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.

Rohypnol also is abused as a recreational, or "club" drug, often in conjunction with alcohol. Although Rohypnol is used for medicinal purposes in certain other countries, it is classified as a Schedule IV drug in the United States. This means it is not approved for manufacture, sale, or use.

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 approximately 10 times more potent than drugs like Valium (diazepam).

Use and Abuse of Rohypnol

In Europe and Latin America, due to its quick-acting effects, Rohypnol is sometimes prescribed as a short-term treatment for insomnia or given to help relax someone prior to receiving anesthesia.

In the United States, Rohypnol is used recreationally as a party or club drug, mostly by adolescent boys and young men between 13 and 30. 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 is its low cost—about $5 per tablet.

People addicted to certain other drugs, such as cocaine, ecstasy, or amphetamines, sometimes turn to Rohypnol to relieve side effects 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.

What Are the Effects of Rohypnol?

Within 10 minutes of ingesting Rohypnol, a person will begin to experience its initial effects—nausea, feeling too hot and too cold at the same time, dizziness, confusion, and disorientation. They may have trouble speaking and moving, become socially inhibited, and have visual disturbances, gastrointestinal problems, and urine retention.

Their blood pressure will drop and they will become drowsy and eventually black out (lose consciousness.) Side effects of Rohypnol typically peak within two hours but can persist for up to eight hours. Most people who take the drug have no memory of what happened while under its influence.

Signs someone else has taken Rohypnol (knowingly or unknowingly) include:

• Lowered inhibitions
• Extreme and uncharacteristic indecisiveness
• Exaggerated intoxication
• Aggressive or excited behavior
• Confusion
• Sleepiness
• Slurred speech
• Increased or decreased reaction time

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.

• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Trembling
• Mood changes
• Insomnia
• Hallucinations
• Seizures

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

Interactions

The combination of Rohypnol with alcohol or another drug such as heroin can lead to an overdose or even death. Emergency medical help is vital for anyone who experiences the following after having combined Rohypnol with another substance:

• Severe sedation
• Unconsciousness
• Slow heart rate
• Slowed or troubled breathing

A Word From Verywell

Although it isn't manufactured or even prescribed in the United States, Rohypnol is surprisingly easy to obtain and inexpensive to purchase. Parents and caregivers of teens and young adults should be aware of the signs of drug use as well as the potential dangers of being slipped into an illicit drug. Keeping the lines of communication open about the dangers of drugs isn't always easy but it's a goal worth striving for.