Temazepam

About Temazepam

Temazepam is a benzodiazepine, a medicine that slows activity in the brain to allow sleep. Its label covers the short-term treatment of insomnia, generally 7 to 10 days, and if sleep has not improved by then, the label calls for a look for another cause. The usual adult dose is 15 mg at bedtime, within a range of 7.5 to 30 mg; 7.5 mg may be enough for brief insomnia and is the starting dose for older or frail adults. MedlinePlus advises going to bed right after taking it, and only when there is time for 7 to 8 hours in bed. Its safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.

Its boxed warning, updated for every benzodiazepine in 2020, covers three risks: with opioids it can cause profound sedation, slowed breathing, coma and death; it carries risks of abuse, misuse and addiction, which can lead to overdose or death; and continued use can lead to physical dependence, so stopping suddenly or cutting the dose quickly can bring on withdrawal reactions that can be life-threatening, and a gradual taper is used to stop it or lower the dose. Sleep-driving and other complex behaviors, with no memory of the event, have been reported, more so with alcohol, other sedatives or doses above the maximum, and the label says stopping should be strongly considered after a sleep-driving episode. Next-day drowsiness and falls, especially in older adults, worsening depression, abnormal thinking and severe allergic reactions with swelling are other warnings; drowsiness, headache, tiredness, nervousness, lethargy and dizziness are the most reported side effects.

As a Schedule IV drug, a prescription can carry up to five refills within six months of the date written, and refill information can move between pharmacies only once unless they share a real-time online database. Withdrawal symptoms can last from weeks to more than a year in some people. The label warns that use late in pregnancy can cause sedation and withdrawal in the newborn, while noting that observational studies have not shown a clear link with major birth defects; temazepam passes into breast milk, and sedation, poor feeding and poor weight gain have been reported in infants exposed to benzodiazepines through breast milk. The Restoril brand is still sold in all four strengths.

Taking Temazepam

How to take it

At bedtime, exactly as prescribed, and only when you can stay in bed for 7 to 8 hours; go to bed right after taking it. Do not drive or do anything that needs full alertness until you know how it affects you the next day. After regular use, do not stop suddenly; the prescriber will lower the dose gradually.

If you miss a dose

It is taken only at bedtime. If you did not take it at bedtime and cannot fall asleep, MedlinePlus says you may take it only if you can stay in bed for 7 to 8 hours afterward; otherwise do not take it that night. Do not take more than prescribed.

Storage

At room temperature in the original tightly closed container, away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom), out of reach of children. Do not flush unused capsules; use a medicine take-back program.

Interactions to know about

Opioids can deepen sedation and slow breathing dangerously, and alcohol, barbiturates, other sleep and anxiety medicines, sedating antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics and seizure medicines add to its depressant effect. The label reports a possible interaction with diphenhydramine, so check with the pharmacist before adding any other sleep aid. Tell the prescriber if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have depression.

This summarizes the official prescribing information. Your prescriber’s and pharmacist’s instructions, and the leaflet that comes with your medicine, take priority.

Why the cash price for Temazepam differs from pharmacy to pharmacy

Generic temazepam has several makers, so quotes for the 15 and 30 mg capsules differ mainly by the pharmacy’s markup and dispensing fee; the 7.5 and 22.5 mg strengths have fewer makers and may need to be ordered, and a prescription that names Restoril and blocks substitution is priced as a brand. Because treatment is meant to be short, fills are often small and the fee is a large share of the price.

Refill information for a Schedule IV prescription can be transferred only once unless the pharmacies share a real-time database, so it is worth choosing the pharmacy before the first fill.

Ways to pay less for Temazepam without insurance

• Ask for generic temazepam, and make sure the prescription allows substitution rather than naming Restoril only.
• Make sure your dose is written as one capsule of the right strength rather than several smaller capsules.
• Ask whether temazepam is on the pharmacy’s flat-price generic list, and compare more than one pharmacy.
• If it is costly or hard to find, ask the prescriber whether another generic sleep medicine, such as zolpidem, would suit you.
• Upload the prescription to Script Unlock so licensed pharmacies can quote their cash price. You pay the pharmacy directly.

Questions to ask your pharmacist about Temazepam

1. 1.How long should I take it, and how would it be tapered?
2. 2.Is it safe with my pain, anxiety or other sleep medicines?
3. 3.What should I do if I find I did something I do not remember?
4. 4.How many refills does my prescription carry, and can it be transferred?

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