What is the Nitrazepam medicine intended for? Instructions for use of the drug, its pharmacological characteristics, analogues, synonyms and indications will be presented in this article. In addition, you will learn about whether this medication has contraindications, side effects, what is its cost, form of release, composition, what patients and specialists think about it.
The drug "Nitrazepam": form of release and composition of the medication
In what form can I buy the drug? Pills are his only form of release. The active substance of the drug is nitrazepam. As for auxiliary products, these include lactose monohydrate (i.e. milk sugar), potato starch, magnesium stearate and talc.
You can buy the drug in jars made of dark glass (20 pcs each), as well as in cell packs of 10 tablets.
Pharmacological characteristics of the drug
What is nitrazepam medicine? Instructions for use of the drug states that it is a psychotropic synthetic agent that is used in the treatment of sleep disorders caused by various reasons.
The therapeutic effect of the drug is due to its composition. The active component (nitrazepam) is able to have a pronounced anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, hypnotic, anxiolytic and central effect.
The anxiolytic effect of the drug is manifested in the elimination of emotional stress, as well as the relaxation of anxiety. The sedative effect of the drug we are considering is expressed in the disappearance of symptoms of neurotic origin (anxiety and fear are such signs).
The drug "Nitrazepam": mechanism of action
According to experts, this drug, or rather, its active substance, can increase the depth and duration of sleep, reducing the effects of motor, emotional and vegetative stimuli, which, in fact, are the main cause of violations of the process of falling asleep.
The mechanism of action of this drug is associated with an increase in the inhibitory effect of GABA on the central nervous system by increasing the sensitivity of GABA receptors to the mediator, which occurs as a result of stimulation of benzodiazepine receptors.
After taking the drug, sleep occurs after 25-40 minutes and lasts about 6-8 hours. Note! A medication can be addictive and addictive. In this regard, he is dispensed in pharmacies only by prescription.
Pharmacokinetics of the drug
The relationship of the drug with plasma proteins is about 80%. The elimination half-life lasts on average 26 hours. The drug is excreted in the form of metabolites (to a greater extent).
Indications for the use of sleeping pills
Why do doctors prescribe Nitrazepam tablets? Indications for use of this medication include sleep disorders of various origins, including difficulty falling asleep, as well as early morning or night awakenings.
As part of complex therapy, the mentioned medication is used for:
- epilepsy in young children (from 4 months to 2 years);
- encephalopathies accompanied by myoclonic epileptic seizures;
- endogenous psychoses, chronic alcoholism, neurosis, psychopathy and organic lesions of the central nervous system.
Contraindications to the use of sleeping pills
In what cases is it forbidden to use the drug "Nitrazepam"? Instructions for use of the drug contain the following list of contraindications:
- acute intoxication with medical agents that produce a depressing effect on the central nervous system, including analgesics (narcotic) and sleeping pills;
- shock;
- acute intoxication due to alcohol intake with weakening of important body functions;
- hypercapnia
- angle-closure glaucoma (with a predisposition to the disease and in the stage of acute attacks);
- myasthenia gravis;
- swallowing disorders in young children;
- the period of pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, as well as during breastfeeding;
- chronic obstructive and severe lung disease, as well as respiratory failure;
- drug addiction and alcoholism;
- severe depression (to avoid the development of suicidal manifestations);
- temporal lobe epilepsy;
- hypersensitivity to active and auxiliary substances.
Taking the drug during pregnancy
Can pregnant women take Nitrazepam? A prescription with this medication is permissible for the patient to be prescribed only in the first trimester. However, this increases the risk of birth defects in the baby. A longer medication can lead to drug dependence and the appearance of withdrawal syndrome in a newborn.
Using the drug before childbirth causes the fetus to decrease muscle tone, hypotension, hypothermia and respiratory depression.
Cautious medication
In what cases is a patient constantly monitored after taking Nitrazepam? A prescription with this agent should be prescribed by a doctor with extreme caution if the patient has at least one of the following deviations:
- hepatic, respiratory, and renal failure;
- established or suspected nocturnal apnea ;
- organic brain diseases;
- psychoses
- history of drug dependence;
- cerebral and spinal ataxia;
- hyperkinesis;
- tendency to abuse psychotropic drugs;
- hypoproteinemia.
In what cases is a reduced dosage of Nitrazepam required? The instruction of this medication states that when using it in old age, special care must be taken. Such people should take small doses of the medicine.
Ways to use the drug
How should I use the drug "Nitrazepam"? Instructions for use states that this sleeping pill should be used once a day half an hour before bedtime.
The dosage of the drug is as follows:
- children up to a year - about 1.25-2.5 mg;
- a child from 1 to 6 years old - about 2.5-5 mg;
- children from 6 to 14 years old - no more than 5 mg;
- adults - about 5-10 mg, but not more than 20 mg;
- older people - 2.5-5 mg.
