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WARNINGMIXING OR WITHDRAWAL CAN BE DANGEROUS
Ordinary doses in combination with other depressants can fatally stop breathing. After prolonged dependency, stopping suddenly can also cause seizures or delirium; seek medical help.
Bromazepam
7-Bromo-5-(2-pyridyl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one
Lexotanil, Lectopam, Lexotan, Lexomil, Lexilium
Bromazepam is a benzodiazepine patented in 1961 by Roche and approved for medical use in 1974.citation needed It is primarily prescribed as an anxiolytic for treating anxiety and panic disorders, and is occasionally used as a premedicant prior to minor surgery. Compared to other classical benzodiazepines, bromazepam is noted for being less sedating at typical doses while producing greater muscle relaxation. Some experts suggest it carries elevated abuse potential due to its rapid onset of action.
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.
Threshold1.5 mg
Light1.5-3 mg
Moderate3-6 mg
Strong6-12 mg
Heavy12+ mg
Bioavailability
84%
The acute toxic dose for an adult without tolerance or drug combinations has been estimated at 180 mg orally.
Duration
Onset14-15 minutes
Come Up15-120 minutes
Peak2-12 hours
Offset0.5-1 hours
After Effects12-22 hours
Total6-15 hours
Half-life
10-20 hours
Subjective Effects
Legacy content. A statistically backed ontology from Mindstate Design Labs is coming soon.
The experience is dominated by anxiety relief, sedation, and muscle relaxation, with little in the way of sensory alteration. Owing to its fast absorption, the onset of effects is comparatively rapid for a long-acting benzodiazepine, and the overall character of the experience is broadly similar to that of diazepam. At moderate to high doses, memory formation becomes unreliable and coordination is noticeably impaired.
Physical
Drowsiness, heavy sedation, and pronounced muscle relaxation are the primary physical effects, accompanied by dizziness and unsteady, uncoordinated movement. Unsteadiness is reported to be less pronounced than with some other benzodiazepines such as lorazepam.
Coordination
Sedation
Cognitive
The headspace is calm and anxiety-free but cognitively dulled, with reduced working memory, slowed processing of environmental information, and impaired attention. Anterograde amnesia can occur, leaving partial or absent recall of the period after ingestion.
Suppressions
Cognitive effects are dominated by suppression of anxiety alongside a general dampening of memory, attention, and mental processing.
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
Bromazepam acts as a positive allosteric modulator at the benzodiazepine binding site of the GABA-A receptor.citation needed It binds to this site and produces a conformational change that potentiates the inhibitory effects of GABA, enhancing the receptor's response when GABA is present. Other neurotransmitter systems are not directly influenced.
Pharmacokinetics
Bromazepam is well absorbed orally with a bioavailability of approximately 84%. It is metabolized hepatically via oxidative pathways involving a cytochrome P450 enzyme,12 producing hydroxybromazepam as its major metabolite, which is pharmacologically active and has a half-life similar to the parent compound.citation needed The elimination half-life of bromazepam is 10 to 20 hours.
Dangerous
Highest riskThese combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.
Unsafe
AvoidThere is considerable risk of physical harm when taking these combinations, they should be avoided where possible.
Caution
Use cautionThese combinations are not usually physically harmful, but may produce undesirable effects, such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. Extreme use may cause physical health issues. Synergistic effects may be unpredictable. Care should be taken when choosing to use this combination.
Tolerance
Tolerance timelines are rules of thumb, not exact schedules, and vary widely between individuals and use patterns.
Full Tolerance
Tolerance to the behavioral effects of benzodiazepines develops within different timeframes depending on the specific effects considered, but generally appears within several days of continuous use.
Cross Tolerance
Benzodiazepines, GABAergic depressants
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
HighBromazepam presents significant abuse potential,citation needed reportedly greater than other benzodiazepines due to its fast absorption and rapid onset of action. Compulsive redosing is documented, and rebound anxiety following use can perpetuate cycles of dependence.
