Flurazepam

Administration

• Type: Benzodiazepine
• Dosage Forms: CAP 15mg, 30mg
• Routes of Administration: Oral
• Common Trade Names: Dalmane

Adult Dosing

Insomnia, short term tx

• 15mg PO qhs

Pediatric Dosing

Safety/efficacy not established in pediatric patients

Special Populations

Pregnancy Rating

• Category C
• Consider alternatives in pregnancy
• Risk of neonatal withdrawal and floppy infant syndrome

Lactation risk

• Use alternative or consider short-acting benzodiazepines while breastfeeding

Renal Dosing

• Adult: No adjustment
• Pediatric: Not defined

Hepatic Dosing

• Adult: Not defined.
• Pediatric: Not defined

Contraindications

• Allergy to class/drug
• Pregnancy
• Avoid abrupt withdrawal with long-term use

Adverse Reactions

Serious

• Anaphylaxis
• Angioedema
• Complex sleep-related behavior
• Respiratory depression, tachycardia, hypotension, syncope
• Dependency, suicidality
• Seizures

Common

• Dizziness, drowsiness, ataxia, confusion, headache
• Disinhibition, irritability
• Dystonia, dysarthria
• Appetite change, menstrual irregulatrity
• Incontinence
• Rash

Pharmacology

• Half-life: 2-3h; 40-100h active metabolite
• Metabolism: Liver extensively; 3A4 partial substrate
• Excretion: Urine

Mechanism of Action

• Binds to benzodiazepine receptors to enhance GABA effects

See Also

• Benzodiazepine