Pet Safety / Compounds / Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)

Is Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) safe for dogs and cats?

Moderate risk for pets

Dogs may accidentally ingest flunitrazepam in households where imported benzodiazepines are present. Clinical presentation is typical of benzodiazepine toxicosis: sedation, ataxia, respiratory depression, and paradoxical excitation in some dogs. Flunitrazepam's higher potency than diazepam means that even small tablet quantities can produce marked sedation in dogs. Management is supportive with airway management; flumazenil can reverse benzodiazepine effects but may precipitate withdrawal in dependent animals. Veterinary toxicology resources should be consulted for any suspected benzodiazepine ingestion in dogs where the dose is uncertain.

What is flunitrazepam (rohypnol)?

The IUPAC name is 5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-methyl-7-nitro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one.

Also known as: 5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-methyl-7-nitro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one, flunitrazepam, Rohypnol, Narcozep.

IUPAC name
5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-methyl-7-nitro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one
CAS number
1622-62-4
Molecular formula
C16H12FN3O3
Molecular weight
313.28 g/mol
SMILES
CN1C(=O)CN=C(C2=C1C=CC(=C2)[N+](=O)[O-])C3=CC=CC=C3F
PubChem CID
3380

Risk for dogs

Moderate risk

Dogs may accidentally ingest flunitrazepam in households where imported benzodiazepines are present. Clinical presentation is typical of benzodiazepine toxicosis: sedation, ataxia, respiratory depression, and paradoxical excitation in some dogs. Flunitrazepam's higher potency than diazepam means that even small tablet quantities can produce marked sedation in dogs. Management is supportive with airway management; flumazenil can reverse benzodiazepine effects but may precipitate withdrawal in dependent animals. Veterinary toxicology resources should be consulted for any suspected benzodiazepine ingestion in dogs where the dose is uncertain.

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
DEA—Schedule Ias imported drug without legitimate use in the US
DEA—Schedule IVunder the Controlled Substances Act as a benzodiazepine when legally prescribed abroad

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where pets encounter flunitrazepam (rohypnol)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol):

  • Cessation / treatment programs
    Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is flunitrazepam (rohypnol) safe for pets?

Dogs may accidentally ingest flunitrazepam in households where imported benzodiazepines are present. Clinical presentation is typical of benzodiazepine toxicosis: sedation, ataxia, respiratory depression, and paradoxical excitation in some dogs. Flunitrazepam's higher potency than diazepam means that even small tablet quantities can produce marked sedation in dogs. Management is supportive with airway management; flumazenil can reverse benzodiazepine effects but may precipitate withdrawal in dependent animals. Veterinary toxicology resources should be consulted for any suspected benzodiazepine ingestion in dogs where the dose is uncertain.

What products contain flunitrazepam (rohypnol)?

Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

See Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) in the pets app

Look up products containing flunitrazepam (rohypnol), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in pets View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. US DEA: Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) — Schedule I/IV Classification, Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault Profile, Blue Dye Reformulation (1990s), Detection Window and GC-MS Testing Requirements, and US Import Prohibition (2022) (2022) — regulatory
  2. SAMHSA: Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault — Flunitrazepam, GHB, and Other Substances; Victim Presentation, Forensic Evidence Collection, Urine/Blood Testing Protocols, Adolescent Victim Demographics, and Clinical Recognition Guidelines (2019) (2019) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →