Delorazepam is a long-acting sedative drug which may be used as a pre-operative sedative and in the short-term treatment of anxiety and insomnia. It is only available in some countries and may be known by different trade names. It is usually available by prescription only and is only used short-term due to the possibility of addiction. Patients who have been using delorazepam for a prolonged period should seek medical help if they wish to withdraw off it. Belonging to the class of drugs called benzodiazepines, delorazepam shares a mechanism with other drugs in the class, like diazepam, midazolam and lorazepam. Due to the addictive potential of delorazepam, it is usually only prescribed on a short-term basis. It is used as a sedative before undergoing a surgical procedure and may be prescribed to treat anxiety and insomnia in the acute stage.

Delorazepam is a benzodiazepine which, like other drugs in its class, possesses anxiolytic, skeletal muscle relaxant, hypnotic and anticonvulsant properties. It may have adverse effects such as drowsiness, and cognitive impairments such as short term memory impairment. Delorazepam is an active metabolite of the benzodiazepine known as cloxazolam. It is a long acting benzodiazepine which makes it superior in this sense to lorazepam which is short acting. Lorazepam is also a major active metabolite of delorazepam. In addition to be long acting, delorazepam is relatively potent, with 1 mg of delorazepam being the equivalent of 10 mg diazepam. It has been approved for marketing in Italy.

Excerpt from the Toxic Exposome Database:
http://www.t3db.ca/toxins/T3D4567

Delorazepam:

It is marketed in Italy, where it is available under the trade name EN and Dadumir

• A benzodiazepine
• A derivative of desmethyldiazepam
• It has anxiolytic, skeletal muscle relaxant, hypnotic and anticonvulsant properties.
• Adverse effects may include hangover type effects, drowsiness, behavioural impairments and short-term memory impairments
• Available in tablet and liquid drop formulations.

  The liquid drop formulation is absorbed more quickly and has improved bioavailibility

Delorazepam is mainly used as an anxiolytic because of its long elimination half-life; showing superiority over the short-acting drug lorazepam

Delorazepam is also used as a premedication for dental phobia for its anxiolytic properties. High doses of Delorazepam may be administered the night before a dental (or other medical) procedure in order to provide relief from anxiety-associated insomnia that night with the effects persisting long enough to sufficiently treat anxiety the next day.