Patient/caregiver was instructed upon therapeutic uses and mechanism of action of flurazepam as follows:
- Neurotransmitters in the brain and spinal cord are chemical messengers that help the nerve cells to communicate with each other. These chemicals can both be excitatory and inhibitory.
- Excitatory neurotransmitters help in stimulating the brain and spinal cord nerve cells. These chemicals contribute to promoting the impulses to spread from one cell to the other. Increased promotion of nerve impulses among nerve cells can contribute to increased activity, alertness, reduced rest and sleep, and anxiety.
- Inhibitory neurotransmitters help in depressing or inhibiting the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. These chemicals contribute to inhibiting the spread of impulses from one cell to the other. Inhibition of nerve impulses among nerve cells can contribute to reduced activity and alertness, increased rest and sleep, and control of anxiety symptoms.
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain and spinal cord. Increasing effects of GABA results in inhibition of spread of impulses between nerve cells, thus reducing excitability, alertness, and anxiety, and promoting dizziness and sleep.
- Flurazepam is a drug that belongs to the benzodiazepine group of medications, used mainly for management of sleep disorders. Flurazepam use also contributes to some extent to reduce anxiety in individuals with history.
- Flurazepam works by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, thus contributing to reduced alertness, increased rest and sleep, and control of anxiety symptoms.
- Flurazepam helps with falling sleep faster and staying sleep longer. Flurazepam also significantly reduces the interruption of sleep and prevents waking up in the night, thus contributing to a restful sleep. So, it can be used in individuals with trouble falling/staying asleep and insomnia.
