Flunitrazepam is a benzodiazepine drug which was developed by Hoffmann-La Roche & Co., Ltd. It has been shown that this drug not only produces hypnotic, sedative and muscle-relaxant effects but also potentiates analgesic agents. When flunitrazepam is administered intravenously in a dose of 1 to 2 mg as premedican or for the purpose of induction of anesthesia or sedation under local analgesia, sleep is induced in 1 to 2 minutes, and its effect continues for 20 to 40 minutes.
Clinical trials with flunitrazepam were carried out in 10 medical institutions in Japan in order to evaluate the usefulness of this drug in anesthesiological service and to establish the optimum clinical dosage and check for adverse reactions.
As a result, it has been revealed that this drug causes little vascular pain, induces sleep quick and does not disturb normal awakening. The results of the clinical trials suggest that the appropriate human doses of flunitrazepam for these purposes range from 0.015 to 0.03mg/kg.