What is Nitrazepam

Nitrazepam 10 mg is a benzodiazepine-based treatment, which is commonly known by the brand name, Mogadon. The tablet was patented in 1961 and approved for medical use in 1965. These powerful hypnotic sleeping tablets are used to relieve symptoms caused by acute insomnia by shortening sleep onset times and extending total sleep durations.

The treatment possesses strong sedative, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and skeletal muscle relaxant properties which are also beneficial in treating other conditions such as myoclonic seizures and anxiety associated with insomnia. Nitrazepam tablets also have well-balanced safety and efficacy profiles which benefit all patient groups, including the elderly.

How Does Mogadon Work?

Nitrazepam works by acting on specific receptors in the brain to increase the production of a neurotransmitter called GABA. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are deposited in nerve cells located within the brain and nervous system. They are responsible for transmitting messages and impulses between nerve cells. GABA neurotransmitters in particular act as a natural 'nerve-calming' agent.

It balances nerve activity in the brain and plays a vital role in inducing somnolence, reducing anxiety and relaxing muscles. As nitrazepam promotes GABA activity in the brain, it also increases the prevalence of the effects it produces and induces. This includes calming and sedation effects which are essential for sleep induction.

This process essentially decreases the amount of time patients take to fall asleep and reduces night time or premature awakenings. It also increases sleep duration times and sleep quality. The potent effects of nitrazepam tablets can last for several hours in the body, ensuring that patients are entirely free of the physical and emotional bindings that insomnia and other conditions cause.

What is Nitrazepam Used for?

A decline in sleep quality or duration is a fairly common occurrence that most individuals experience at some point in life, these symptoms do not last longer than a few days and tend to disappear soon after their initial appearance. However, this is not the case in patients with insomnia as they experience a continuous lack of sleep, interrupted sleep patterns, decreased sleep quality and more.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, roughly 50% of adults experience insomnia. Insomnia is a disorder that can affect anyone, however, it is frequently seen in women and the elderly. The condition can last a few days, weeks and even extend to months or years. Certain medical conditions, stress and menopause, are common causes of this sleep disorder.

Sleeping pills such as nitrazepam tablets are considered the perfect treatment for insomnia as they foster natural physical and emotional responses to encourage sleep. The tablet is typically used as a short-term treatment, but studies show that chronic nitrazepam use is acceptable in some instances.

As mentioned above the tablet also possess the following properties:

• Sedative - Sedative agents, as the name suggests, offers a property that promotes sedation or sleep. This agent induces peaceful, calm or tranquil feelings that are especially useful in encouraging sleep.
• Anxiolytic - Anxiolytic properties also referred to as anti-panic or anti-anxiety agents, reduce anxiety.
• Anticonvulsant - Anticonvulsant properties are most often found in antiepileptic or antiseizure drugs commonly used to treat epileptic seizures. The presence of this agent in nitrazepam suppresses excessive rapid-firing neurons caused by abnormal brain activity.
• Muscle relaxant - Muscle relaxant properties aid tense and coiled muscles by completely relaxing them. The agent works in the brain and or spinal region to inhibit excessively stimulated nerve pathways.

These properties help in the management of conditions, such as:

• Insomnia
• Anxiety and depression associated with insomnia
• Studies show that the tablet can successfully treat seizures and infantile spasms. The successful results produced by this trial means that the tablet can be just as effective in treating other seizure disorders. Its primary use is in adults.
• Specific muscle conditions

Nitrazepam Strengths Available

Nitrazepam is well known for its potency in treating insomnia and other conditions. Its effective nature can be attributed to several of its properties and abilities which can be extracted via dosage strengths. Treatment strengths refer to how potent a single dose of a medication is and the individual amount of API found in each tablet.

Patients can identify a tablet's strength by referring to the number and milligram sign displayed next to the medication's name. The availability of different strengths is useful in treating specific conditions as it ensures that patients receive therapeutic amounts of a particular compound. It also guarantees that patients will not experience side effects with severe expressions due to excess consumption.

Nitrazepam tablets are available in the following strengths:

• 5 mg
• 10 mg

Experts advise that all treatment plans focused around nitrazepam be followed according to frequency and dosage instructions. Each treatment plan must be started with the lowest effective dose/strength, and maximum dosage allowances must not be exceeded.

Nitrazepam treatment durations vary from a few days to two weeks. However, this can extend to a maximum of four weeks or longer, depending on medical advice. Treatment durations must include a tapering off process that involves the consumption of progressively lowered strengths towards the end of the treatment plan. Dosage strengths can be accordingly adjusted if need be.

How does Nitrazepam make You Feel?

Once nitrazepam tablets are consumed, they absorb rapidly into the bloodstream to provide targeted relief to specific conditions. Although each condition that the tablet treats commands the induction of different effects, all patients who use the tablet have similar physical and emotional responses. The tablet is primarily known for treating insomnia, thus its sedating effects are considered more intense.

Patients who take the pill often report that they feel a sense of calmness along with drowsiness and relaxation. It affects how muscles work, which may result in some patients feeling physically light as well. The tablet may also understandably impair a patient's alertness, causing delayed reactions or responses, which helps treat conditions such as anxiety where patients are uncharacteristically or abnormally alert and on 'edge' about everyday situations.

Patients will feel the effects of nitrazepam tablets reasonably early in the treatment plan. However, patients must not discontinue the use of the tablet because they feel better. Long-lasting results can only be achieved if patients complete their prescribed course of nitrazepam. The abrupt discontinuation of this tablet can cause adverse effects.

Updated: 23rd January 2021
Review Due: January 2022