Indications
Flurazepam is a sleeping medicine (hypnotic) from the benzodiazepine family. It is used for the short-term treatment of severe insomnia (difficulty falling asleep, waking often during the night or waking too early) that is causing significant distress or affecting daily life.
How It Works
Flurazepam increases the effect of GABA, the brain’s natural calming chemical. This slows down brain activity, reduces anxiety and helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. It is long-acting, so its effect can carry over into the next day.
Dosage and Administration
Take as prescribed, just before bedtime. The usual adult dose is 15 mg to 30 mg at night; older adults and people who are frail usually start with 15 mg. Use for the shortest time possible, normally no more than 2 to 4 weeks. Do not stop suddenly after regular use; your doctor will reduce the dose gradually.
Interactions
Do not drink alcohol. Opioid pain killers (such as Tramadol or Morphine) together with Flurazepam can cause dangerously slow breathing. Other sedating medicines, including antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics and anti-seizure medicines, add to drowsiness. Medicines such as Cimetidine, Ketoconazole and Erythromycin can increase its effect.
Contraindications
Do not take if you are allergic to benzodiazepines, have severe breathing problems, sleep apnoea (breathing stops during sleep), myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness), severe liver disease, or if you are pregnant.
Side Effects
- Daytime drowsiness, dizziness and a hangover feeling
- Unsteadiness and falls, especially in older people
- Confusion, poor memory
- Headache, dry mouth, stomach upset
- Dependence and withdrawal symptoms with regular use
Get urgent medical help if you have very slow or shallow breathing, extreme sleepiness, confusion, unusual behaviour such as sleep-walking or driving while not fully awake, thoughts of harming yourself, or signs of a serious allergic reaction.
Pregnancy and Lactation
Do not use during pregnancy, as it may harm the baby and cause breathing problems or withdrawal in the newborn. Avoid while breastfeeding, as it passes into breast milk and can make the baby sleepy.
Precautions and Warnings
Flurazepam can cause dependence; do not take more or for longer than prescribed, and never share it. Do not drive or operate machinery the next day if you feel drowsy. Use with great care in older people, people with depression, lung, liver or kidney disease, and anyone with a history of alcohol or drug misuse.
Overdose
Overdose causes deep sleep, confusion, slow breathing and coma, and is especially dangerous with alcohol or opioids. Seek emergency medical help immediately.
Therapeutic Class
Benzodiazepine hypnotic (sleeping medicine). Controlled medicine.
Storage
Store below 30°C in a dry place, away from light and out of the reach of children. Keep it in a safe place where others cannot misuse it.
Prepared by the Oshud Alo team from standard drug references. For information only; always follow your doctor's advice.