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Long-acting hypnotic·Neurology - Sedatives & Hypnotics
Short-term treatment of severe insomnia
Max Dose
10 mg/day
Half-life
15-38 h
Hangover
SEVERE
Elderly
AVOID
Overview
Long-acting benzodiazepine hypnotic. Induces sleep effectively but possesses an excessively long half-life, causing a massive, functionally impairing next-day hangover.
Maximum Dose
Max 10 mg/day (Normally 5 mg NOCTE).
Clinical Focus
Highly toxic in the elderly. Will accumulate over successive nights, leading to profound daytime sedation, delirium, and fractured hips.
Bottom Line
Nitrazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine hypnotic, but accumulates in elderly causing excessive daytime sedation and falls, and has been largely replaced by shorter-acting agents.
Brand Names
Mogadon, Alodorm
Oral Routes
Tablets (5 mg).
Prescribing & PBS
Authority Required (PBS).
Primary
Short-term treatment of severe insomnia.
Off-Label
Infantile spasms (West syndrome - rare pediatric epilepsy use).
Clinical Place
Largely obsolete for insomnia. Outperformed by Temazepam (short half-life) or Z-drugs for safety and hangover profiles.