Why Is Flurazepam So Hard to Find? [Explained for 2026]

If you've been trying to fill a flurazepam prescription and your pharmacy keeps coming up empty, you're not alone. Flurazepam — once sold under the brand name Dalmane — has become one of the harder-to-find sleep medications in the United States. The shortage is real, and it comes down to a simple problem: nearly all major manufacturers have either discontinued it or haven't started producing it yet.

This guide explains exactly why flurazepam is so hard to find in 2026, what's driven the supply issues, and what your options are right now.

What Is Flurazepam?

Flurazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine approved by the FDA for the short-term treatment of insomnia. It was originally marketed as Dalmane by Roche Pharmaceuticals beginning in 1968, making it one of the earliest benzodiazepine sleep medications. Today, Dalmane is discontinued and only generic flurazepam is available — if you can find it.

The drug works by enhancing GABA activity in the brain, producing a calming, sedative effect. It comes in 15 mg and 30 mg capsules taken at bedtime. Because of its long-acting active metabolite — which can remain in the bloodstream for days — flurazepam is known for helping patients stay asleep but is also associated with next-day grogginess and accumulation effects.

Is Flurazepam Currently in Shortage?

Yes. As of late 2025 and into 2026, flurazepam remains on the ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) drug shortage list. The shortage bulletin was most recently updated on December 16, 2025. The core issue is that only one company — Chartwell Rx — is currently manufacturing flurazepam capsules in the United States.

Mylan (now Viatris) discontinued both the 15 mg and 30 mg capsules. Rising Pharmaceuticals has announced plans to launch flurazepam but has not provided an estimated timeline. That leaves Chartwell as the sole domestic supplier — a fragile situation for any medication.

Why Is Flurazepam So Hard to Find? The Key Reasons

There are several structural reasons why flurazepam is difficult to locate at pharmacies, even when it technically exists in the supply chain:

1. Only One Active Manufacturer

When a medication has only one manufacturer, any supply disruption — a production delay, a raw material issue, a quality hold — immediately creates a nationwide shortage. Chartwell Rx stepped in after Mylan's exit and launched flurazepam capsules in November 2023. But with no backup manufacturer, the supply is vulnerable and not widely distributed across all pharmacy chains.

2. DEA Controlled Substance Production Quotas

As a Schedule IV controlled substance, the total amount of flurazepam that can be manufactured nationally each year is capped by the DEA. These quotas are set in advance and don't respond quickly to market demand. If the quota runs short, manufacturers legally cannot produce more until the following year's quota is approved. This regulatory ceiling creates periodic supply gaps even when patient demand is steady.

3. Low Pharmacy Stocking Levels

Flurazepam is prescribed far less often than other sleep medications like zolpidem (Ambien) or temazepam (Restoril). Many chain pharmacies — CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid — don't stock it at all or keep only minimal quantities. Their automated inventory systems don't flag flurazepam as a high-demand product, so it often isn't ordered proactively. This creates a vicious cycle: pharmacies don't stock it because demand seems low, and patients can't fill it because it's not in stock.

4. Long History of Supply Instability

This isn't the first time flurazepam has been hard to find. The drug was temporarily unavailable in the United States when Mylan — then its sole producer — discontinued it in January 2019. For nearly five years, from 2019 to late 2023, flurazepam was essentially unobtainable. Chartwell relaunched it in November 2023, but availability hasn't fully normalized across all pharmacy networks.

How Does the Shortage Affect Patients?

For patients who have been stable on flurazepam and rely on it for sleep, the shortage creates real problems. Running out abruptly is not just inconvenient — it can be dangerous. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause anxiety, rebound insomnia, tremors, and in severe cases, seizures. Patients who cannot find flurazepam should contact their prescriber immediately rather than stopping the medication cold turkey.

The shortage also places an unfair burden on patients — forcing them to call multiple pharmacies, drive to different locations, and wait days or weeks for stock to arrive. This is time and energy that people who are already struggling with sleep loss can't afford to spend.

Tips for Finding Flurazepam Near You in 2026

Here are the most effective strategies patients use to locate flurazepam when major chain pharmacies come up empty:

Try independent pharmacies first. Independent and compounding pharmacies often maintain better relationships with specialty drug wholesalers and may be able to source Chartwell's flurazepam when major chains cannot.

Call ahead — and ask for the specific NDC. When you call a pharmacy, ask whether they have Chartwell's flurazepam in stock. Specifying the manufacturer can help pharmacists check more precisely.

Ask your pharmacy to special order. If your pharmacy doesn't have it, they may be able to order it through their wholesaler. Give them 3–5 business days advance notice before your prescription runs out.

Use medfinder. medfinder calls pharmacies near you to find which ones have flurazepam in stock, so you don't have to spend hours on hold.

Talk to your prescriber about alternatives. If flurazepam truly isn't available in your area, temazepam (Restoril) and zolpidem (Ambien) are widely available alternatives your doctor may consider.

Will Flurazepam Availability Improve?

The situation could improve if Rising Pharmaceuticals completes its planned launch of flurazepam capsules. Having a second manufacturer would ease supply pressure and give pharmacies more sourcing options. However, Rising has not provided a launch date as of the December 2025 ASHP update. Until a second manufacturer enters the market, availability will remain uneven.

For the latest on availability, read our Flurazepam shortage update for 2026 and our guide on how to find flurazepam in stock near you.