Rohypnol

Rohypnol is the common name for a drug of the Benzodiazepine class called flunitrazepam. A slang term for it is roofies. The drug is sold illegally, and it has many medical uses. It is a strong hypnotic (a drug that causes sleep); a sedative (causing relaxation and sleepiness); an anticonvulsant (fighting seizures); an anxiolytic (relieving anxiety); amnestic (causing forgetfulness); and skeletal muscle relaxant.  Most often, it is used as a treatment for sleep disorders like insomnia. It is thought to be one of the most effective hypnotic medications.

Like other hypnotics, flunitrazepam should be used only on a short-term basis or in those with serious insomnia on an occasional basis.

Flunitrazepam is often called a date rape drug because it is very powerful, has strong effects, and can cause strong amnesia (causing a person to forget what happened after taking the drug). 

History
Benzodiazepines were created in 1957 by Roche, a healthcare and pharmaceutical company. Roche started selling flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) in 1975. At first, hospitals used the drug when a patient needed a deep sleep.  It was sold commercially in 1975 in Europe, and in the 1990s in the United States.  The drug was given the brand name Rohypnol.

Effects
Rohypnol is usually taken by mouth.  It has a long active period  its effects can last 18 to 26 hours, and it can be found in urine and blood tests.  This means that the day after taking the drug, a person may keep feeling tired and having trouble with thinking and balance. Even after a full day, driving a car may still be dangerous. 

The drug is often involved in drug intoxication, including overdoses. Overdose of flunitrazepam may cause long-term sedation, poor balance, and poor speech. In serious overdoses, people may have breathing problems, coma, and possibly death. The overdose will be worse if flunitrazepam is taken with depressants, like alcohol or opiates. Flunitrazepam overdose can be treated.

Other names
Some of the street names for Rohypnol are:
beans (ZA)
 rophy
 ruffles
 roachies
 roofies
 ruffies
 ruff-up
 rib
 roach 2 (R2)
 roche
 rope
 ropies
 circles
 circes
 forget it
 forget-me-pill
 forget-me-now
 Mexican Valium.
 Magic date
 date-rape drug

 References 

Category:Drugs used in psychiatry
Category:Organofluorides
Category:Benzodiazepines
Category:Nitro compounds