Yashoda Hospitals > Medicine FAQS > Nitrazepam

Nitrazepam: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What is Nitrazepam?

Nitrazepam is a powerful drug that belongs to the Benzodiazepine family. It is primarily used to treat chronic sleeplessness and anxiety. 

The drug works basically by relaxing the brain and restoring the normal sleep-wake cycle, making you feel calmer and energised. It also boosts focus and your overall quality of life.

It is a  heavy-duty drug that has strong sedative and muscle relaxant properties. It is why it must be used with caution.

What are the uses of Nitrazepam?

The foremost use of Nitrazepam is to treat insomnia, which includes an inability to fall asleep and waking up at night regularly. It’s also prescribed for restless legs syndrome, anxiety disorder, and depression. 

Nitrazepam helps you feel calmer and settled as it increases the amount of a specific ‘happy’ neurotransmitter in your system. 

Furthermore, it also slows down the irregular movement of nerves to extend your normal sleep cycle and deepens sleep.

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    What are the side effects of Nitrazepam?

    Nitrazepam can cause side effects like-

    • Excessive sleep

    • Dizziness

    • Drowsiness

    • Feeling of unsteadiness

    • Excess fatigue

    • Numbed emotions

    • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea

    • Irregular heartbeat

    • Skin rash, itching

    • Trouble breathing

    • Movement impairment

    Sometimes these side effects disappear within an hour or two as your body adjusts to this powerful drug. If they do not, rush to your doctor.

    High doses of this powerful sedative drug can induce coma and can be fatal.

    What is Nitrazepam

    Uses of Nitrazepam

    Side effects of Nitrazepam

    References

    1. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/7145/smpc#:~:text=The%20half%2Dlife%20of%20Nitrazepam,which%20possesses%20significant%20clinical%20activity.
    2. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/7145/smpc#gref

    Disclaimer: The information provided herein is accurate, updated and complete as per the best practices of the Company. Please note that this information should not be treated as a replacement for physical medical consultation or advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy and the completeness of the information so provided. The absence of any information and/or warning to any drug shall not be considered and assumed as an implied assurance of the Company. We do not take any responsibility for the consequences arising out of the aforementioned information and strongly recommend you for a physical consultation in case of any queries or doubts.

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    Frequently Asked Questions about Nitrazepam

    Nitrazepam is a long-acting drug that works on neurotransmitters in the brain that control nerve activity. It stays in your system for an average of 15-34 hours before it gets transformed into metabolites that cannot affect your brain.
    It takes about five days to achieve steady Nitrazepine levels.

    Lonazep is also a Benzodiazepine, a class of drugs that Nitrazepam belongs to. It has similar modes of action and is prescribed for similar issues, i.e. anxiety disorders and insomnia.
    Both these drugs reduce the hyperactivity of neurons and calm the brain down. Hence, they are dangerous when taken together.

    You must take this drug with food only and never on an empty stomach. You should also limit caffeine intake and avoid alcohol while on Nitrazepam. Most importantly, it should never be taken without the advice of your doctor, as it's a powerful drug that can even lead to death.

    Yes, you can, and this is why Nitrazepam is frequently abused. It causes a feeling of calmness, boosting confidence, and even causing a state of euphoria. These effects can be attributed to the inhibitory effects of this powerful Benzodiazepine drug on GABA receptors in the brain that induce feelings of joy and calmness.

    They both belong to the Benzodiazepine family. Clonazepam, though, is principally used to control and prevent epileptic seizures. It is also known as an antiepileptic and anticonvulsant drug.
    It works by calming the brain and nerves to provide relief.
    Though it helps several patients, it does come with a high risk for abuse and addiction.

    Nitrazepam is a potent drug that affects the brain by altering levels of neurotransmitters. It is also a long-acting drug which means that if you take Nitrazepam in higher doses than recommended, it can lead to coma and even death.
    You should also take it for shorter periods only as it can cause dependence.

    Temazepam or Restoril is a shorter-acting member of the Benzodiazepine family. It’s used only for the short-term management of insomnia, unlike Nitrazepam.
    You are more likely to wake up without a hangover if you are on Temazepam rather than Nitrazepam, whose effects can last well into the following day.

    10 tablets of Nitrazepam are considered an overdose. You may feel extremely drowsy, unusually fatigued and disoriented. You may also develop an inability to move, experience a fall in blood pressure, problems in breathing, coma and even sometimes death.

    Nitrazepam is a powerful sedative drug that must be taken under prescription only.

    Nitrazepam is a stronger sedative as compared to Diazepam or Valium. It is a much more efficient sleep-inducing drug, and you need to take a smaller dosage to get its benefits.
    Because Diazepam is less extreme, it is used more safely as injections, syrup, and tablets worldwide.

    The recommended dose for adults for insomnia is 5 to 10 mg when taken at bedtime. Only the lowest effective dose of Nitrazepam should be used for the shortest period.
    Children below 12 years must not use Nitrazepam. Elderly patients can use only 2.5 to 5 mg at bedtime.

    They are both Benzodiazepines. They have similar actions and are also prescribed for similar problems, like insomnia, anxiety, etc.
    Nitrazepam, however, is a more powerful drug, and it causes patients to sleep longer and wake up later. Some patients have said that they sleep over 24-hours, as compared to Temazepam.