Summary
Flurazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine hypnotic prescribed for insomnia. Its active metabolite N-desalkylflurazepam has an exceptionally long half-life (40-250 hours), causing next-day sedation, cognitive impairment, and increased fall risk, especially in elderly users. Tolerance develops within 2-4 weeks of regular use. Withdrawal requires careful medical supervision with gradual dose tapering. Schedule IV controlled substance in the US.
Dose Information
| ROA | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 5-10mg | 15-30mg | 30-60mg | 60mg+ |
Light
Common
Strong
Heavy
Onset, Duration & After-effects
| ROA | Onset | Comeup | Peak | Offset | After Effects | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 15-45 min | 30-60 min | 1-2 hrs | 8-12 hrs | 24-48 hrs | 720-0 min |
Tolerance
Build-up
develops over 1–4 weeks of daily use; hypnotic tolerance faster than anxiolytic tolerance
Reset
weeks to months depending on half-life and duration of use; taper recommended
Effects
Positive
- Muscle relaxation
- Physical euphoria
- Anxiolytic
- Muscle Relaxant
Negative
- Respiratory depression
- Sedation
- Residual sleepiness
- Sedative
- Dystaxia
- Hypnotic
Positive
- Anxiety suppression
Negative
- Memory suppression
- Thought deceleration
- Emotion suppression
- Dizziness
- Cognitive impairment
- Motor control loss
- Amnesia
- Delusions of sobriety
- Compulsive redosing
Positive
- Increased libido
- Appetite enhancement
Negative
- Disinhibition
- Acuity suppression
- Visual acuity suppression
- Decreased Libido
- Acuity Suppression
- Double vision
- Dulled perception
- Perception of bodily heaviness