Flurazepam Withdrawal

Flurazepam hydrochloride, also known under the brand name dalmane is a benzodiazepine drug which is marketed for the treatment of insomnia. Flurazepam hcl is a medication which can become addictive if used for more than 2 - 4 weeks. If you are addicted to flurazepam, you must not stop taking this drug abruptly. The features of addiction to flurazepam sleep medication include, tolerance to the drug's effects, physical dependence and withdrawal side effects when the dose of flurazepam is reduced or stopped. Flurazepam as a benzodiazepine sedative hypnotic drug also has abuse potential but for most people the main problem is addiction without abuse, ie a physical dependence on flurazepam.

Flurazepam Brand Names

Flurazepam is the generic name of the active drug. However, flurazepam marketed around the world under various brand names including:

Dalmadorm, Dalmane, Dormodor, Felison, Flunox, Fluralema, Fluraz, Morfex, Remdue, Staurodorm, Staurodorm Neu, Valdorm.

How to Withdraw from Flurazepam

Flurazepam must be withdrawn from gradually. An abrupt or over rapid withdrawal from flurazepam or any other benzodiazepine acting drug can provoke serious withdrawal symptoms ranging from sleep disturbances and anxiety to more serious withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms, which may be life threatening include, seizures, psychosis and suicidal ideation. For the reasons just explained, flurazepam must be stopped gradually over a period of time.

We recommend using an equivalent dose of diazepam to withdraw from flurazepam. Both flurazepam and diazepam are benzodiazepine drugs and thus they both have the same mechanism of action. However, diazepam offers several advantages such as having a long half life, active metabolites and is available in low potency 2 mg tablets. The reasons for diazepam being the benzodiazepine of choice for a reduction regime are outlined in this article on TAPERING USING DIAZEPAM by Dr JG McConnell.

As a general guide we suggest small dosage reductions of around 10% every 3 - 4 weeks. However, it is important that the individual withdrawing takes charge of their own taper and make their own decisions regarding their rate of withdrawal. Some people may choose to go at a slower or faster rate than what we suggest.

In the below table we outlay a method for withdrawal from 30 mg of flurazepam using diazepam as the tool for withdrawal. If you are on a different dose of flurazepam than 30 mg, then simply just adapt the table to your current dosage of flurazepam.

If you have any further questions or you would simply like to meet others who are or have withdrawn from benzodiazepines, then feel free to join our withdrawal support forum.

 

Withdrawing from Flurazepam
Withdrawing from 30 mg of Flurazepam using 2 mg Diazepam tablets.
Follow or Adapt Table From Your Starting or Current dose
Morning	Lunch Time	Evening	Before Bed	Total Daily Dose
			Flurazepam 30 mg	Flurazepam 30 mg
Stabalise for 2 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 10 mg			Flurazepam 15 mg	Flurazepam 15 mg + Diazepam 10 mg
Stabalise for 2 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 10 mg			Diazepam 10 mg	Diazepam 20 mg
Stabalise for 2 - 4 weeks
At this stage you should be stabalising on the diazepam and ready to start making some small reductions in dosage.
9 mg			9 mg	Diazepam 18 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 8 mg			Diazepam 8 mg	Diazepam 16 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 7 mg			Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 14.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 6.5 mg			Diazepam 6.5 mg	Diazepam 13 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 5.5 mg			Diazepam 6 mg	Diazepam 11.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 5 mg			Diazepam 5 mg	Diazepam 10 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 4.5 mg			Diazepam 4.5 mg	Diazepam 9 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 4 mg			Diazepam 4 mg	Diazepam 8 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 3.5 mg			Diazepam 3.5 mg	Diazepam 7 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 3 mg			Diazepam 3 mg	Diazepam 6 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
See also NOTE below for additional information on withdrawing from 5 mg of diazepam
Diazepam 2.5 mg			Diazepam 2.5 mg	Diazepam 5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 2 mg			Diazepam 2.5 mg	Diazepam 4.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 2 mg			Diazepam 2 mg	Diazepam 4 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 1.5 mg			Diazepam 2 mg	Diazepam 3.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 1.5 mg			Diazepam 1.5 mg	Diazepam 3 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 1 mg			Diazepam 1.5 mg	Diazepam 2.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 1 mg			Diazepam 1 mg	Diazepam 2 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 0.5 mg			Diazepam 1 mg	Diazepam 1.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 0.5 mg			Diazepam 0.5 mg	Diazepam 1 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 0.5 mg	Diazepam 0.5 mg
Drop Last 0.5 mg dose of diazepam and Never Take Another Benzodiazepine Again
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Gradual Diazepam Detox Complete

NOTE: Some people find it difficult in the final stages of withdrawal from 5 mg of diazepam to zero. If you are one of these people it may be of value asking your doctor to provide you with the 2 mg per 5 ml diazepam liquid suspension, and obtaining a 1 ml syringe from your local pharmacy/drug store/chemist. Users can then obtain smaller dose reductions than the 0.5 mg sized cuts using tablets. See this page on SLOW WITHDRAWAL FROM DIAZEPAM using liquid suspension diazepam.