| Item |
Information |
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Drug Groups
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illicit; approved |
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Description
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A benzodiazepine with pharmacologic actions similar to those of diazepam that can cause anterograde amnesia. Some reports indicate that it is used as a date rape drug and suggest that it may precipitate violent behavior. The United States Government has banned the importation of this drug. [PubChem] |
| Indication |
For short-term treatment of severe insomnias, that are not responsive to other hypnotics. |
| Pharmacology |
Flunitrazepam is a powerful hypnotic drug that is a benzodiazepine derivative. It has powerful hypnotic, sedative, anxiolytic, and skeletal muscle relaxant properties. The drug is sometimes used as a date rape drug. In the United States, the drug has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for medical use, and is considered to be an illegal drug. It has however been approved in the United Kingdom and other countries. |
| Toxicity |
Symptoms of overdose include confusion, coma, impaired coordination, sleepiness, and slowed reaction time. |
| Affected Organisms |
| • |
Humans and other mammals |
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| Biotransformation |
Hepatic. |
| Absorption |
50% (suppository) and 64-77% (oral) |
| Half Life |
18-26 hours |
| References |
| • |
Rickels K: The clinical use of hypnotics: indications for use and the need for a variety of hypnotics. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 1986;332:132-41.
[Pubmed]
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| • |
Robertson MD, Drummer OH: Postmortem drug metabolism by bacteria. J Forensic Sci. 1995 May;40(3):382-6.
[Pubmed]
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| • |
Oelschlager H: [Chemical and pharmacologic aspects of benzodiazepines] Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax. 1989 Jul 4;78(27-28):766-72.
[Pubmed]
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| • |
Usami N, Yamamoto T, Shintani S, Ishikura S, Higaki Y, Katagiri Y, Hara A: Substrate specificity of human 3(20)alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase for neurosteroids and its inhibition by benzodiazepines. Biol Pharm Bull. 2002 Apr;25(4):441-5.
[Pubmed]
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Tokunaga S, Takeda Y, Shinomiya K, Hirase M, Kamei C: Effects of some H1-antagonists on the sleep-wake cycle in sleep-disturbed rats. J Pharmacol Sci. 2007 Feb;103(2):201-6. Epub 2007 Feb 8.
[Pubmed]
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