Physical
HighPhysical dependence can develop within one to six months of continuous use,citation needed with up to 30% of long-term users developing dependence. Abrupt withdrawal after chronic use, even at therapeutic doses, can lead to severe withdrawal syndrome including status epilepticus and symptoms resembling delirium tremens. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, tremor, sweating, nausea, seizures, hallucinations, and hyperthermia.
Toxicity
Hepatic
Liver damage of the cholestatic type, with or without jaundice, has been reported; the manufacturer recommends regular laboratory examinations for patients on long-term therapy.citation needed
Hematological
Leukopenia has been observed in some patients during treatment.citation needed
Central Nervous System
Chronic use commonly causes impairments to memory functions including reduced working memory and reduced ability to process environmental information; long-term use may also cause mood swings, depression, depersonalization, and perceptual disturbances.citation needed
Psychosis Risk
Paradoxical reactions including violent behavior, loss of impulse control, and suicidal behavior occur rarely, with an incidence rate below 1% in the general population.citation needed These reactions occur more frequently in recreational abusers, individuals with mental disorders, children, and patients on high-dosage regimens. Withdrawal may produce hallucinations and delirium in severe cases.1
Seizure Risk
Paradoxical increased seizures in epileptics are rare during use.citation needed However, abrupt withdrawal after chronic use poses significant seizure risk, including potential for status epilepticus. Gradual dose reduction eliminates withdrawal-related seizure risk.
History & Culture
Bromazepam was developed by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, receiving its patent in 1961. The compound was subsequently approved for medical use in 1974, entering the pharmaceutical market as an intermediate-acting anxiolytic medication.…
Legality
International
UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971 (Schedule IV)
By Country
Illegal2
NetherlandsIllegalOpiumwet, List II and Article 312
Bromazepam is listed in Lijst II of the Opiumwet. Article 3 prohibits importing, exporting, preparing, processing, selling, supplying, transporting, possessing, and manufacturing Lijst II substances, subject to the Act's statutory exceptions.
SwedenIllegalBromazepam is listed as a narcotic in Förteckning IV of the Swedish Medical Products Agency's narcotics schedules. Unauthorised possession, use, transfer, manufacture, acquisition for transfer, and other handling of narcotics are punishable under the Narcotic Drugs Punishments Act; the ordinary maximum penalty is three years' imprisonment.
Controlled / restricted4
United StatesRestricted21 CFR § 1308.14(c)(5)24
Controlled under the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule IV depressant.25 Sales require a license, and possession is allowed only with a valid license or prescription.
By state
26 United States jurisdictions were confirmed to control bromazepam consistently with the federal Schedule IV baseline. 1 jurisdiction has a source-backed divergent schedule designation. The remaining 29 jurisdictions are preserved as research gaps rather than inferred from federal law.
TexasRestrictedTexas Controlled Substances Act26
Texas expressly places bromazepam in Penalty Group 3. That is a Texas penalty-group classification rather than federal Schedule IV, so this entry records the materially different state designation.
GermanyRestrictedBromazepam is listed in Anlage III of the Betäubungsmittelgesetz, the schedule for marketable and prescribable narcotics. The listing exempts preparations containing no other Anlage I–III substance and no more than 6 mg bromazepam per divided form. The AMVV does not separately name bromazepam; its general entry for narcotic preparations does not establish prescription-only status for the exempt preparations.
PortugalRestrictedBromazepam is listed in Tabela IV of Decreto-Lei n.º 15/93, Portugal's controlled-drugs law. The decree prohibits the production, manufacture, distribution, purchase, sale, delivery, possession and use of substances in Tables I to IV except for medical and scientific purposes. Bromazepam is therefore a controlled psychotropic substance rather than a substance available for ordinary non-medical commerce.
Prescription8
ChilePrescription onlyDecreto Supremo N.º 405, de 1983, Reglamento de Productos Psicotrópicos5
El bromazepam figura en la Lista II del Reglamento de Productos Psicotrópicos aprobado por el Decreto Supremo N.º 405 de 1983. Los productos psicotrópicos de esta lista se expenden con receta médica retenida, por lo que su suministro está sujeto a prescripción y control farmacéutico.
