Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that act upon benzodiazepine receptors in the CNS. The receptor is a protein comprised of 5 transmembrane subunits, which collectively shape a chloride channel in the center, namely the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA-A) receptor. These 5 subunits include 2 alpha subunits, 2 beta subunits, and 1 gamma subunit. The extracellular portions of the alpha and beta subunit proteins form a receptor site for GABA, which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. The extracellular portions of the alpha and gamma subunit proteins form a binding site for benzodiazepines.

Activation of benzodiazepine receptors causes a conformational change to a central pore, allowing chloride ions to enter the neuron. The influx of the chloride anion results in hyperpolarization of the neuron, resulting in CNS depression.[15] Benzodiazepines increase the frequency of the GABA-A receptor Cl– channel opening in the presence of GABA. In the absence of GABA, benzodiazepines have no effects on GABA-A receptor function.[16]

https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB12537

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24570-benzodiazepines-benzos