Suriclone is a sedative

Sedative

A sedative or tranquilizer is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement....

 and anxiolytic

Anxiolytic

An anxiolytic is a drug used for the treatment of anxiety, and its related psychological and physical symptoms...

 drug in the cyclopyrrolone family of drugs. Other cyclopyrrolone drugs include zopiclone

Zopiclone

Zopiclone is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic agent used in the treatment of insomnia. In the United States, zopiclone is not commercially available, although its active stereoisomer, eszopiclone, is sold under the name Lunesta...

 and pagoclone

Pagoclone

Pagoclone is an anxiolytic drug from the cyclopyrrolone family, related to better-known drugs such as the sleeping medication zopiclone. It is one of a relatively recently developed class of medicines known as the nonbenzodiazepines, which have similar effects to the older benzodiazepine group, but...

.

Suriclone has a very similar pharmacological profile to the benzodiazepine

Benzodiazepine

A benzodiazepine is a psychoactive drug whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring...

 family of drugs including sedative and anxiolytic properties but with less amnestic effects, and its chemical structure

Chemical structure

A chemical structure includes molecular geometry, electronic structure and crystal structure of molecules. Molecular geometry refers to the spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule and the chemical bonds that hold the atoms together. Molecular geometry can range from the very simple, such as...

 is quite different from that of the benzodiazepine drugs.

The mechanism of action by which suriclone produces its sedative and anxiolytic effects is by modulating GABA_A receptors, although suriclone is more subtype-selective than most benzodiazepines.