The big difference is the potency—Rohypnol is approximately ten times more potent than Valium, and its effects can last several hours. Although feeling euphoria is quite common during the initial stages, dealing with brain fog is the most common symptom of being roofied. You suddenly feel that everything is blurry and that you can no longer think or act normally. Yet, Rohypnol’s effects can last for several hours, unlike other drugs, whose effects can last for one hour or so.
This memory loss can leave you feeling vulnerable and frightened, especially if you’re unsure what happened during that time. This page explains how to recognize the signs of being roofied and shows you how to recover – staying informed is the first step in protecting yourself. You can also find out how to connect with compassionate and effective treatment for mental health issues or substance abuse. If you’ve been roofied (or had your drink spiked with drugs), you might experience mental fogginess, muscle relaxation, and blackouts. These symptoms are similar to those you’d feel if you drank too much.
If there are any concerns about content we have published, please reach out to us at If you’d like to learn more about healthcare, check out our in-depth interview with Ian Kroes, MD.
What Are the Symptoms of Being Roofied?
If the victim was sexually assaulted, you must stay by their side as they undergo a medical examination and make a police report. Someone who’s been roofied may suffer from memory loss, making it hard to remember events that occurred even before ingesting the drug. When learning how to recover from being roofied, you may experience unpleasant flashbacks, anxiety attacks and even PTSD.
Rohypnol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, which means that if you have been roofied you will often feel overly relaxed, sleepy, disorientated, and calm. There “has been a setback. So far only tomorrow’s diary is affected, but part of his cure is, for a workaholic like him, to get back to normal as soon as possible,” Fitzwilliams said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.
- Rohypnol, the drug often referred to as a roofie, primarily affects your central nervous system, which controls many essential functions.
- Because roofies are colorless, tasteless, and odorless, it is nearly impossible to tell if a drink has been tampered with.
- If you’re wondering what roofies do, the answer lies in their powerful sedative effects.
- In many cases, it’s difficult to know when a drink or food item has been roofied.
It’s also common to have symptoms similar to a really bad hangover. If somebody sexually assaulted you or you sustained an injury while sedated, you may have other medical issues, too. Because you may lose consciousness very quickly in this situation, acting fast is essential at the onset of any signs you’ve been roofied. It’s also important to seek medical care afterward if you wake up the next day suspecting you’ve been roofied. While these symptoms closely resemble the effects of a hangover from alcohol, many victims do not identify that they have been raped. However, if you are in any doubt as to whether you have been the victim of date rape then you must contact the emergency services to report a potential crime and to seek medical attention.
What to Know About Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)
Other symptoms include hallucinating, trouble breathing and a problem with vision. It can be very hard to be able to pinpoint symptoms because they are so similar to alcohol consumption to the extreme. It is not usual for someone that has been “roofied” not to even realize that something is very wrong. Knowing what symptoms to look for can help you not only protect yourself but to protect your friends as well.
In high doses, a person can become unconscious and may not remember what happened to them. Detection of Rohypnol is possible up to 60 hours after the drug is ingested. Once intoxication sets in—roughly minutes after ingestion—a person will pass out and remain unconscious for at least a few hours. Reports linking the drug to date rape began around the same time. If interaction with first responders is required, describe what you know they have consumed and accurately estimate your friend’s alcohol consumption.
Find Help for Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Therapy and support groups can provide the necessary support and understanding to help victims regain confidence and enjoy social occasions once again. Repeated exposure or self-medication with drugs and alcohol necessitates professional addiction treatment and detoxification to manage withdrawal symptoms and begin recovery. Many common date rape drugs come in the form of pills, powders, or liquids. They are often odorless and colorless when added to food or beverages. In many cases, it’s difficult to know when a drink or food item has been roofied. This guide is meant to empower you with the knowledge of what does roofied mean, the risks involved, and the steps you can take to protect yourself and others.
Why Heroin Relapse Is So Dangerous
Read on for a comprehensive guide that is both informative and supportive. You have the right to decide what substances you put in your body. And you have the right to choose who — if anyone — you have sexual contact with and under what circumstances. When an assailant spikes your drink with a roofie, they’re trying to take that freedom from you. The drug most commonly used in roofies, Rohypnol, is illegal in the United States and is classified as a Schedule IV substance under the Controlled Substances Act. The only sure way to tell if you have been roofied is by seeking medical help and getting tested for any drugs in your system.
- As you work on recovering physically, consider talking to a mental health professional in the future so you can express your feelings and work through any trauma.
- Another troubling symptom is the confusion that lingers into the next day.
- If the victim was sexually assaulted, you must stay by their side as they undergo a medical examination and make a police report.
Common Roofied Symptoms
If you suspect that your drink has been spiked, let someone know immediately and get somewhere safe with people you trust. It is also important to notify workers or managers if you are in a club or bar so that they can take proper action. The amount of time a roofie stays in your system can also depend on a variety of other factors, such as a person’s size, age, and metabolism.
As with other drugs, Rukobia (fostemsavir) can cause side effects, such as nausea. If you are not able to tolerate side effects of Rukobia, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you suspect that you have been roofied, immediate and longer-term steps can help you recover physically and emotionally. Waking up with unexplained bruises, cuts or clothing in disarray is another sign. Because these drugs incapacitate victims, they may fall or be unable to protect themselves, leading to injuries they cannot remember acquiring. Naomi Carr is a qualified mental health nurse with several years of experience working with children and adults in the UK.
Being roofied can leave the victim with feelings of shame, paranoia, self-blame, depression, and anxiety. These symptoms can last long after the physical effects of the drink wear off and make it difficult to function in their daily life. Yes, date drugs like Rohypnol and GHB can cause short-term memory loss, so a person may not remember things that happened during the time that they were unknowingly under the influence.
Rohypnol is an olive green oblong tablet produced by the pharmaceutical manufacturer Hoffman-La Roche. It works by dramatically slowing the function of the central nervous system. It is side effects of roofied day after more potent than drugs like Valium (diazepam) or Xanax (alprazolam).