Nitrazepam

What is nitrazepam?

Nitrazepam is a type of medicine which belongs to a group of medicines known as benzodiazepines. Nitrazepam calms the brain and is often used to treat sleep disorders. This medicine may also be used to treat some kinds of seizures.

You may hear nitrazepam called by its brand names, Mogadon or Nitrazadon. Nitrazepam is available as a tablet. SickKids can also provide nitrazepam as a liquid form.

Before giving nitrazepam to your child

Tell your doctor if your child has:

• an allergy to nitrazepam or any other ingredient of this medicine
• acute narrow-angle glaucoma

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if your child has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• brain disease
• sleep apnea (temporary stopping breathing while asleep)
• severe lung disease
• myasthenia gravis (disorder of immune system that causes muscle weakness)
• porphyria (disorders of the skin or nervous system)
• hyperactivity
• severe mental illness
• hyperactivity
• liver or kidney disease

How should you give your child nitrazepam?

Follow these instructions when you give your child nitrazepam:

• Give your child nitrazepam exactly as your doctor or your pharmacist tells you to, even if your child seems better.
• Talk to your child's doctor before you stop giving nitrazepam for any reason. Your child may become ill if they stop taking this medicine suddenly.
• Give the nitrazepam at the same times every day. Pick times that are easy for you so that you do not miss doses.
• If your child takes nitrazepam once a day, give it at bedtime.
• Give nitrazepam with or without food. Give with food if it causes an upset stomach.
• If your child is taking liquid nitrazepam, shake the bottle of nitrazepam well. Measure the dose with the special spoon or syringe that the pharmacist gave you.
• If your child cannot swallow the tablet, you may crush or dissolve the tablet in liquid.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of nitrazepam?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child 2 doses to make up for 1 missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of nitrazepam?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take nitrazepam. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects and they do not go away, or if they bother your child:

• dizziness or light-headedness
• drowsiness
• clumsiness or unsteadiness
• slurred speech
• blurred vision
• dry mouth

Call your child's doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• yellow eyes or skin
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• unusual changes in behaviour
• severe drowsiness/confusion

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these side effects:

• new onset or worsening seizures
• if your child shows signs of a life-threatening reaction, including: wheezing; trouble breathing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin colour; or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• slow heartbeat

What safety measures should you take when your child is using nitrazepam?

Keep all appointments at the clinic or doctor's office so that the doctor can check your child's reaction to nitrazepam. The doctor may need to change the dose so that your child is getting the right amount.

Before your child has any kind of surgery, including dental surgery, or an emergency treatment, tell the doctor or dentist that your child is taking nitrazepam.

Nitrazepam may make your child dizzy, drowsy, and less alert than normal. Watch carefully when your child is doing something that they need to be alert for, such as climbing stairs. Tell your child's teacher to be aware that your child is taking a medication that can cause these side effects.

This medicine may make your child's mouth and throat dry. Sucking a hard, sugarless candy or chewing sugarless gum will help your child feel more comfortable.

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with nitrazepam, or in some cases the dose of nitrazepam or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your doctor and pharmacist if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over the counter, or herbal) including:

• cimetidine
• erythromycin
• other drugs which can make your child drowsy (e.g., cold medicines)

What other important information should you know about nitrazepam?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others. Do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Make sure you always have enough nitrazepam to last through weekends, holidays, and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least 2 days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Keep nitrazepam tablets at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Keep nitrazepam liquid in the refrigerator. Do not freeze this medicine.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep nitrazepam out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much nitrazepam, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.