Dalmane

Flurazepam (marketed under the brand names Dalmane and Dalmadorm) is a drug which is a benzodiazepine derivative. It possesses anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, sedative and skeletal muscle relaxant properties. It produces a metabolite with a long half-life, which may stay in the bloodstream for days. Flurazepam was patented in 1968 and came into medical use the same year. Flurazepam, developed by Roche Pharmaceuticals, was one of the first benzodiazepine hypnotic medications to be marketed.

Medical uses

Officially, Flurazepam indicates treatment for mild to moderate insomnia, serving as a short-term remedy for patients experiencing issues like difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, early awakenings, or a combination thereof. Doctors occasionally prescribe it to patients who struggle to maintain sleep, although they also recommend benzodiazepines with intermediate half-lives such as loprazolam, lormetazepam, and temazepam for such cases. It belongs to the class of long-acting benzodiazepines.

Dalmane was temporarily unavailable in the United States when its sole producer, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, discontinued making it in January 2019. IIn October 2019, the FDA notified pharmacies that manufacturers would replenish their supplies in early to mid-December 2019. As of this date, flurazepam is now again available in the United States.

Side effects

The most common adverse effects are dizziness, drowsiness, light-headedness, and ataxia. Flurazepam poses an abuse risk and individuals should avoid using it with alcoholic beverages or any other substances that can induce drowsiness.. Addictive and possibly fatal results may occur. Users should strictly adhere to the prescribed dosage of Flurazepam and only consume it immediately before intending to sleep for a full night. Commonly, drowsiness may occur the next day, especially during the initial phase of treatment, as the drug accumulates until reaching steady-state plasma levels.

A 2009 meta-analysis found a 44% higher rate of mild infections, such as pharyngitis or sinusitis, in people taking hypnotic drugs compared to those taking a placebo.