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Bromazolam Facts

Depressant; Benzodiazepine; GABA-A receptor positive allosteric modulator

Description

Bromazolam is a synthetic depressant of the benzodiazepine class. It amplifies the brain's main inhibitory signal — GABA — producing the sedation, anxiety relief, and muscle relaxation characteristic of the class.

Subjective effects include Sedation, anxiety suppression, Muscle relaxation, euphoria, and delusions of sobriety. The experience is a warm, disinhibiting calm — but its defining quality is deceptive: users consistently feel more sober and functional than they objectively are.[1]

Bromazolam produces physical dependence, and no preclinical safety data exist for the compound.[1][2] The dominant danger is combining it with opioids — both suppress breathing, and together they cause most recorded deaths, with fentanyl present in 75–88% of fatal cases.[3]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 0.25 mgLight0.5 – 1 mgCommon1 – 2 mgStrong2 – 4 mgHeavy4+ mg

Starts in 15 – 45 minLasts 5 – 8 hoursAfter-effects 1 – 12 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Moderate
Chronic toxicity
Moderate
Physical dependence
High
Psychological dependence
High
Withdrawal
Life-threatening · fatal · medical supervision
Compulsive redosing
Moderate

Tolerance

Builds
Moderate
Fully resets after
21 days
Carries over to
benzodiazepines; alcohol; barbiturates; zopiclone; zolpidem; zaleplon

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
none likely · 9 possible, including Spatial disorientation, Vestibular distortion, Double vision
Body
Muscle relaxation; Sedation; +9 possible, including Motor control impairment, Dizziness, Nystagmus (eye wobbles)
Thinking
none likely · 18 possible, including Cognitive impairment, Decision impairment, Memory suppression
Feeling
Anxiety suppression; +4 possible, including Emotional lability, Empathy suppression
Self
none likely · 10 possible, including Communication suppression, Craving, Social disconnection
Time
none likely · 2 possible, including Temporal disorientation

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Concurrent opioid use; Severe respiratory insufficiency; Known benzodiazepine hypersensitivity
Relative
Myasthenia gravis; History of substance use disorder; Hepatic impairment; Concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors; Pregnancy; Elderly patients; Acute narrow-angle glaucoma

Combinations60 recorded

Lethal (1)
Opioids
Dangerous (21)
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Antipsychotics; Atypical antipsychotics; Benzodiazepines; Buprenorphine, Kratom; Cannabis, THC; Clonidine, Guanfacine; Gabapentin, Pregabalin; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Local anesthetics; Naltrexone; SNRIs; Stimulants; Synthetic cannabinoids; Ibogaine; Ketamine, DXM, PCP; MAOIs; NSAIDs; Poppers (Alkyl nitrites); Poppers, Nitrates
Caution (26)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/bromazolam
Not graded (12)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

  • Extreme drowsiness — can't stay awake or be roused
  • Confusion, slurred speech, severe loss of coordination
  • Slow, shallow, or irregular breathing
  • Unconsciousness / unresponsive; limp, floppy body
  • Blue lips or fingertips
  • Vomiting while sedated (choking / aspiration risk)
  • Cold, clammy skin; weak pulse

What to do

  1. Try to wake them — shout, firm sternal rub
  2. If unresponsive or breathing is impaired, call emergency services
  3. Place them in the recovery position — critical, they can choke on vomit
  4. Monitor breathing continuously; be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR
  5. Never leave them alone to "sleep it off"
  6. Do not give other drugs, stimulants, or more depressants

Most depressant overdoses resolve with airway protection, breathing support, and monitoring. The danger is respiratory depression and choking on vomit — sharply worse when combined with opioids or alcohol. GHB/GBL overdoses often involve sudden deep unconsciousness and may self-resolve, but airway protection is essential.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^abWorld Health Organization Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (2022) WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence - 45th Meeting Critical Review Report: Bromazolam Link
  2. [2]
    ^World Health Organization Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (2023) WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence - 46th Meeting Critical Review Report: Bromazolam Link
  3. [3]
    ^Hughes A, Spungen H, Culbreth R, Aldy K, Krotulski A, Hendrickson RG, et al. (2026) Benzodiazepine Co-Exposure Among Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With a Confirmed Opioid Overdose — Academic Emergency Medicine doi:10.1111/acem.70104
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