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Indication & Dosage |
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| Oral |
| SHORT-TERM MANAGEMENT OF INSOMNIA |
| Adult:
15-30 mg once at night. Elderly: 15 mg to be taken at bedtime.
Start with small doses in renal impairment and liver disease. |
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| Administration |
May be taken with or without food. |
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| Precautions |
Chronic pulmonary insufficiency; elderly or debilitated patients; muscle weakness, impaired liver or kidney function; drowsiness may affect skilled tasks; monitor cardio-respiratory function when used for deep sedation; personality disorders or organic brain changes; history of alcohol or drug addiction. resp depression and hypotension with parenteral administration. Dependence; lactation. Safety and efficacy are not proven in children < 15 yr. |
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| Adverse Drug Reactions |
Drowsiness and lightheadedness, sedation, muscle weakness and ataxia; less frequently vertigo, headache, confusion, depression, slurred speech, changes in libido, tremor, visual disturbances, urinary retention, GI disturbances, changes in salivation and amnesia. |
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| Interactions |
Antidepressants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, general anesthetics, other hypnotics or sedatives, opioid analgesics and cisapride. Increased toxicity by amprenavir, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, clozapine, CNS depressants, diltiazem, disulfiram, digoxin, erythromycin, ethanol, levodopa, loxapine, metoprolol, metronidazole, miconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, omeprazole, phenytoin, rifabutin, rifampicin, ritonavir, troleandromycin, valproic acid and verapamil. Effect is decreased by carbamazepine, rifampicin and rifabutin. Herbs such as valerian, St John's wort, kava kava, gotu kola may increase CNS depression. Alcohol. |
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