Flurazepam anxiety

V-desalkylflurazepam accounts for most of flurazepam s pharmacologic effects. This metabolite may help when daytime anxiety or early morning awakening is present, but daytime sedation with impaired psychomotor performance may occur. 

Benzodiazepines have similar pharmacological properties and are used in anxiety and insomnia. The choice of which benzodiazepine to use usually lies with the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, which vary across the class. For example, diazepam, flurazepam and nitrazepam have a prolonged duration of action whereas lorazepam and temazepam have a shorter duration of action. 

A series of tranquilizers, drugs that relieve anxiety and nervous tension without impairing consciousness, have a benzene ring fused to a seven-membered ring containing two nitrogens. As a group they are called benzodiazepines. The two most successful are diazepam (Valium ) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium ) introduced in 1964 and 1960, respectively. Flurazepam (Dalmane ), first used in 1970, is a hypnotic. 

Diazepam is used for the control of anxiety and tension, the relief of muscle spasms, and the management of acute agitation during alcohol withdrawal, but it itself may be habit-forming. Chlordiazepoxide has similar uses and its synthesis is somewhat analogous to diazepam. Flurazepam is a hypnotic, useful for insomnia treatment. It is reported to provide 7-8 hr of restful sleep. 

Lorazepam Flurazepam Meprobamate Methaqualone Myoclonic jerks Agitation, anxiety Seizure (rarely) ... 

Benzodiazepines are also used for several other conditions that are related to, but not actually termed, anxiety. For example, benzodiazepines are commonly given as soporific or hypnotic drugs (drugs that help people sleep). One of the benzodiazepines, flurazepam, is the most frequently prescribed hypnotic drug in the United States. Benzodiazepines also are administered as muscle relaxants, and can even reduce the occurrence of seizures or convulsions. Another common use of benzodiazepines is in alcohol withdrawal. Someone who is trying to stop drinking alcohol is usually given a heavy dose of... 

With short-acting agents, such as triazolam, numerous reports have detailed increased daytime anxiety and early morning insomnia ( 108, 112, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301 302). Because these are the opposite of the intended therapeutic effect, they may not be attributed to the drug and may actuaily reinforce its use. CNS stimulation has been reported in 2.8% of patients given 30 mg flurazepam (279). 

In particular, individuals taking nitrazepam (Mogadon) often report an increase in the incidence of nightmares, especially during the first week of use. Flurazepam (Dalmane, Novoflupam, Somnol) also occasionally causes an increase in nightmares, as well as anxiety, irritability, tachycardia, sweating, and garrulousness. 

This fivefold clinical activity is possessed, to a greater or lesser extent, by all benzodiazepines in current clinical use. The properties of benzodiazepines make them ideally useful for managing anxiety (e.g. diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, lorazepam) insomnia (e.g. diazepam, temazepam, nitrazepam, loprazolam, flurazepam, lormetazepam) epilepsy (e.g. clobazam, diazepam, lorazepam) sports injuries where muscle relaxation is required (e.g. diazepam) and as premedications prior to surgery (e.g. midazolam, lorazepam). The benzodiazepines have a number of other uses, including management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (chlordiazepoxide, diazepam) and restless legs (clonazepam). Short... 

A-DAF accounts for most flurazepam pharmacologic effects. Quazepam and one of its metabolites, 2-oxo-quazepam, have elimination half-lives of 39 hours." Quazepam s oxo-quazepam metabolite is metabolized to A-DAF. If oxidation of A-DAE is impaired its half-life becomes prolonged, and complications of drug accumulation may result with repeated dosing however, tolerance may develop to these effects. A-DAE may be useful when daytime anxiety or early morning awakening are complaints, but daytime sedation and impaired psychomotor performance may complicate therapy. ... 

The incidence of CNS side effects increases with age secondary to prolonged benzodiazepine half-lives, which may increase the potential for drug accumulation. Prolonged sedation and cognitive and psychomotor impairment are concerns in the elderly. Drugs with short and intermediate elimination half-lives are associated with fewer performance deficits however, they may be associated with more daytime anxiety in elderly patients. There is an association between falls and hip fractures and the use of benzodiazepines with long elimination half-lives thus flurazepam and quazepam should be avoided in elderly patients. ... 

Benzodiazepines A class of drugs that is most commonly used both for anxiety (nervousness) and as a sedative (generally used to treat sleep problems). When used in the treatment of anxiety, many counselors warn that the medication may create a type of euphoria or false sense of progress that can impede improvement. It is always a good idea to ask the client to contract for services prior to starting this class of medications. Benzodiazepine medications are used to decrease anxiety, panic and night terrors for example Ativan (lorazepam), Clonopin (clonazepam). Librium (chlor-diazepoxide). Valium (diazepam), and Xanax (alprazolam). The benzodiazepine that is generally used to treat sleep problems is Dalmane (flurazepam). 

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