Temazepam

Written by Alex Brewer PharmD, MBA
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on June 29, 2023

This article describes temazepam’s uses, side effects, and more. You’ll also find some coupon options to help save on the cost of temazepam.

Boxed warnings

Temazepam has boxed warnings, which are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These include:

• risk of serious side effects if taken with opioids
• risk of misuse and addiction
• risk of dependence and withdrawal

For details, see the “Interactions and warnings for temazepam” section.

Below you’ll find answers to some commonly asked questions about temazepam.

What brand names are available for temazepam?

Restoril is a brand-name version of temazepam that’s available in the United States.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to learn more about Restoril.

Can temazepam be used for anxiety? If so, what is the dosage?

Temazepam is not approved to treat anxiety. But doctors may prescribe the drug off-label for this use. “Off-label use” is when a drug is prescribed to treat a condition other than its approved uses.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about possible off-label uses for temazepam or treatments approved for anxiety.

Does temazepam come as an oral tablet?

No. Currently, temazepam only comes as a capsule you’ll take by mouth. It’s not available in tablet form.

Is temazepam safe for older adults?

Maybe, if your doctor agrees it’s safe for you to take.

Studies of temazepam did not include enough older adults to determine whether older people are affected differently by the drug. (“Older adults” refers to people ages 65 years and older.)

Since temazepam was approved for use, differences in side effects between older and younger adults haven’t been seen.

That said, older adults may have an increased risk for certain side effects from temazepam. Examples include hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t actually there) and central nervous system (CNS) depression. (Your CNS consists of your brain and spinal cord. It regulates activities throughout your body.) For this reason, doctors often prescribe a lower starting dose of temazepam to older adults.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to know more about this. They can advise whether your health history or age increases your risk for side effects from temazepam.

What should I do if temazepam is not work­­ing?

If you think temazepam isn’t working to treat your symptoms, talk with your doctor. They can discuss other treatments for insomnia (trouble sleeping) that may work better for you.

Keep in mind that drugs can have different effects in different people. Temazepam may work better for some people than others. If temazepam doesn’t work for you, there are other treatment options you and your doctor can explore.

How does temazepam work? And how long does it take to start working?

Temazepam belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. It works by attaching to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors (attachment sites) in your brain. After temazepam attaches to these, signals are sent that slow down activity in your bra­in and spinal cord.

Slowed activity in the brain and spinal cord can help you feel relaxed. This can help you fall asleep and stay asleep longer.

Temazepam begins working within 1 hour after you take a dose.

Temazepam may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of temazepam and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about temazepam’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also read the prescribing information for temazepam in the “Article resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with temazepam are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about temazepam’s side effects, see the prescribing information for temazepam in the “Article resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Temazepam oral capsule’s mild side effects include:

• drowsiness
• headache
• nervousness
• dizziness
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for temazepam” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of temazepam are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about temazepam’s side effects, see the prescribing information for temazepam in the “Article resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, temazepam’s serious side effects include:

• unusual behaviors, including acting aggressively or feeling restless
• central nervous system depression, which may slow your thinking and body movements
• hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t actually there)
• new or worsening anxiety
• new or worsening depression
• unusual sleep behaviors, including sleep-driving and sleepwalking
• boxed warnings: risk of serious side effects if taken with opioids, misuse and addiction, and dependence and withdrawal*
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for temazepam” section.

Suicide prevention

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

• Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
• Text HOME to the Crisis Textline at 741741.
• Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
• Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

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.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as temazepam for certain conditions. Approved uses for temazepam are described below.

Use for trouble with sleep

Doctors may prescribe temazepam oral capsule for treating insomnia (trouble sleeping). It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a short-term treatment for up to 10 days.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that prevents you from getting enough sleep to feel refreshed. Symptoms of insomnia include trouble falling asleep and often waking up during the night. This often causes fatigue (low energy), which can make it difficult for you to function during the day.

Below, you’ll find information about temazepam’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of temazepam

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take temazepam, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for temazepam” section below.

Warnings for temazepam

Some people should not take temazepam, and others should use it cautiously.

