Guadalupe L. Ross 
Nitrazepam is one of the benzodiazepine drugs that are commonly used to induce sleep or treat insomnia as well as anxiety, and they are among a group of sedative hypnotics.
Understanding about the side effects of nitrazepam
The commonest nitrazepam side-effects are daytime somnolence, wooziness, lack of stability and weariness. It slows down the brain activities and relaxes the nerves; this helps in sleep but can leave some other residual effects lasting through the next day. Up to 1 in 10 people may suffer from milder complaints when taking nitrazepam or another similar drug from the benzodiazepines family.
One may experience less common but more severe complications like coordination difficulties, blurred vision, sickness, vomiting or stomach ache. Some patients can also display paradoxical reactions where they become agitated or hyper after ingesting them instead of being sleepy and calm.
With nitrazepam, there is always the risk of dependency or withdrawal symptoms. After several weeks to months with these drugs, though, the brain becomes less responsive to its natural channels, leading to drug tolerance and dependence.
In case of sudden withdrawal from nitrazepam will lead to withdrawal symptoms as the brain remains in a state of imbalance/excitement phase induced by the sudden stopping of its medication supply. Most commonly, there will be rebound anxiety and insomnia on cessation of treatment with Nitrazepam. In some individuals, the withdrawal process may require a gradual tapering schedule and medical supervision.
Elderly patients are more prone to risks from nitrazepam use, such as excessive sedation, confusion, and instability leading to falls and injury; paradoxical reactions like aggression or delirium may also be seen among them. Liver and kidney function decline with age; hence, metabolism and excretion of nitrazepam become impaired within this population group due to aging process changes. Also, dosages often must be adjusted accordingly among older people, keeping these facts in mind.
The placenta can be crossed by nitrazepam in pregnant women, where it has the possibility of accumulating in the tissues of a fetus. It is not completely clear if there is cause for concern about congenital disabilities or their effects on development, but information on safety is limited. Most healthcare workers will advise pregnant women to avoid taking any benzodiazepine-type drugs and also nitrazepam while they are carrying a baby. It is necessary to take into account that nitrazepam passes through breast milk when mothers are breastfeeding.
The misuse potential of nitrazepam is very high, which causes addiction, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms as associated risks. The calming and sleep-inducing effects caused by its administration create reasons for long-term use or altering patterns with time or the sleeping tablets online. In order to indicate drug misuse early enough, individuals must be careful not to get addicted to these medications through methods like obtaining several prescriptions from different doctors, misusing them and combining them occasionally with other sedatives such as alcohol.
To sum up
Among other things for which insomnia medication nitrazepam is notorious include daytime drowsiness, impaired coordination/cognition, dependence/withdrawal, paradoxical reactions, and misuse liability. Particular attention ought to be paid towards older adults and expectant mothers when it comes to patient selection as well as dosage issues. Nonetheless, nitrazepam should be handled cautiously because although it is effective in short-term relief of insomnia, it may have side effects, significantly if misused or without considering the risks involved, hence ensuring patient safety.
