The invention is directed to tricyclic benzodiazepines useful as vasopressin receptor antagonists for treating conditions involving increased vascular resistance and cardiac insufficiency. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising tricyclic benzodiazepines of the present invention and methods of treating conditions such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, cardiac insufficiency, coronary vasospasm, cardiac ischemia, liver cirrhosis, renal vasospasm, renal failure, cerebral edema and ischemia, stroke, thrombosis, or water retention are also disclosed.