Creatine and Flurazepam Hydrochloride

• Generic Name: creatine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Cytotine

Creatine is a manmade form of a chemical that is normally found in the body. It is also found in meat and fish. Most creatine in the human body is stored in the muscles. Creatine is a source of energy for muscle contraction and is also involved in muscle growth.

Creatine has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid for enhancing athletic performance, and for increasing muscle strength in people with heart failure, muscular dystrophy, and McArdle's disease (a genetic disorder). It may also be possibly effective in treating Parkinson's disease, and gyrate atrophy (a genetic eye disorder that affects the retina and causes vision loss).

Creatine has also been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, or Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). However, research has shown that it may not be effective in treating these conditions.

Other uses not proven with research have included treating high cholesterol, depression, bipolar disorder, or certain muscle diseases.

It is not certain whether creatine is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. It should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Creatine is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

• Generic Name: flurazepam
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Dalmane

Short-term management of insomnia. Has been used effectively for periods up to 4 weeks in duration.

Has been used effectively in individuals with difficulty in falling asleep, nocturnal awakenings, and/or early morning awakening.

May exhibit carryover effect (i.e., more effective on second, third, and fourth nights of use than on first night) because of accumulation of active metabolite. Effect may persist on first and sometimes second night after discontinuance.

Because of long half-life, may be more likely to result in residual sedative effects and in impaired psychomotor and mental performance during continued therapy, although partial tolerance to these effects can occur. Differences among hypnotics in residual and cumulative CNS depressant effects may be particularly important in geriatric patients, those with potentially impaired elimination of the drugs, and those whose job or life-style requires unimpaired intellectual or psychomotor function.