| 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 derivative used mainly as a hypnotic. [PubChem] |
| Indication |
For short-term and intermittent use in patients with recurring insomnia and poor sleeping habits |
| Pharmacology |
Flurazepam, a benzodiazepine derivative, is a hypnotic agent which does not appear to decrease dream time as measured by rapid eye movements (REM). Furthermore, it decreases sleep latency and number of awakenings for a consequent increase in total sleep time. |
| Toxicity |
Coma, confusion, low blood pressure, sleepiness |
| Affected Organisms |
| • |
Humans and other mammals |
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| Biotransformation |
Flurazepam is rapidly metabolized and is excreted primarily in the urine. Both hydroxyethyl flurazepam (the major metabolite) and N-desalkyl flurazepam are active. The N-desalkyl metabolite is slowly excreted in the urine as the conjugated form |
| Absorption |
Flurazepam hydrochloride is rapidly (30 minutes) absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract |
| Half Life |
The mean apparent half-life of flurazepam is 2.3 hours. The half life of elimination of N1-des-alkyl- flurazepam ranged from 47 to 100 hours |
| Protein Binding |
83% |
| Elimination |
Flurazepam is rapidly metabolized and is excreted primarily in the urine. Less than 1% of the dose is excreted in the urine as N1-desalkyl-flurazepam. |
| References |
| • |
[Link]
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| • |
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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| • |
Vermeeren A: Residual effects of hypnotics: epidemiology and clinical implications. CNS Drugs. 2004;18(5):297-328.
[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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| • |
Rooke KC: The use of flurazepam (dalmane) as a substitute for barbiturates and methaqualone/diphenhydramine (mandrax) in general practice. J Int Med Res. 1976;4(5):355-9.
[Pubmed]
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| • |
Olive G, Dreux C: [Pharmacologic bases of use of benzodiazepines in pereinatal medicine] Arch Fr Pediatr. 1977 Jan;34(1):74-89.
[Pubmed]
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| External Links |
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