulators. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50430260