It possesses anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, muscle relaxing, amnesic properties and produce anti-convulsant effects on administration.
Being a benzodiazepine, it exhibits a number of effects when bound to the receptor site of benzodiazepine. They potentiate the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma amino butyric acid), due to which inhibitory effects occurs, causing sedation.
The mechanism of anti-convulsant action has been linked to binding to voltage-dependant sodium (Na) channels completely or partially, rather than binding to benzodiazepine receptor as seen when causing sedation.