What is Temazepam? Uses, warnings & side effects

Take your medicine as directed. The dose may need to be changed several times to find the most effective dose.

Please read the Medication Guide that comes with the prescription.

Take the temazepam capsule only when you cannot sleep.

Take the capsule just before bedtime or when you are having trouble falling asleep. 

Do not take a temazepam capsule if you do not have seven to eight hours to sleep or rest before you need to be active again.

Swallow the capsule whole with a drink of water.

Store temazepam capsules at room temperature out of the reach of children.

Do not take a missed dose if you do not have seven to eight hours to sleep before waking.

This medicine is not right for everyone. 

Do not use it if you are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant.

Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using this medicine.

The prescriber may need regular visits and blood tests to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Temazepam can be habit-forming, which can lead to dependence, overdose, or death. 

• Do not take more than the prescribed dose, take doses more often than instructed, or take temazepam with other drugs that make you sleepy. 

• Symptoms of an overdose include extreme sleepiness, confusion, slow reflexes, no reflexes, coma, and slow, shallow breathing.

• Talk to the prescriber if the medicine does not seem to be working.

Temazepam should only be taken for a short time, usually seven to 10 days. Long-term use can lead to physical dependency and potentially cause protracted withdrawal symptoms when discontinued.

• Talk to the prescriber if insomnia is still a problem after seven to 10 days of using temazepam.

• Do not stop taking temazepam suddenly. Your doctor may need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely. 

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or have:

• Lung or breathing problems

• A history of drug or alcohol abuse, depression, mental health problems, or seizures.

Temazepam can cause people to think and act in abnormal ways. Contact the prescriber if you notice significant changes in behavior or thinking, particularly thoughts of harming yourself.

• You may also do things while you are still asleep that you may not remember the next morning, such as sleep-driving, cooking, or talking on the phone. Tell the prescriber right away if you have learned that this has happened.

This medicine puts people to sleep. People may still feel drowsy and impaired the next day. Do not drive or do any other risky activity until you know how this medicine affects you.

Temazepam is a federally controlled substance. Giving or selling this drug to anyone else is illegal and dangerous.

Because of the risk of overdose, death, or misuse, keep temazepam capsules securely out of the reach of children.

To avoid potentially hazardous drug interactions, tell the prescribing healthcare provider about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements you are using before taking alprazolam.

Do not start taking any new medications or supplements until talking with the doctor.

Avoid taking drugs that make you sleepy, particularly opioids. Combining alprazolam with an opioid can cause respiratory depression, coma, and death. Other CNS depressants to avoid using with temazepam include:

• Other benzodiazepines

• Other sedatives

• Allergy medications that cause drowsiness

• Muscle relaxants

• Alcohol

Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.