This article describes possible side effects of temazepam oral capsule. You can explore this overview article to learn more about temazepam, including the drug’s uses, ways to save on cost, and more.
Temazepam oral capsule is a generic version of the brand-name drug Restoril.
Boxed warnings
Temazepam oral capsule has boxed warnings about the following risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For details on the risk of serious harm if taken with opioids, see the “Side effects of temazepam in detail” section below. For more information about other risks, see the “Dependence, withdrawal, and misuse and temazepam” section below.
More common side effects of temazepam
Temazepam oral capsule may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of temazepam oral capsule include:
Mild side effects of temazepam
Temazepam may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of temazepam oral capsule that occurred in studies include:
Temazepam oral capsule may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of temazepam in detail” section below.
Serious side effects of temazepam
Temazepam may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from temazepam oral capsule, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with temazepam.
Serious side effects of temazepam oral capsule that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about these side effects, see the “Side effects of temazepam in detail” section below.
† Temazepam oral capsule has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of temazepam in detail” section below.
‡ Temazepam oral capsule has a boxed warning for these side effects. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Dependence, withdrawal, and misuse and temazepam” section below.
Suicide prevention
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.
Common questions about side effects of temazepam
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of temazepam oral capsule. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is temazepam safe for older adults?
Maybe. Older adults (ages 65 years and older) face a higher risk for certain side effects of temazepam. These include memory loss, drowsiness, and problems with balance and coordination.
Due to this risk, doctors will carefully weigh the risks and benefits before prescribing temazepam for older adults. They will discuss the benefits and risks with you. Depending on your symptoms and other factors, the benefits of temazepam may still outweigh the risks, even in older adults.
If you’re an older adult and your doctor prescribes temazepam for you, they’ll generally prescribe the lowest dose for the shortest time necessary to treat your insomnia symptoms.
Can temazepam 30 mg cause more side effects than temazepam 15 mg?
Yes, it’s possible. Certain side effects of temazepam are known to be dose-related. This means the risk for these side effects increases with higher doses. So for example, a dose of 30 milligrams (mg) may pose a greater risk of side effects compared with a 15 mg dose.
Examples of dose-related side effects reported with temazepam include:
- drowsiness
- confusion
- problems with balance and coordination
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about how your temazepam dosage affects your risk for side effects.
Is weight gain or weight loss possible with temazepam?
No, it’s not likely. Neither weight gain nor weight loss were reported as side effects in studies of temazepam.
Weight loss can happen as a symptom of benzodiazepine withdrawal. (Temazepam is a benzodiazepine drug). To learn more about temazepam and withdrawal, see the “Withdrawal, dependence, and misuse and temazepam” section in this article.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to know more about whether a medication you take can affect your weight.
Does temazepam cause long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases temazepam oral capsule may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time and may last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.
Examples of long-term side effects reported with temazepam oral capsule include:
Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of temazepam may last.
* Temazepam oral tablet has a boxed warning for these side effects. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Dependence, withdrawal, and misuse, and temazepam” section below.
Withdrawal, dependence, and misuse and temazepam
Similar to other benzodiazepine medications, taking temazepam comes with a risk of withdrawal, dependence, misuse, and addiction. Temazepam has a boxed warning specific to these risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning given to a medication by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Withdrawal: Withdrawal describes symptoms that can occur when you stop taking a drug your body is dependent on.
- Dependence: With dependence, your body needs the drug in order to function like usual.
- Misuse: With misuse, a drug is taken in a way other than how it’s prescribed.
- Addiction: With addiction, you consistently misuse a drug despite it causing harm
It’s important to note that withdrawal, dependence, misuse, and addiction are all possible, even if temazepam is used at approved dosages prescribed by your doctor.
Temazepam misuse and addiction can result in a life threatening overdose and other serious side effects. Using certain other substances together with temazepam, including alcohol or opioids*, further raises this risk.
Due to these risks, your doctors will weigh the benefits and risks before prescribing temazepam to you. Your doctor may suggest an insomnia treatment besides temazepam if you have a substance use disorder, such as alcohol use disorder.
