Drug

Adumbran

definition

Adumbran is a drug that contains the prescription-only active ingredient oxazephan, which is used for the short-term treatment of agitation and sleep disorders due to its calming effect.

Areas of application

The calming effect of Adumbran is used, among other things, to relieve

Restlessness,
Anxiety and excitement
Another area of application is sleep disorders

In both cases, however, Adumbran is only suitable for symptomatic treatment and should only be used in the long term as a complementary therapy, for example in addition to psychological treatment.

Ingestion

Adumbran is taken in tablet form, usually twice a day and without food. The dose depends on the severity of the symptoms.

Due to the high risk of addiction, it should only be taken for a few days and should not exceed four weeks in the event of a chronic illness. The instructions of the attending physician must be observed.

dosage

The dosage of Adumbran depends on the type of illness and the size and weight of the patient. The dose should always be kept as small as possible in order to avoid possible side effects.

One tablet usually contains 10 mg of the active ingredient oxazepam. When using Adumbran to treat anxiety and tension, adults or adolescents aged 14 and over can take one tablet in the morning and one or two tablets in the evening. If Adumbran is used, for example, for difficulty sleeping through the night, one or two tablets in the evening should be sufficient.

The use of higher dosages is possible if the effect is insufficient, but should always be discussed with the attending physician beforehand.

Contraindications

Adumbran must not be taken if there is an allergy to the active ingredient oxazephan.

Due to its addictive potential, it is not recommended to use it in the event of acute or past dependence on alcohol, drugs or other medication.

Also, the drug cannot be taken if you suffer from myasthenia gravis, pathological muscle slackness, or problems with your sense of balance and movement coordination, as these are aggravated by Adumbran.

Further exclusion criteria are disorders of the liver or kidney function, as well as lung diseases and sleep apnea (temporarily stopping breathing during sleep).

Dependence on Adumbran

Adumbran belongs to the benzodiazepine group of drugs. These cause a suppression of signal transmission in the central nervous system. Thus, they can dampen feelings such as fear and restlessness. This is a strong intervention in the perception and experience of different situations and therefore harbors a high potential for dependence.

When taking drugs that have a quick onset and end of action, you can feel the positive effect very precisely. Therefore, such drugs bring with them a higher risk of psychological and physical dependence. Adumbran is a medium-acting drug.

With Adumbran, the risk of dependence is already present with short use and is somewhat higher than with long-acting benzodiazepines such as clonazepam.

Withdrawal symptoms

After discontinuing Adumbran, symptoms of withdrawal may arise. These include :

Recurrence of the original symptoms such as fear and restlessness
sweat
nausea
high blood pressure
Tremble
Memory problems
dejected mood
Hallucinations

Side effects

Taking Adumbran for more than a week carries a high risk of addiction.

Due to the reduced quality of sleep, various side effects can occur, for example:

Drowsiness
fatigue
Difficulty concentrating

In particular, a prolonged reaction time may impair the ability to drive and use machines. However, these side effects can be alleviated by sleeping for at least seven hours.

Other side effects may include dizziness, which in combination with occasional muscle slackening results in unsteady movement.

The relatively most common side effects are mentioned, but there is no claim to completeness. More detailed information can be found in the package insert.

Interactions

There Adumbran already one himself inhibiting Influence on the activity of the brain, the parallel intake of drugs, which also have an activity-reducing effect, is only possible with prior consultation with a doctor and with caution.

These drugs include:

Psychotropic drugs,
Medicines to treat epilepsy,
Strength Painkiller (opiate) and some drugs against
Allergies (sedating Antihistamines).

Furthermore, interactions with certain antihypertensive agents and with drugs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (diabetes) were found.

How does Adumbran work?

The activity level of the brain is influenced by messenger substances. There are those that increase the level of alertness and activity of the brain and others that weaken it.

As a member of the benzodiazepine family, the active ingredient oxazephan strengthens the effect of the inhibiting messenger substance GABA in the brain and thus has an activity-reducing effect. The duration of action is eight to ten hours.

The Adumbran makes use of this calming or sleep-promoting influence of the oxazephane.
The disadvantage is that while falling asleep and staying asleep is made easier, the quality of sleep decreases. However, if you get enough sleep, your performance is hardly affected during the day.

The addictive potential of Adumbran represents a far greater problem. The body becomes dependent on it after just one week of use. Withdrawal must be gradual as the symptoms of sudden withdrawal will temporarily increase again (Reboud phenomenon).

Duration of action

Adumbran is taken as a tablet and then absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. The effects start a little later than other drugs in the same group. The onset of action can be slightly different for each person.
The first effect can usually be felt after about 30 minutes. The maximum effect is reached after approximately one to three hours. Overall, Adumbran lasts between eight and twelve hours.

Alternatives to Adumbran

Various drugs and plant substances are suitable as an alternative to Adumbran. You should always first decide together with a doctor how severe the symptoms are.

In the case of moderate restlessness or slight sleep disorders, plant substances such as valerian or St. John's wort have also been shown to have a good effect.

If the symptoms are more pronounced, other drugs from the benzodiazepine group can be used as an alternative to Adumbran. On the other hand, some antidepressants can be used, especially for anxiety disorders.

Is there a prescription requirement?

Adumbran is a medicine that contains the active ingredient oxazepam. This belongs to the group of benzodiazepines, which have a calming effect and are therefore also used as sleeping pills. Since this group of drugs can lead to serious side effects, especially if the dosage is too high or incorrect, there is a prescription requirement for Adumbran.

Manufacturer

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG

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Exclusion of liability / disclaimer

We would like to point out that medication must never be discontinued, applied or changed independently without consulting your doctor.
Please note that we cannot claim that our texts are complete or correct. The information may be out of date due to current developments.