Flurazepam

DALMANE

Open Flurazepam in the interactive console ↗

What it isLong-acting benzodiazepine GABA-A modulator approved for insomnia.

Why this oneLong-lived active metabolites sustain sleep, but this rarely outweighs the next-day burden.

What limits itAccumulation causes prolonged sedation, impaired driving, falls, and confusion, particularly in older adults; dependence limits chronic use.

FDA-approved for

insomnia (1970)

FDA label

Read the full label on DailyMed ↗

BOXED WARNING Concomitant opioid use risks profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, death; risk of abuse, misuse, addiction; dependence and withdrawal reactions.

FDA dosing	Population	Start	Target	Max
Insomnia	Women	15 mg QHS	15 mg QHS	30 mg QHS
Insomnia	Men	15-30 mg QHS	15-30 mg QHS	30 mg QHS
Insomnia	Elderly or debilitated	15 mg QHS	15 mg QHS	15 mg QHS

Renal Undefined

Hepatic Undefined

Instructions

Use lowest effective dose
Taper gradually to discontinue or reduce dose to avoid withdrawal reactions
If withdrawal occurs, pause taper or return to prior dose then decrease more slowly

Cautions

CNS-depressant effects and next-day impairment; caution driving
Sleep-driving and complex behaviors while not fully awake
Severe anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions, angioedema
Worsening of depression/suicidal thinking
Neonatal sedation and withdrawal syndrome
Failure to remit after 7-10 days may indicate underlying illness

Adverse reactions

Dizziness
Drowsiness
Light-headedness
Staggering
Ataxia
Falling

Pregnancy Neonates exposed late in pregnancy may experience sedation and/or neonatal withdrawal; observational data do not report clear association with major birth defects.

Lactation Breastfeeding not recommended.

⚠ BOXED WARNINGS

Risk from concomitant use with opioids
Abuse, misuse and addiction
Dependence and withdrawal reactions

Cost, est. cash$10–$500/month

Generic entry1985

Classes and tags

Clinical profile

Therapeutic safety burden2 / 4

Overdose danger2 / 4

Weight-gain liability0 / 4

Sedation liability3 / 4

QT / Torsades0 / 4

Direct muscarinic antagonism0 / 4

Embryofetal risk2 / 4

Legacy pregnancy categoryX

Defining liabilitySedation, falls, dependence and additive respiratory depression with opioids or other CNS depressants.

Mechanism of action: Flurazepam ballicule

Flurazepam ballicule: receptor binding, kinetics and half-life diagram

Open Flurazepam in the interactive console ↗

Memory aids: mascots and interaction avatars

Flurazepam DALMANE mascot mnemonic cartoon — **“Dalmatian on Floor”**
long dog → long half-life
hot pink → benzo theme

CYP3A4 substrate

Open Flurazepam in the interactive console ↗