Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Nitrazepam”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Infantile spasms. Comparative trial of nitrazepam and corticotropin.

Fifty-two patients were enrolled in a four-week randomized multicenter study comparing nitrazepam and corticotropin in the treatment of infantile spasms. The drugs' efficacy was evaluated in 48 patients, all less than 2 years of age. Both treatments resulted in a statistically significant reduction in spasm frequency from that at baseline, but the difference between treatments was not significant. The number of patients who experienced side effects was similar in the two treatment groups, but the adverse effects encountered among the patients treated with corticotropin were qualitatively more severe and required the discontinuation of treatment in six patients.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Comparative developmental toxicity and metabolism of nitrazepam in rats and mice.

This study was designed to evaluate the developmental toxicity of nitrazepam (NZ) in Sprague-Dawley rats and ICR mice and to determine the metabolic factors which modulate susceptibility to the developmental effects of NZ. Rats were treated orally with a single dose of NZ at 300 mg/kg on Day 12 of gestation. Mice received one dose of 300 mg/kg NZ via gavage between Days 9 and 14 of gestation. NZ administration resulted in a significant incidence of malformations in rats, while no evidence of teratogenic action was observed in mice. Pronounced species differences in the metabolism of NZ were observed. In rats, 7-acetylaminonitrazepam (AANZ) was detected as the major metabolite in plasma and embryos, whereas in mice, only small amounts of this product were found. The rate of N-acetylation of 7-aminonitrazepam (ANZ) to AANZ was 8.5-fold greater in rat liver cytosol than that in mouse liver cytosol. In contrast, the rate of deacetylation of AANZ to ANZ was 9-fold greater in mouse liver microsomes than that in rat liver microsomes. The developmental effects of authentic metabolites of NZ were studied in the two species. A single oral administration of 300 mg/kg ANZ to pregnant animals produced a significant incidence of malformations in rats, but not in mice. On the other hand, AANZ was teratogenic in both species. These results suggest that the difference in the susceptibility to NZ-induced teratogenicity between rats and mice may be related to differences in the levels of N-acetyltransferase and deacetylase, and that AANZ may be involved in the teratogenic mechanism.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Simple preparation of the major urinary metabolites of flunitrazepam and nitrazepam.

An alarming increase in the misuse/abuse of nitrobenzodiazepine derivatives, especially flunitrazepam, prompted us to establish reliable analytical protocols for their routine detection. Whilst the parent drugs are readily available from a number of commercial sources, it was found difficult to obtain samples of the corresponding amino metabolites which were required as analytical standards. This lead us to develop the straightforward synthetic protocol described here, to convert the readily available parent drugs, namely flunitrazepam and nitrazepam, to their respective 7-amino derivatives. The method requires minimum laboratory facilities. It involves the reduction of the nitro functionality in the parent drug to an amino group using tin (II) chloride under mild conditions, using ultrasonication at room temperature. The method is simple and should give toxicology laboratories better access to these much needed compounds.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗

A population-based case-control teratologic study of nitrazepam, medazepam, tofisopam, alprazolum and clonazepam treatment during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between nitrazepam, medazepam, tofisopam, alprazolum and clonazepam treatments during pregnancy and prevalence of different congenital abnormalities (CAs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A matched case-control study using cases with CAs and population controls from the dataset of the nationwide Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities (HCCSCA), 1980-1996. RESULTS: Of 38,151 pregnant women who had babies without any defects (population control group), 75 (0.20%) were treated with these five benzodiazepines during pregnancy. Of 22,865 pregnant women who delivered offspring with CAs, 57 (0.25%) had benzodiazepine treatment. The occurrence of five benzodiazepine treatments during the second and third months of gestation, i.e. in the critical period for most major CAs did not show significant differences in matched case-control pairs. CONCLUSION: Treatment with five benzodiazepines studied during pregnancy did not present detectable teratogenic risk to the fetus in humans but the amount of information was limited for different CAs.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Quantitative determination of diazepam, nitrazepam and flunitrazepam in tablets using thin-layer chromatography-densitometry technique.

A simple and reliable assay for diazepam, nitrazepam and flunitrazepam in tablets by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-densitometry is described. A quantity of a ground tablet mass, equal to the average weight of one tablet was sonicated in MeOH, mixed with appropriate internal standard, filtered and either injected directly into the liquid chromatograph, or after evaporation and reconstitution of an aliquot of the extract, was spotted on a silica gel thin-layer plate. A variable UV detector, operated at 254 nm was employed in both procedures. A C18, reversed phase 7 microm column was used for HPLC analysis; the mobile phase was a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of MeOH (40 degrees C) and 0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH 7, 80 degrees C). The TLC plate was developed in an unsaturated chromatographic chamber containing 100 ml chloroform-acetone (9:1); at room temperature, the mobile phase was allowed to travel 15 cm. The percentage of the active ingredient content of each tablet obtained by both procedures, was in the range of the stated amount except for one brand of diazepam tablets which contained approximately 23% less active ingredient than the minimum prescribed amount. The TLC densitometry, although yields slightly higher values than the HPLC method, is preferred due to its simplicity, ease and low cost.

Chromatography, Thin Layer↗

Simultaneous HPLC analysis of the hypnotic benzodiazepines nitrazepam, estazolam, flunitrazepam, and triazolam in plasma.

A new analytical methodology was developed for simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic quantitation of nitrazepam, estazolam, flunitrazepam, and triazolam in plasma. After addition of the internal standard nor-prazepam, biological samples and calibration standards were extracted at basic pH into diethyl ether-methylene chloride (2:1, v/v). The reconstituted extract was separated on a reversed-phase Nova Pak C18 column with acidic buffer (6mM)-acetonitrile-methanol (64:23:13, v/v) as mobile phase. The detection was performed at 242 nm. Within-run and day-to-day precision values were about 2-8%. The method is thus sensitive and reproducible for use in clinical and experimental toxicokinetic studies.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Comparative studies on the efficacy of brotizolam and nitrazepam: a multi-centre study.

Efficacy and tolerability of brotizolam (0.25 and 0.5 mg) were compared over a 6-day period with nitrazepam (5.0 mg) in middle-aged patients (less than 65 years) with sleep disturbances requiring medication. The study was double-blind and randomised with a cross-over design. Each preparation reduced sleep onset latency and frequency of awakenings, and improved quality and duration of sleep as well as subjective condition on awakening. Brotizolam 0.25 mg was found to be equally effective as 0.5 mg, and so the lower dose is recommended for the middle aged.

Adolescent↗

Differential effects of chlorpromazine, imipramine, nitrazepam and amobarbital on REM sleep and REM density in man.

The effect of chlorpromazine (CPZ), imipramine (IMP), nitrazepam (NZP) and amobarbital sodium (AMOB) on the REM period of sleep (REMP) was investigated on four subjects by means of all-night sleep polygraphy with the schedule PPPDDDPP where P is placebo and D active drug. CPZ 25 mg resulted in a slight increase in %REMP, and no significant change in REM density (1 second fraction method) and total REM activity during the drug and withdrawal nights. IMP 25 mg produced moderate decrease in %REMP in the three drug nights, whereas REM density decreased only in the first drug night. NZP 5 mg resulted in a slight parallel suppression of %REMP, REM density and total REM activity during the drug nights. AMOB 200 mg produced a slight decrease in %REMP and marked decrease in REM density during the drug nights. Rebound increase of %REMP and a tendency of carry over decrease of REM density were observed in the withdrawal nights. Decrease in the REM density was more marked in AMOB than in NZP drug night. The importance of the simultaneous analysis of %REMP and REM density for the study of effects of psychotrophic drugs on sleep was emphasized.

Adult↗

Incidence of death in patients with intractable epilepsy during nitrazepam treatment.

PURPOSE: Increased risk of death has been reported in patients with intractable epilepsy (IE) taking nitrazepam (NZP). METHODS: Between January 1983 and March 1994, 302 patients with IE were entered into a NZP compassionate-plea protocol. NZP was discontinued if there was < 50% seizure reduction or significant side effects. In some patients with > 50% reduction, it also was discontinued for lack of sufficient effect. At the end of follow-up for this study, 62 patients remained taking NZP. Patients took NZP from 3 days to 10 years. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 302 patients died after institution of NZP. Fourteen of 21 of these were taking NZP at death, and in five of 21, the NZP had been discontinued. Two patients were excluded from analysis, because it is unclear whether NZP had been discontinued before death. Six other patients were lost from follow-up. Of the 14 deaths with NZP, seven were sudden, six were of pneumonia, and one was of cystinosis. Nine had at least one contributing factor, such as dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux, or recurrent aspirations. The 294 patients took NZP for a total of 704 patient years (ptyrs), and were discontinued for a total of 856 ptyrs. There were 1.98 deaths/ 100 ptyrs on NZP compared with 0.58 deaths/100 ptyrs without NZP, most of the former being associated with side effects of NZP. Mortality in patients younger than 3.4 years was 3.98 with NZP compared with 0.26 deaths/100 ptyrs without NZP (p = 0.0002). Corresponding figures in patients 3.4 years or older were 0.50 and 0.86 deaths/100 ptyrs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: NZP therapy for epilepsy apparently increases the risk of death, especially in young patients with IE. This should be considered in antiepileptic drug (AED) management decisions.

Age Factors↗

A repeated dose comparison of three benzodiazepine derivative (nitrazepam, flurazepam and flunitrazepam) on subjective appraisals of sleep and measures of psychomotor performance the morning following night-time medication.

Repeated doses of 5 mg nitrazepam, 15 mg flurazepam, and 1 mg flunitrazepam improved subjective assessments of the ease of getting to sleep and the perceived quality of induced sleep in a population of 30 healthy volunteers. The subjective reports of improved sleep inducement were related to a perceived difficulty in awakening from sleep the morning following medication. This subjectively reported "hangover" is also shown in the impairment of mental arithmetic abilities as measured on the serial subtraction of sevens technique. However, complex psychomotor performance is unaffected by repeated administration of these three benzodiazepine derivatives, although these later results are somewhat equivocal. Evidence of a "rebound phenomenon" following 4 nights' withdrawal of active medication is shown in both subjective and objective measures of sleep and early morning behaviour.

Adult↗

Triazolam as a hypnotic for geriatric patients. A double-blind cross-over comparison of nitrazepam and triazolam regarding effects on sleep and psychomotor performance.

Triazolam 0.25 mg was compared with nitrazepam 5 mg as a hypnotic for 26 geriatric inpatients in a double-blind cross-over study. Sleep quantity and quality and psychomotor performance were studied. The sleep quantity and quality were similar for both drugs. There were no statistically significant differences between the two drugs in the psychomotor tests. The results are in contrast to results from other studies and might be explained by the composition of the patient material in the present study.

Aged↗

Polymorphic acetylation of nitrazepam.

Nitrazepam is metabolized in part by nitro-reduction to an amine followed by acetylation. This acetylation step has been shown to be under the control of the same genetic polymorphism as sulphamethazine (syn: sulphadimidine).

Biotransformation↗

Impaired nitrazepam metabolism in hypothyroidism.

Delayed metabolism of a number of drugs has been described in hypothyroid patients. We report an elderly hypothyroid female who had prolonged delay in the metabolism of a commonly-used sedative, nitrazepam, and discuss the importance of delayed drug metabolism in hypothyroidism.

Aged↗

Effect of nitrazepam and flurazepam on the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide.

Ventilatory response to CO2 was measured before and after two different benzodiazepine hypnotics in both chronic bronchitics and patients without chest disease. Flurazepam, but not nitrazepam, produced a significant decrease in CO2 sensitivity, although there was no significant change in FEV1 or mixed venous PCO2. This is the first unequivocal evidence of central depression of respiration by a benzodiazepine and may be the mechanism by which benzodiazepines cause deterioration in patients with respiratory failure.

Adolescent↗