Nitrazepam
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Nitrazepam is used to treat short-term sleeping problems (insomnia), such as difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and early-morning awakening. Nitrazepam is a type of benzodiazepine drug. It is a powerful hypnotic drug which possesses strong sedative, anxiolytic, amnestic, anticonvulsant, and skeletal muscle relaxant properties. Nitrazepam shortens the time required to fall asleep and lengthens the duration of sleep. It is also useful for the management of myoclonic seizures.
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| Nitrazepam
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| Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
| 9-nitro- 6-phenyl- 2,5-diazabicyclo [5.4.0] undeca- 5,8,10,12- tetraen- 3-one | |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| ATC code | N05 |
| PubChem | |
| DrugBank | |
| ChemSpider | |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | C15H11N3O3 |
| Mol. mass | 281.3 g/mol |
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | 53-94% |
| Metabolism | Hepatic |
| Half life | 16-38 hours |
| Excretion | Renal |
| Therapeutic considerations | |
| Pregnancy cat. | |
| Legal status |
Schedule IV (International) |
| Routes | Oral |
Contents |
Mechanism of Action
Nitrazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. It acts on benzodiazepine receptors in the brain which are associated with the GABA receptors causing an enhanced binding of GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) to GABAA receptors. GABA is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in inducing sleepiness, muscular relaxation and control of anxiety and fits, and slows down the central nervous system. The anticonvulsant properties of nitrazepam and other benzodiazepines may be in part or entirely due to binding to voltage-dependent sodium channels rather than benzodiazepine receptors. Sustained repetitive firing seems to be limited by benzodiazepines effect of slowing recovery of sodium channels from inactivation.
Absorption
Bioavailability is 53-94% following oral administration.
Toxicity
Nitrazepam is a drug which is very frequently involved in drug intoxication, including overdose. Nitrazepam overdose may result in stereotypical symptoms of benzodiazepine overdose including intoxication, impaired balance, slurred speech. In cases of severe overdose this may progress to a comatose state with the possibility of death.
Half Life
15-38 hours (mean elimination half life 26 hours).
Brand names for Nitrazepam
- Alodorm
- Apo-nitrazepam tablets BP
- Apodorm
- Atempol
- Benzalin
- Calsamin
- Calsmin
- Cerson
- Dormicum
- Dormin-5
- Dormo-puren
- Dumolid
- Eatan
- Eatan n
- Epibenzalin
- Epinelbon
- Eunoctin
- Eunoktin
- Gerson
- Hipnax
- Hipsal
- Ibrovek
- Imeson
- Imesont
- Insomin
- Ipersed
- LA 1 (VAN)
- Magadon
- Megadon
- Mitidin
- Mogadan
- Mogadon
- Mogadone
- Nelbon
- Nelmat
- Neozepam
- Neuchlonic
- Nitrados
- Nitravet
- Nitrazadon
- Nitrazepam-10
- Nitrazepam-5
- Nitrempax
- Nitrenpax
- Noctesed
- Pacisyn
- Paxisyn
- Pelson
- Persopit
- Radedorm
- Relact
- Remnos
- Sandoz nitrazepam
- Somitran
- Somnased
- Somnibel
- Somnite
- Sonebon
- Sonebon tofraniln a
- Sonnolin
- Surem
- Trazenin
- Unisomnia