Nitrazepam

Nitrazepam is a drug also sold under the trade name Mogadon. It is used to control seizures and to allow insomniacs to sleep. It shortens the time required to fall asleep and lengthens the duration of this sleep. Typically, it may work within an hour and allow its taker to maintain sleep for 4–6 hours. It is no longer available in America.

Clinical Pharmacology

Nitrazepam is a member of the group of benzodiazepine agonists and exhibits sedative, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant effects. This is presumed to be the result of facilitating the action in the brain of gamma aminobutyric acid, an endogenous inhibitor neurotransmitter.

Side effects can include:

• drowsiness, tiredness
• dizziness, unsteadiness
• loss of memory, confusion, lack of concentration
• headache, "hangover" feeling in the morning.