Flurazepam Hydrochloride, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: benzodiazepine; sedative

Generic and brand names: flurazepam hydrochloride, oral; Dalmane

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat insomnia (trouble falling asleep, frequent awakening during the night, and early morning awakening). It can be used for insomnia, poor sleeping habits, or medical conditions in which you need restful sleep. This medicine is usually for short-term use only (2 weeks or less). Longer-term use must be evaluated by your healthcare provider.

It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before you take this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• depression or thoughts of suicide
• glaucoma
• heart disease
• liver or kidney disease
• lung disease or breathing problems
• problems with alcohol or drug abuse
• seizures
• sleep apnea (stopping breathing during sleep and then gasping for air)
• trouble swallowing.

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. This medicine has been reported to cause birth defects. Stop taking this medicine at the first sign that you may be pregnant and contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.

How should I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. It is usually taken as needed at bedtime. Take this medicine only when you can get a full night of sleep (7 to 8 hours) before you need to be alert. You may take it with or without food.

This medicine should be used for a short period such as 7 to 10 days. Do not take more of it or take it longer than prescribed because it may be habit-forming. Do not increase the dosage on your own. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your healthcare provider.

If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause memory loss or amnesia. You may not know what you are doing for several hours after taking the medicine, including driving in your sleep. If you have memory problems while taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away.

This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy the day after you take it. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine may make you excited rather than drowsy. If this happens, ask your healthcare provider what to do.

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

When you stop taking this medicine after you have taken it for a week or two, you may have disturbed sleep for the first night or two. You may also have withdrawal symptoms. Reducing your dosage gradually may lessen these problems. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions exactly.

Contact your provider if your insomnia does not improve in 7 to 10 days or if it gets worse.

If taken for a long time, this medicine may become less effective. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

This medicine is a controlled substance. It is illegal for you to give it to anyone else.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you are unable to reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives, itching, rash, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing, swelling of your lips, tongue or throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Trouble breathing, irregular or slow heartbeat, depression, thoughts of suicide, memory problems, unusual excitement, sudden mood or behavior changes, hallucinations.

Other: Headache, nervousness, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, sweating, rash, blurred vision, unsteadiness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• amiodarone (Cordarone)
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin) and erythromycin (Erythrocin, EES, E-Mycin, EryPed), metronidazole (Flagyl), rifampin (Rifampin, Rimactane), and rifabutin (Mycobutin)
• anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl), protriptyline (Vivactil), trimipramine (Surmontil), nefazodone, and fluvoxamine
• antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), brompheniramine (Dimetane), clemastine (Tavist, Tavist-1), and dexchlorpheniramine
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital, butabarbital (Butisol), and pentobarbital (Nembutal)
• birth control pills
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem) and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• disulfiram (Antabuse)
• herbal remedies such as St. John's wort, kava, gotu kola, and valerian root
• isoniazid (Laniazid, Nydrazid)
• levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxazid (Marplan) (Do not take an MAO inhibitor and this medicine within 14 days of each other.)
• muscle relaxants such as carisoprodol (Soma), chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), metaxalone (Skelaxin), orphenadrine (Norflex), tizanidine (Zanaflex), and methocarbamol (Robaxin)
• narcotics such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvon-N, Darvocet, Wygesic), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and combination products such as Vicodin, Tylox, Percocet, Percodan, Tylenol #3
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), promazine (Sparine), thioridazine, and trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
• probenecid
• sedatives such as zolpidem (Ambien) and zaleplon (Sonata)
• theophylline.

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.