As an antiepileptic and anxiolytic drug, the mentioned medicine is prescribed up to three times a day, 5-10 mg, but not more than 30 mg per day.
Important! The medication "Nitrazepam", its analogues are not recommended for a long time without special instructions. This is due to the fact that there is a danger of mental and physical dependence that develops after several weeks of daily use of therapeutic dosages.
With the simultaneous use of the drug with narcotic analgesics, an increase in dependence is often observed. With the development of reactions such as aggressiveness (increased), acute states of agitation, hallucinations, a sense of fear, a tendency to suicide, increased muscle cramps, difficulty falling asleep and shallow sleep, medication should be stopped.
Side effects from taking the medication
Does the drug Nitrazepam have any side effects? Patient reviews about it say that at the very beginning of therapy, the medication can cause feelings of fatigue, drowsiness, slowing down mental and motor reactions, dull emotions, dizziness, insecurity when walking, ataxia, lethargy, decreased concentration and impaired gait.
A little less often, the drug causes such paradoxical reactions as outbreaks of aggression, fear, acute agitation, confusion, suicidal tendencies, hallucinations, insomnia, irritability and other central nervous system disorders.
According to reviews, this medication often becomes the cause of the following side effects: headache, uncontrolled body movements, depression, catalepsy, mood depression, weakness, anterograde amnesia, tremor, myasthenia gravis, euphoria, confusion and dysarthria.
In addition, judging by patient reviews, the drug Nitrazepam can cause the following disorders: increased or decreased libido, leukopenia, urinary incontinence or retention, anemia, heartburn, decreased appetite, thrombocytopenia, dysmenorrhea, liver dysfunction, vomiting, itching, nausea, impaired renal function, agranulocytosis (excessive fatigue, hyperthermia, sore throat, chills, weakness), neutropenia, skin rash, dry mouth, salivation, diarrhea, or constipation.
Overdose symptoms
What signs of an overdose can occur in the case of uncontrolled administration of the drug "Nitrazepam"? Reviews of experts say that an increased dosage of the medication can cause quite serious disorders, which manifest as a reduced reaction to painful irritations, drowsiness, severe weakness, confusion, diminished reflexes, deep sleep, paradoxical agitation, tremor, collapse, bradycardia and coma.
Withdrawal syndrome
The drug "Nitrazepam" (analogues of the medication including) should in no case be stopped taking too sharply. Otherwise, the patient may develop withdrawal symptoms. As a rule, this is expressed in the appearance of the following signs:
- irritability;
- tachycardia;
- excitement, agitation, or anxiety;
- depression;
- sleep disturbances and nervousness;
- depersonalization;
- increased sweating;
- feeling of fear;
- spasms of skeletal muscles and smooth muscles of internal organs;
- headache;
- nausea and vomiting;
- paresthesia;
- tremor;
- hyperesthesia;
- dysphoria;
- photophobia;
- hallucinations;
- cramps
- acute psychosis.
The interaction of the drug with other drugs
The drug "Nitrazepam", the price of which is presented below, cannot be used simultaneously with drugs that have a depressing effect on the central nervous system, as well as ethanol-containing medicines and ethanol.
When used simultaneously with anticonvulsants, there is a likelihood of increased toxic effects.
With simultaneous use with estrogen-containing oral contraceptives, the concentration of nitrazepam in the blood increases.
With a single dose with rifampicin, the excretion of the active substance from the body increases.
With a single use with cimetidine, the concentration of nitrazepam in the blood increases, which entails an increase in the sedative effect.
Reviews of patients and doctors about the drug
According to the reviews of specialists and patients, the Nitrazepam medication effectively copes with the task. It eliminates emotional stress and weakens feelings of anxiety. The drug is a good sleeping pill.
However, in addition to positive reviews, this medicine has many negative ones. As a rule, they are associated with the appearance of a large number of side effects. Often this occurs due to improper use of the tablets or their abuse. Also, negative reviews about the drug are left by those patients who took it, despite the existing contraindications.
Cost and analogues of medication
How much is Nitrazepam? The price of this drug is very low. On average, it varies between 60-70 Russian rubles for 10 tablets. However, you will not be able to purchase the drug in a pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription.
What should I do if the patient, for one reason or another, was unable to purchase the drug Nitrazepam? Synonyms and analogues should be prescribed only by a doctor. These drugs include the following:
- "Berlidorm 5".
- Eunoktin.
- "Nitrazadone."
- Nitrazepam.
- "Ruedorm 5".
- Nitrosan.
- Mogadon.
- "Nitram" and others.
These funds (analogues) have the same pharmacological characteristics as the drug Nitrazepam. However, their dosage and methods of use may vary. Therefore, before using this or that medication, you need to contact a specialist and thoroughly study the attached instructions. The cost of such funds can be either higher than that of sleeping pills "Nitrazepam", and lower (depending on the manufacturer and margins).