white → orange2
WARNINGMIXING OR WITHDRAWAL CAN BE DANGEROUS
Ordinary doses in combination with other depressants can fatally stop breathing. After prolonged dependency, stopping suddenly can also cause seizures or delirium; seek medical help.
Citation noticeOur citation system is being overhauled
References and citation markers may currently be incomplete, mismatched, or incorrect. This system is being rebuilt and reviewed before the full site launch.
Flurazepam
7-Chloro-1-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one
Dalmane, DalmadormOpen in Piru
Flurazepam is a long-acting depressant of the 1,4-benzodiazepine class with sedative, sleep-inducing, anxiety-reducing, and muscle-relaxing properties.1 It is used mainly for short-term or intermittent treatment of insomnia.2 Developed by Roche Pharmaceuticals, it was patented and entered medical use in 1968, becoming one of the earliest marketed benzodiazepine sleep medications.3 Flurazepam may be habit-forming4 and may cause amnesia5 and reduced inhibitions.5
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.
Threshold~5 mg
Light5-10 mg
Moderate15-30 mg
Strong30-60 mg
Heavy60+ mg
Duration
Onset45-90 minutes
After Effects2-48 hours
Total12-16 hours
Subjective Effects
Subjective Effects not written up yet
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
Flurazepam positively modulates GABA-A receptors by binding to their benzodiazepine site. This enhances GABA-mediated chloride influx and neuronal hyperpolarization, increasing inhibitory signaling.
Pharmacokinetics
Flurazepam hydrochloride is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, within approximately 30 minutes, and food does not affect absorption. Flurazepam is lipophilic and 83% protein-bound. It is listed as a substrate of CYP2A6, CYP3A, and CYP3A4,6 and an inhibitor of CYP2E1, OCT2, and P-glycoprotein. Metabolism produces active metabolites, including a major hydroxylated metabolite and a longer-lived dealkylated metabolite. Excretion is primarily urinary,7 with the dealkylated metabolite slowly eliminated in conjugated form and less than 1% of the dose excreted as its unconjugated form. The parent drug has a mean apparent half-life of 2.3 hours,5 while the dealkylated metabolite has an elimination half-life of 47-100 hours5 and may remain in the bloodstream for days. Repeated administration can lead to accumulation7 until steady-state blood levels are reached. Flurazepam is also excreted in breast milk.
Dangerous
Highest riskThese combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.
Unsafe
AvoidThere is considerable risk of physical harm when taking these combinations, they should be avoided where possible.
Caution
Use cautionThese combinations are not usually physically harmful, but may produce undesirable effects, such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. Extreme use may cause physical health issues. Synergistic effects may be unpredictable. Care should be taken when choosing to use this combination.
Tolerance
Tolerance timelines are rules of thumb, not exact schedules, and vary widely between individuals and use patterns.
Long-term flurazepam use is associated with tolerance,8 and some loss of effect has been observed after 7 days of administration in psychogeriatric patients. Tolerance to impaired balance and standing steadiness develops only partially, leaving residual impairment. These findings do not establish a timeframe for full tolerance.
Barbiturates
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
HighFlurazepam has significant abuse potential with risk of psychological dependence. Recreational misuse occurs where the drug is taken to achieve a high, and continued use against medical advice is common. The FDA required a boxed warning describing risks of abuse, misuse, and addiction for all benzodiazepines.
Physical
HighLong-term use is associated with drug tolerance and physical dependence. After discontinuation, a rebound effect or benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome may occur approximately four days after stopping medication. Flurazepam shares cross tolerance with barbiturates, indicating significant physical dependence potential.
Toxicity
Flurazepam combined with alcohol or other CNS depressants may produce fatal results. Overdose symptoms include coma, confusion, low blood pressure, and severe sleepiness.
Chronic use causes cognitive impairment including anterograde amnesia, daytime sedation, and motor incoordination; these effects may persist as residual hangover effects after nighttime administration and impair next-day functioning.
Use is associated with impairments in body balance and standing steadiness, leading to increased risk of falls and hip fractures, particularly in individuals who wake at night or the next morning.
In a meta-analysis, people using hypnotic drugs had 44% more mild infections, including examples such as pharyngitis and sinusitis, than those receiving placebo.
Psychosis Risk
Paradoxical agitation or disinhibition may occur, particularly in elderly patients, though this is considered a moderately higher risk compared to non-benzodiazepine sedatives rather than a common occurrence.
History & Culture
Flurazepam was developed by Roche Pharmaceuticals, patented in 1968, and introduced into medical use that same year. The cited review describes flurazepam as the first benzodiazepine hypnotic, available in 1970.3…
Legality
International
Controlled internationally under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971.
Article Status
Step 1 · Automated synthesisAn autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins compiled this article's foundation from information published across the web.
- Step 2 · First-pass reviewPending
Not yet reviewed: this article is pending editorial review by Lyrea.
- Step 3 · Citation reviewPending
No one has reviewed this article's citations yet. That second pass checks each claim against the source it cites.
Suggest an edit
Spotted a mistake, an outdated claim, or something missing from the Flurazepam article? Send the editors a private note. Feedback lands in a moderation queue and is never shown on the site.
Wish to give generalised feedback? You can do so here.
