Research chemicalDepressantDesigner benzodiazepineGABAergicNitrobenzodiazepine

Nifoxipam

Also known as 3-hydroxyflunitrazepam · Desmethylflunitrazepam hydroxy analogue

Written by enwyReviewed 15 Jul 20262 sources0 comments

Nifoxipam (3-hydroxyflunitrazepam) is a designer benzodiazepine and an active metabolite of flunitrazepam. It has strong hypnotic and anxiolytic activity and is sold as a research chemical with essentially no human study data. It carries the standard benzodiazepine hazards of dependence and additive respiratory depression with opioids or alcohol.

01 Overview

Nifoxipam appeared on the research-chemical market in the mid-2010s. It is closely related to flunitrazepam and its own metabolic products, and is reported to be strongly sedating. Documented information is limited to analytical characterisation and forensic case work; there are no clinical trials and its pharmacokinetics in humans are poorly defined.

Because it is potent and marketed without quality control, the main dangers are accidental overdose from imprecise dosing, dependence with regular use, and severe additive depression when mixed with other CNS depressants.

02 Mechanism

Positive allosteric modulator at the GABA-A benzodiazepine site; a hydroxylated nitrobenzodiazepine related to flunitrazepam.

03 Dosing

Tier	Dose	Route	Notes
Threshold	0.5–1 mg	Oral	Strongly sedating; potency poorly defined.
Common	1–2 mg	Oral	Hypnotic and anxiolytic effects.
Strong	2–3 mg	Oral	Heavy sedation; higher overdose risk.

04 Effects

Effect	Magnitude	Evidence
Hypnosis and sedationPronounced sleep-inducing and sedative effect.	strong	Anecdotal
AnxiolysisReduction of anxiety.	strong	Anecdotal
Muscle relaxationReduced muscle tone and coordination.	moderate	Anecdotal

05 Side effects

Effect	Severity	Frequency	Evidence
Dependence and withdrawalTolerance and physical dependence develop; withdrawal can include seizures.	Severe	Common with regular use	Observational
Additive respiratory depressionFatal respiratory suppression possible with opioids or alcohol.	Life-threatening	Uncommon but potentially fatal	Observational
Amnesia and next-day impairmentMemory blackouts during intoxication and residual sedation afterward.	Moderate	Common	Anecdotal

06 Legal status

United States

Not federally scheduled

Potentially covered by the Federal Analogue Act. · as of Jan 2026

Scheduled substance

Controlled in several EU jurisdictions. · as of Jan 2026

07 References

Nifoxipam — analytical characterisation of a designer benzodiazepineForensic Toxicology / PubMed

New benzodiazepines in EuropeEuropean Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EUDA)

08 Discussion0 comments

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This page is reference information, not medical advice. Doses and protocols are documented as they appear in the clinical literature and in practice — describing them is not a recommendation to use them. Countermeasures listed here are not a substitute for a physician. Legal status varies by jurisdiction and changes.