Nifoxipam is a benzodiazepine that has made its way to social media and other venues that sell drugs. It’s a chemical relative of flunitrazepam, a “designer” benzo drug often sold online as a research chemical. (Flunitrazepam is also called the “date rape drug” and is legally prescribed as Rohypnol.) Nifoxipam is a powerful hypnotic that can cause deep and excessive sleep. It is, however, reportedly less potent than Rohypnol and its counterparts.

Benzodiazepines are psychoactive drugs that are typically prescribed for their sedative, hypnotic, anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant, and sometimes muscle relaxant properties. They are often misused recreationally and can pose the risk of addiction, overdoses, and even death. This particular drug has been sold overseas as a designer drug and has had limited exposure in the United States.

Nifoxipam has never been prescribed as a drug and is not approved for medical use in any country. Because of this, little is known about its side effects, addictive qualities, or consequences of short and long-term use. However, it’s known to be far less potent than Rohypnol. Rohypnol is about 7-10 times as powerful as Valium.

What Are Designer Benzos Like Nifoxipam?

Designer benzodiazepines are a relatively new thing. While “research chemicals” have been marketed and sold online and in clubs for years, it’s only since 2016 that so-called designer benzodiazepines have come to market in the illicit drug trade. They’re a rapidly growing category of drugs in Europe and have made their way to the US.

Before Nifoxipam, several other drugs were available on the market and sold as designer benzodiazepines. These drugs include cloxazolam, deschloroetizolam, flubromazolam, and meclonazepam.

Most of these drugs have been considered for human use and testing and, for some reason, did not make it to trials. However, they are offered by companies that fancy themselves chemists and are usually made into tablets, capsules, or blotters. Some are also pure powders, sold in bulk, with a wholesale price of just ten cents or so for one dose.

Are Designer Benzodiazepines Legal?

Designer benzodiazepines are also called “novel benzos” or “research chemicals.” They are synthetic drugs chemically related to traditional benzodiazepines but have been modified to create new substances.

These modifications are typically made to bypass legal restrictions or to produce drugs with different pharmacological properties. They are often created in clandestine laboratories and sold as “legal” alternatives to prescription benzodiazepines.

These labs are often in Eastern European countries or China. Sometimes nifoxipam is sold in person by local dealers at clubs.

Dangers of Nifoxipam and Designer Benzodiazepines

Designer drugs are drugs that are yet to be outlawed. They are not usually tested on people or animals and may have side effects that don’t emerge for a while.

  • They’re unregulated. Nifoxipam is not regulated or approved for medical use. It is sold as research chemicals or marketed as a legal high, making them readily available for purchase online or in underground markets.
  • They have an unknown pharmacological profile. Designer benzodiazepines have not undergone the same rigorous testing and evaluation as approved medications. As a result, their pharmacological properties, potency, and potential side effects may not be well understood. Users may be taking substances with unpredictable effects or risks.
  • They’re stronger than most traditional benzos. Smaller doses can produce more potent effects. This can increase the risk of overdose, especially when individuals are used to taking standard doses of prescription drugs.
  • They can be highly addictive. Like traditional benzos, designer benzos can lead to physical and psychological dependence when used regularly or in high doses. Abrupt discontinuation or dosage reduction can result in severe withdrawal symptoms that may require medical intervention.
  • They often have other drugs in them. Since designer benzodiazepines are produced in unregulated environments, there is a risk of adulteration or contamination with other substances, including fentanyl, increasing your risk for overdose.

Due to their high potency, compounds like nifoxipam or flubromazolam can cause strong sedation and amnesia at oral doses as low as 0.5 mg. Such low doses are extremely difficult to measure and can easily cause an overdose situation for the user.

Effects of Designer Benzodiazepines

When misused or without medical supervision, benzodiazepines can lead to various adverse effects. Users often experience drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, impaired coordination, memory problems, and even respiratory depression in high doses.

Benzos are often highly addictive and will cause withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation. Nifoxipam, as a research chemical, has not undergone thorough testing or evaluation for safety and could carry additional risks.