How to Pronounce Flurazepam (Dalmane)
How do you pronounce Flurazepam?
Flurazepam is pronounced “flur-AZ-e-pam”. It has 4 syllables: flur ‑ az ‑ e ‑ pam. The stress falls on the second syllable, “az”. The “flur” rhymes with “blur” or “slur” and reflects the fluorine atom in the chemical structure.
How many syllables are in Flurazepam?
Flurazepam has 4 syllables: flur ‑ az ‑ e ‑ pam.
What is Flurazepam used for?
Flurazepam (Dalmane) is a long-acting benzodiazepine hypnotic used for insomnia. It is notable for its active metabolite, desalkylflurazepam, which has a half-life of 47–100 hours. This prolonged effect causes significant next-day sedation, psychomotor impairment, and fall risk, particularly in elderly patients. Flurazepam is prominently listed on the AGS Beers Criteria as a medication to avoid in older adults for these reasons. It is rarely first-line today but remains on many inpatient formularies and frequently appears on pharmacology examinations as an example of a long-acting benzodiazepine with clinically significant active metabolites.
How does Flurazepam work?
Like all benzodiazepines, flurazepam enhances GABA-A receptor function by binding at the benzodiazepine allosteric site, increasing chloride channel opening frequency. The parent compound has a short half-life, but its active metabolite desalkylflurazepam has a half-life of 47–100 hours, accumulating over repeated doses and producing the prolonged effects that distinguish it pharmacokinetically from shorter-acting benzodiazepines.
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Common Mispronunciations
Where You’ll Encounter This
Geriatric pharmacology (Beers Criteria), medication reconciliation in elderly patients, pharmacokinetics discussions (prototype for drugs with long-acting active metabolites), inpatient formulary review. Appears frequently on USMLE Step 1 and NAPLEX examinations as a pharmacokinetic example.
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