Nitravet

Sleep inducing agent

Description

Intermediate-acting benzodiazepine hypnosedative.

Indications

  • Insomnia especially associated with anxiety and pre-operative night insomnia
  • Infantile spasms
  • Myoclonic seizures
  • Hypsarrhythmias

Recommended Dosage

For insomnia, 5-10 mg, 20-30 min. before the expected time of sleeping. Elderly patients should be given 2.5 mg.
Myoclonus, Infantile spasm, and hypsarrhythmia: 0.25 to 3.0 mg/kg in children.

Action

Nitravet is an intermediate acting benzodiazepine with effective hypnotic action. It acts by interacting with benzodiazepine receptors thus potentiating the GABA-mediated inhibition of the CNS. The major pharmacological action of Nitravet is induction of sleep with daytime anxiolytic cover when used in recommended dosage. Nitravet induces sleep 20-30 min after an oral dose. The sleep architecture is not grossly altered. The sleep duration is increased while the sleep pattern is close to the physiological pattern. Nocturnal awakenings are also minimal with overall good quality of sleep. After the right dose Nitravet-induced sleep, the patient wakes up feeling fresh. Postural balance, motor co-ordination, mental functioning and reaction time are not usually affected, after its use in recommended dosage. Nitravet has anticonvulsant activity. It is used in infantile spasm and myoclonic seizures in children. Nitravet is rapidly and completely absorbed after an oral dose. The hypnotic effect comes on within 20-30 minutes. It has a half-life of abourt 25 hrs. It is metabolized by nitroreduction. Unlike other benzodiazepines, the metabolites are inactive. The metabolism of Nitravet is not affected by concomitant drugs and there is no pharmacokinetic variation in the elderly.

Safety

Nitravet is generally well tolerated because it has a very high therapeutic index. Side effects such as those seen with other benzodiazepines are rare with nitrazepam. Some of the side effects seen are lightheadedness, hangover, lassitude, slowing of reflexes, confusion, amnesia, rebound insomnia, nausea, headache, blurred vision, habituation and dependence. It is contraindicated in hypersensitivity and myasthenia gravis. Alcohol and other CNS depressants can enhance the effects of Nitrazepam. Benzodiazepines may cause floppy baby syndrome when taken during pregnancy. Given this, due caution is advised, as per principles good clinical practice, before prescribing benzodiazepines to pregnant women.

Presentation

Available as tablets in 5 mg and 10 mg strengths in blister strips of 10 each.

Composition

Each Nitravet-10 tablet contains :

Nitrazepam I.P. 10 mg

Each Nitravet-5 tablet contains :
Nitrazepam I.P. 5 mg

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