Flurazepam and Withdrawal: What Users Say

• Moj...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 23, 2022

For Insomnia "Was on flurazepam for over 17 years, and went through a hard time in 2019 with terrible withdrawals. Mylan is no longer producing it, however, a smaller manufacturer will start producing it by August 2023. I found this on the FDA website and called the company."

• joj...
• July 29, 2019

For Insomnia "I have taken flurazepam to sleep for over 10 years. It has always worked, never a need to increase, etc., etc. Now comes the problem, same as others: terrible withdrawal. I had to go to detox and am still having symptoms. Add to that, I am having some kind of allergic reaction to something, and my body is completely swollen (especially my tongue). I couldn't sleep now if I wanted to! Allergists think it's in my head because I am acting crazy now due to 9 weeks of no sleep, possibly still withdrawing, and now a swollen body!! It angers me that these companies can just PULL a drug off the market whenever they feel the need!! If anyone has found a drug (not a benzo) that is working to help them sleep, please put it out there to help all of us that are going through this craziness!! I have tried numerous things (the latest is Rozerem), not doing a thing.. Hate living a nightmare!!"

• RWB...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 27, 2019

For Insomnia "I was on 30 mg of Dalmane nightly for insomnia since 1987. Same experience as others. The withdrawal has been terrible. Anxiety level is very high, and my blood pressure (never an issue before) is very high despite high doses of Lisinopril and Metoprolol. Mylan Pharmaceuticals is the manufacturer for Dalmane. I last called around 10/7. They claim they will start making Dalmane again on 12/2. It should be available in pharmacies later in December. Temazepam is too short-acting for me. I have been prescribed 30 mg at night. It kicks in about an hour later and helps me sleep. Then it wears off early the next day, and the overwhelming anxiety starts. Doc has also added in 0.5 mg of Clonazepam to be taken in the morning, but that doesn't seem to help at all. Good luck to everyone, and hit up Mylan customer service with phone calls!"

• Tvt...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 17, 2019

For Insomnia "I just returned from a 2-night stay in the hospital, due to Roche’s discontinuing flurazepam. I was on it for 12 years, 15 to 30 mg for sleep, and it worked well. Now, my life is a living nightmare due to the drug company's negligence. My heart rate soared to 199, my blood pressure is 140 to 160, coming off cold turkey on this drug. They gave me metoprolol and a high blood pressure medication, but the anxiety, dread, and withdrawal symptoms are so bad. Yes, Roche Pharmaceutical needs to be sued in a class action lawsuit for their callous disregard of the thousands of long-term patients who were dependent on this medicine. If anyone files, let me know! I’d not wish this withdrawal on my worst enemy!!"

• sco...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 18, 2023

For Insomnia "I have been on flurazepam 30 mg for 15 years. I found out two days before my cruise that they no longer made this medication. This was over 2 months ago. I am going through severe withdrawals, and my doctor keeps prescribing me benzos, which do not work. I have the shakes, I do not remember the last time I had any sleep, and I am irritated all day. Why would they make people go through this? I am 64 years old, this is the most horrible thing I have ever been through. The doctor cannot find anything to replace it because flurazepam was only one-quarter benzoid, it had a sedative in it. This is why nothing else works."

• Joj...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 20, 2022

For Insomnia "Well, once again, we are no longer getting flurazepam, this time for 10-12 months. It has always worked for me, and during the last shortage, I went through terrible withdrawals. I can’t do that again, as it was so hard on me last time. I have sought the help of a doctor that specializes in detox, and I am doing much better than I had anticipated after the last time (I still have PTSD). But I highly recommend finding a doctor that can help you and use the Ashton manual so that you never have to go through this again!!! By the way, I believe the reason for the shortage is that Mylan (the original manufacturer) has discontinued producing it, however, another company is in the process of applying for the patent and will be able to begin production later in 2023. I wish you all the best with this. Stay strong and please consider discontinuing the use of this drug, as it is not easy to find a supplement that can work as well as flurazepam!"

• Sky...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 31, 2019

For Insomnia "I took flurazepam for over 20 years with absolutely no problems whatsoever, and now I am one of the many struggling with withdrawals after it was discontinued. I understand the nightmare that many of you are going through. I called Mylan out of desperation and was told that the 15 mg was re-released last week. I dropped my prescription off today, and it will be in stock for pick up tomorrow. CVS in my area was not able to get it at this time, but Walgreens did. Don't wait for an announcement or any notification. You have to be proactive and get your prescription and get it filled. I am hoping this is the solution to this agony since I am on a tapering cocktail of other medications that I will now have to discontinue. Like many of you, I simply want my life back. I tried my best to struggle through the withdrawals, but they are so severe, unpredictable, and lengthy that I made the decision to go back on the medication. Best of luck to all of you."

• Ann...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 13, 2020

For Insomnia "I took flurazepam 15 mg every night for 29 years until it became unavailable. It worked well, and I never had any side effects. When it became unavailable, I had severe withdrawal effects only partly controlled by alprazolam. Recently, flurazepam became available again, and I have taken it twice at bedtime; unfortunately, this new batch causes very bad stomach pain and back pain -- I never had anything like that before in the 29 years I took it. It might be from China or India, but there's no way to find out because the drug manufacturers are not required to make that information available. I'm wondering if anybody else has had a similar reaction to the new product."

• sun...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 9, 2022

For Insomnia "I suffer from insomnia and GAD. I am 75 years old and have been taking Dalmane/Flurazepam for the past 55 years. When taking that long, it became my friend and I never increased. Went to pick up my prescription in June and could only get 20 pills vs. the 90 prescribed. When I asked why, I was told discontinued. I then contacted six other pharmacies and the same. I am now on Clonazepam 0.25 mg, and it isn't enough for sleep. I am going through some withdrawals and getting an average of only 3 - 4 hours of sleep. Really upset with 'Big Pharma.'"

• Kit...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 15, 2019

For Insomnia "Was on flurazepam 30 mg for 3 years. It is a benzo, with all the risks of addiction all benzos have. When it was abruptly unavailable, I fortunately realized quickly I was in benzo withdrawal and switched to 15 mg Valium. Valium has a similar long half-life to flurazepam. I am now slowly tapering it by 0.5 mg a week via the Ashton Manual Protocol. Please Google this and learn for yourself. There are FB groups that will help you if you are experiencing withdrawal. The answer is not to return to flurazepam... it is to get off benzos. Read the Ashton Manual, it is the good standard for this unfortunate situation we are in."

• dal...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 1, 2023

Flurazepam for Insomnia "I have been on Dalmane for 40 years and had to come off as it is unavailable anymore. The withdrawal was horrendous. People should be warned."