Flurazepam

Flurazepam is a prescription medication used to treat symptoms of insomnia, such as trouble falling or staying asleep.

• Flurazepam is available under various brand names: Dalmane

Common side effects of Flurazepam include:

• dizziness, daytime drowsiness (or during hours when you are not normally sleeping);
• memory problems; or
• trouble standing or walking.

Serious side effects of Flurazepam include:

• hives,
• difficult breathing,
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• nausea and vomiting
• confusion, thinking problems, feeling nervous or anxious;
• unusual thoughts or behavior decreased inhibitions;
• new or worsening depression; or
• hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real).

Rare side effects of Flurazepam include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult dosage

Capsule: Schedule IV

• 15 mg
• 30 mg

Insomnia

Adult and geriatric dosage

• 15-30 mg orally during bedtime

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Flurazepam has severe interactions with the following drugs:
  • calcium/magnesium/potassium/sodium oxybates
  • sodium oxybate
• Flurazepam has serious interactions with the following drugs:
  • abametapir
  • apalutamide
  • benzhydrocodone/acetaminophen
  • conivaptan
  • enzalutamide
  • fentanyl
  • fentanyl intranasal
  • fentanyl transdermal
  • fentanyl transmucosal
  • fexinidazole
  • hydrocodone
  • idelalisib
  • ivosidenib
  • lemborexant
  • metoclopramide intranasal
  • mifepristone
  • phenobarbital
  • primidone
  • selinexor
  • sufentanil SL
  • tucatinib
  • valerian
  • voxelotor
• Flurazepam has moderate interactions with at least 230 other drugs.
• Flurazepam has minor interactions with the following drugs:
  • brimonidine
  • ciprofloxacin
  • esomeprazole
  • eucalyptus
  • fleroxacin
  • gemifloxacin
  • levofloxacin
  • moxifloxacin
  • ofloxacin
  • omeprazole
  • rifabutin
  • rifapentine
  • sage
  • vinpocetine
  • zolpidem

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Allergic to flurazepam
• Pregnant

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Flurazepam?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Flurazepam?”

Cautions

• Some people using this medicine have engaged in activities such as driving, eating, walking, making phone calls, or having sex and later have no memory of the activity.
• Flurazepam may cause breathing problems, feeding problems, and low body temperature in a newborn. Your baby could also become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks
• The sedative effects of flurazepam may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while you are taking flurazepam.
• Do not stop using flurazepam suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using flurazepam.
• Your insomnia symptoms may return when you stop using flurazepam after using it over a long period. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.
• This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
• Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects can occur when alcohol is combined with flurazepam.

Pregnancy & Lactation

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are taking flurazepam.
• Lactation
  • It is not known whether flurazepam passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby.