Rohypnol
Rohypnol is the common name for a drug of the Benzodiazepine class called flunitrazepam. A slang term for it is roofies. The drug is sold illegally, and it has many medical uses. It is a strong hypnotic (a drug that causes sleep); a sedative (causing relaxation and sleepiness); an anticonvulsant (fighting seizures); an anxiolytic (relieving anxiety); amnestic (causing forgetfulness); and skeletal muscle relaxant. [1] Most often, it is used as a treatment for sleep disorders like insomnia. It is thought to be one of the most effective hypnotic medications.
Like other hypnotics, flunitrazepam should be used only on a short-term basis or in those with serious insomnia on an occasional basis.[2]
Flunitrazepam is often called a date rape drug because it is very powerful, has strong effects, and can cause strong amnesia (causing a person to forget what happened after taking the drug).
History
[change | change source]Benzodiazepines were created in 1957 by Roche, a healthcare and pharmaceutical company. Roche started selling flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) in 1975. At first, hospitals used the drug when a patient needed a deep sleep. It was sold commercially in 1975 in Europe, and in the 1990s in the United States. The drug was given the brand name Rohypnol.[3]
Effects
[change | change source]Rohypnol is usually taken by mouth. It has a long active period – its effects can last 18 to 26 hours, and it can be found in urine and blood tests. This means that the day after taking the drug, a person may keep feeling tired and having trouble with thinking and balance. Even after a full day, driving a car may still be dangerous.
The drug is often involved in drug intoxication, including overdoses.[4][5] Overdose of flunitrazepam may cause long-term sedation, poor balance, and poor speech. In serious overdoses, people may have breathing problems, coma, and possibly death. The overdose will be worse if flunitrazepam is taken with depressants, like alcohol or opiates. Flunitrazepam overdose can be treated.
Other names
[change | change source]Some of the street names for Rohypnol are:
- beans (ZA)
- rophy
- ruffles
- roachies
- roofies
- ruffies
- ruff-up
- rib
- roach 2 (R2)
- roche
- rope
- ropies
- circles
- circes
- forget it
- forget-me-pill
- forget-me-now
- Mexican Valium.
- Magic date
- date-rape drug
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Mandrioli R, Mercolini L, Raggi MA (2008). "Benzodiazepine metabolism: an analytical perspective". Current Drug Metabolism. 9 (8): 827–44. doi:10.2174/138920008786049258. PMID 18855614. Archived from the original on 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Rickels, K. (1986). "The clinical use of hypnotics: indications for use and the need for a variety of hypnotics". Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica Suppl. 74 (S332): 132–41. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1986.tb08990.x. PMID 2883820. S2CID 46560074.
- ↑ "Our History". Roche. Archived from the original on 2006-10-16.
- ↑ Zevzikovas, A.; Kiliuviene, G.; Ivanauskas, L.; Dirse, V. (2002). "Analysis of benzodiazepine derivative mixture by gas-liquid chromatography". Medicina (Kaunas). 38 (3): 316–20. PMID 12474705.
- ↑ Jonasson B, Saldeen T (2002). "Citalopram in fatal poisoning cases". Forensic Science International. 126 (1): 1–6. doi:10.1016/S0379-0738(01)00632-6. PMID 11955823.