What to Know About Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)

Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) is an illicit drug that causes sedation deep enough to render a person completely incapacitated. It is known as "the date rape drug" because it has been used to facilitate sexual assault. "Roofie" symptoms include nausea and dizziness at first, before the full effects of loss of consciousness and memory that can last for hours.

Roofies can be abused as recreational or "club" drugs, much like ketamine, ecstasy (MDMA), or gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). They are classified as a Schedule IV drug in the United States.

This article explains roofie symptoms and effects, and discusses how it can be used or abused. It will help you to recognize when someone may need help, including medical care, because of taking roofies.

What Is Rohypnol?

Rohypnol is an olive green oblong tablet produced by the pharmaceutical manufacturer Hoffman-La Roche. It is in a class of depressants called benzodiazepines. It works by dramatically slowing the function of the central nervous system. It is more potent than drugs like Valium (diazepam) or Xanax (alprazolam).

Use and Abuse of Rohypnol

Outside of the United States, due to its quick-acting effects, Rohypnol is sometimes prescribed as a short-term treatment for insomnia. It may be given to help relax someone prior to receiving anesthesia.

In the United States, Rohypnol is used recreationally at lower doses as a party or club drug, more often by males. Its use among adolescents has decreased significantly but not as much as GBH or ketamine have. Those who abuse Rohypnol often combine it with alcohol, usually beer, in order to produce an exaggerated high. Part of the appeal of Rohypnol as a party drug (especially among young people) is its low cost.

People addicted to certain other drugs, such as cocaine, ecstasy, or amphetamines, sometimes turn to Rohypnol to relieve symptoms of withdrawal such as irritability and agitation.

However, Rohypnol is most notorious as a date rape drug. It has no flavor and dissolves easily in liquids. It can be slipped into a victim's drink without their knowledge, quickly leaving them incapacitated and vulnerable to sexual assault or robbery.

Roofie Symptoms

Rohypnol symptoms occur within about 30 minutes after taking the drug. A person will begin to experience its initial effects, including nausea, feeling too hot and too cold at the same time, dizziness, confusion, and disorientation. People also experience:

• Difficulty moving or speaking (slurred speech)
• Changes in social inhibition and/or reduced anxiety
• Muscle relaxation
• Slower reaction time and impaired judgment
• Confusion
• Aggression or excitability
• Headache
• Slower respiratory and heart rate

Blood pressure will drop and people will become drowsy and eventually black out (lose consciousness.) Side effects of Rohypnol typically peak within two hours but can persist for up to 12 hours.

Most people who take the drug have no memory of what happened while under its influence.

Addiction

Recreational use of Rohypnol can result in tolerance, meaning more and more of the drug will be necessary to achieve the desired high. It can also cause dependence, which is marked by a driving need to use the drug in order to mitigate the harsh effects of withdrawal. such as:

• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Anxiety, tension, restlessness, or irritability
• Mental confusion, including hallucinations and delirium states
• Tingling of hands or feet
• Seizures
• Shock

People who become addicted to Rohypnol will experience these withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to stop taking the drug. Some symptoms can prove fatal, so it's advisable to quit taking the drug under a doctor's supervision.

Summary

Rohypnol is surprisingly easy to obtain and inexpensive to purchase. It's often used as an illicit club drug, but "roofies" are known as the "date rape" drug because people (not knowing it's been slipped into a drink) can become incapacitated and not remember what happened.

Roofie symptoms begin within a few minutes of taking the drug, and include mental confusion, muscle relaxation, and slurred speech. Full effects typically leave someone unconscious and can last up to 12 hours. Most people recover, but severe symptoms may require medical attention.

Parents and caregivers of teens and young adults should be aware of the signs of drug use, while everyone should consider preventive steps like never leaving your drink unattended.