Boxed warnings

Temazepam has boxed warnings about the following risks. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

To learn more about these warnings, read below. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Risk of serious side effects when taken with opioids. Taking temazepam with an opioid can lead to serious or even life threatening side effects.

Temazepam and opioids both cause central nervous system (CNS) depression. (Your CNS consists of your brain and spinal cord. It regulates activities throughout your body.) If temazepam is taken with another CNS depressant, such as an opioid, it may cause severe side effects. These include dangerously slow breathing and coma. It may even cause a life threatening overdose.

Examples of opioid drugs include hydrocodone (Hysingla ER) and fentanyl (Actiq, Fentora, others).

Because of this risk, doctors will avoid prescribing temazepam together with an opioid, unless no other treatment options are suitable. Your doctor may feel that the best treatment option is to prescribe temazepam with an opioid. If so, they’ll prescribe the lowest dose of each medication for the shortest time possible to treat your symptoms.

If you’re having severe or life threatening symptoms after taking temazepam with an opioid, call 911 or seek emergency medical help right away.

Risk of misuse and addiction. It’s possible for temazepam to be misused. This drug can also cause addiction, even when taken as prescribed.

With misuse, a drug is taken in a way other than how it’s prescribed. An example is taking a drug to feel “high.” Misusing temazepam can cause serious side effects, including severe CNS depression. This condition can cause serious or even life threatening side effects, including dangerously slow breathing and coma.

With addiction, a drug or substance is taken despite any harm it’s causing. For example, addiction can impact your ability to complete work or school obligations. Drug addiction is different from drug dependence. (See the warning directly below to learn about the risk of dependence with temazepam.)

Because of the risks for misuse and addiction, temazepam is classified as a controlled substance in the United States. This means doctors and pharmacists must follow strict rules when prescribing and dispensing temazepam. These rules are in place to help prevent misuse and addiction.

It’s important to tell your doctor if you have a substance use disorder before you start treatment with temazepam. Your doctor can determine whether it’s safe for you to take the drug.

If you have questions or concerns about temazepam and the risk for misuse or addiction, talk with your doctor.

Risk of dependence and withdrawal. Taking temazepam can result in dependence on the drug. You may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop treatment, especially if you stop suddenly.

With dependence, your body needs a drug in your system to function like usual. Dependence is not the same as addiction, and it’s possible to have dependence on a drug without being addicted to it. Dependence can happen even when a drug is taken as prescribed.

Because temazepam can cause dependence, you may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop treatment. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can happen when you stop taking a drug your body is dependent on.

Withdrawal symptoms possible with temazepam include depression and panic attacks, among others. Seizures, which can be life threatening in rare cases, are also possible. In extreme cases, withdrawal from temazepam may last weeks or even months.

The risk for withdrawal after stopping temazepam is greater if you take a higher dose of the medication. The risk also increases the longer you use temazepam.

Due to the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms, it’s important that you do not stop taking temazepam without first talking with your doctor. Your doctor can advise a plan to lower your dose over time until it’s safe for you to completely stop taking temazepam. This is known as a drug taper. Following a drug taper helps lower your risk for withdrawal when stopping temazepam treatment.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about the risk of dependence and withdrawal with temazepam.

Other warnings

Temazepam could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether temazepam is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for temazepam, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Temazepam can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to temazepam or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe temazepam. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to temazepam, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of temazepam

You should not take more temazepam than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much temazepam, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and temazepam

Information about temazepam and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Temazepam and pregnancy

Temazepam should not be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with temazepam.

Temazepam and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether temazepam should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

This article describes temazepam’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more. Let your doctor know if you have questions about temazepam or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• How does temazepam compare with other treatments for insomnia (trouble sleeping)?
• If I still have insomnia after taking temazepam for a short time, what are my treatment options?
• Does my health history raise my risk for side effects from temazepam?
• What are the symptoms of severe side effects caused by temazepam that I should watch for during treatment?

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Temazepam — temazepam capsule. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/f885bb1a-0445-c452-e053-6394a90ae8aa/spl-doc

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.