1-methyl-7-nitro-5-phenyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one

Nimetazepam's history began in the 1960s. While the exact year is uncertain, a team at Hoffmann-La Roche, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, first synthesized it. Nimetazepam quickly gained popularity in Japan during the 1980s and 1990s, marketed under the brand name Erimin as a powerful sleep medication. Due to its effectiveness for insomnia, it became widely prescribed across East and Southeast Asia. However, concerns arose regarding its potential for abuse and dependence. Unlike some other benzodiazepines, Nimetazepam offered a rapid onset of action and intense effects, making it attractive for misuse. By the early 2000s, regulations around Nimetazepam tightened in many countries.