Czech RepublicPrescription onlyRegulated as a prescription medication.6 Available only through licensed pharmacies with valid medical authorization.citation needed
IrelandPrescription onlyMisuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 173 of 2017)9
Bromazepam is a controlled drug in Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017, in force from 4 May 2017. The Regulations prohibit its production, supply, import and export except under their specified authorities, and permit possession for medical, dental or veterinary administration in accordance with a practitioner's directions. It is therefore available only through the regulated prescription and professional-authority framework.
JapanPrescription only麻薬及び向精神薬取締法 (Act on Control of Narcotics and Psychotropics), 昭和二十八年法律第十四号10
Bromazepam is listed in Schedule III (別表第三) of Japan's Act on Control of Narcotics and Psychotropics and is therefore a psychotropic drug (向精神薬). The Act regulates the import, export, manufacture, distribution, and other handling of psychotropic drugs. Retail supply is made by a licensed psychotropic-drug retailer from a psychotropic-drug prescription.
MexicoPrescription onlyLey General de Salud11
Bromazepam is a psychotropic substance in Group III (Fracción III) of Article 245 of Mexico’s Ley General de Salud. Its sale or supply to the public requires a medical prescription bearing the prescriber’s professional-license number; the prescription may be dispensed once and must be retained by the dispensing pharmacy.
New ZealandPrescription onlyThe Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 lists bromazepam in Schedule 3, Part 5 as a Class C controlled drug. The Act prohibits possession, supply, manufacture, importation, and exportation of a controlled drug except as authorised under the Act, including lawful medical and regulatory authority. Bromazepam is therefore subject to New Zealand's controlled-drug prescription and authorisation regime.
PolandPrescription onlyRozporządzenie Ministra Zdrowia z dnia 17 sierpnia 2018 r. w sprawie wykazu substancji psychotropowych, środków odurzających oraz nowych substancji psychoaktywnych1516
Bromazepam is listed as a Group IV-P psychotropic substance under the Minister of Health's 2018 regulation. Group IV-P psychotropic substances may be used only for medical, industrial, or research purposes; medicinal preparations containing them are dispensed by pharmacies on prescription. Unauthorised possession of a psychotropic substance is punishable by imprisonment of up to three years.
United KingdomPrescription onlyBromazepam is a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and is listed in Part I of Schedule 4 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Its possession, production and supply are prohibited unless authorised under the Act or Regulations; authorised medical supply is regulated as a controlled drug.
References
Source Pages
Citations
- Lexotan (bromazepam) Product Insert. Roche (23 October 2012). http://e-lactancia.org/media/papers/Bromazepam-DS-2012.pdf123
- Bromazepam Product Monograph (Apotex Inc.). Apotex Inc. (2022). https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00064795.PDF1
- Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Schedule IV, item 18(2). laws-lois.justice.gc.ca (n.d.). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-38.8/FullText.html1
- Controlled Drugs and Substances Act — Schedule IV. Government of Canada / Justice Laws Website (n.d.). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-38.8/page-12.html1
- Decreto Supremo N.º 405, de 1983, Reglamento de Productos Psicotrópicos. bcn.cl (n.d.). https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=180501
- Bromazepam Medreg 1,5 mg — SPC (Czech Republic). Mediately (sourcing SÚKL data) (n.d.). https://mediately.co/cz/drugs/LWe2TDihAht4sW6p5rHn5Jfp2hL/bromazepam-medreg-1-5mg-tableta1
- Betäubungsmittelgesetz, Anlage III. gesetze-im-internet.de (n.d.). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/btmg_1981/anlage_iii.html1
- Betäubungsmittelgesetz, Anlage III. gesetze-im-internet.de (n.d.). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/amvv/anlage_1.html1
- Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 173 of 2017). irishstatutebook.ie (n.d.). https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2017/si/173/made/en/print1
- 麻薬及び向精神薬取締法 (Act on Control of Narcotics and Psychotropics), 昭和二十八年法律第十四号. elaws.e-gov.go.jp (n.d.). https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/api/1/lawdata/328AC00000000141
Further Reading
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Recent changes8 human edits · latest
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19 August 2026
Lyrea · Edited in History & Culture › Content
24 January 2026
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
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