Using temazepam for a long time increases your risk for dependence and withdrawal, as does taking a higher dosage. Temazepam is approved only for short-term (up to 10 consecutive days) treatment of insomnia symptoms. To lower the risk for withdrawal, your doctor may want to lower your dose slowly over a few days before you stop taking the drug entirely. This is known as a drug taper and helps lower your risk for withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking temazepam.
Talk with your doctor if you have additional questions about any of these risks and treatment with temazepam.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of temazepam in detail” section below.
Side effects of temazepam in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of temazepam oral capsule.
Risk of serious harm if taken with opioids
Temazepam oral tablet has a boxed warning for the risk of serious harm if taken with opioids. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.
Serious side effects and harm can occur if temazepam is taken with an opioid drug. Examples of these side effects include:
Oxycodone (Oxycontin) and fentanyl (Fentora, others) are examples of opioids, as is the illegal drug heroin.
Because of the risk of serious harm, doctors will only prescribe temazepam and an opioid together if no other treatments work or are suitable for your symptoms. In this case, your doctor will prescribe the lowest dose for both medications for the shortest time needed to treat your symptoms.
Ways to manage
If your doctor prescribes temazepam and an opioid together to you, they’ll likely suggest you avoid driving a car or operating machinery until you know how the drugs will affect you.
If at any point you think you’re experiencing symptoms of respiratory depression or other serious harm due to this combination, you or someone close by should call 911 or bring you to the closest emergency room.
Paradoxical reactions
In studies, paradoxical reactions were rare in people using temazepam oral capsule. These side effects may be serious.
Paradoxical reactions reported with temazepam include:
- aggressiveness
- agitation
- restlessness
- overstimulation
These are called “paradoxical reactions” because temazepam is usually expected to have a calming or relaxing effect based on how the drug works.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of paradoxical reactions from taking temazepam, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment. If this is the case, they can review other insomnia treatments with you instead.
Slowed brain activity
In studies, slowed brain activity was rare in people taking temazepam oral capsule. This side effect may be mild or serious.
Slowed brain activity can affect your ability to think and slow your body movements. Other symptoms may include:
- slow reaction times
- confusion or disorientation
- extreme sleepiness
Certain factors can increase the risk of slowed brain activity with temazepam oral capsule. These include consuming alcohol while taking temazepam.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of slowed brain activity that bother you, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment with temazepam. They can review other insomnia treatments with you instead.
For some people, temazepam oral capsule can cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to temazepam oral capsule, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for temazepam
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking temazepam oral capsule.
Boxed warnings
This drug has boxed warnings about the following risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For details on the risk of serious harm if taken with opioids, see the “Side effects of temazepam in detail” section above. For more information about other risks, see the “Dependence, withdrawal, and misuse and temazepam” section above.
Other warnings
It may not be safe for you to take temazepam oral capsule if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether temazepam oral capsule is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking temazepam oral capsule, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
Temazepam and pregnancy
Temazepam oral capsule should not be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with temazepam.
Temazepam and breastfeeding
While the risk is low, temazepam oral capsule may cause side effects in a breastfed child if you take the drug while breastfeeding. These side effects include sleepiness, feeding difficulties, and difficulty gaining weight.
If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with temazepam. If you and your doctor decide you’ll take temazepam and breastfeed, your doctor can advise you on how to monitor your child for side effects.
Temazepam oral capsule is known to interact with alcohol. Due to this risk, it’s possible your doctor recommends avoiding alcohol while you’re taking temazepam.
Consuming alcohol while taking temazepam raises the risk for serious side effects, including slowed brain activity and abnormal sleep behaviors. It also increases your risk for a temazepam overdose.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with temazepam oral capsule.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of temazepam oral capsule. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Are the side effects of temazepam similar to triazolam and other benzodiazepine drugs?
- If I have side effects from temazepam, but the drug is working to treat my symptoms, can you prescribe a lower dose for me to try?
- Based on my health history, am I at higher risk of side effects from temazepam?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
