thoughtscape NP Psychiatry · Patient education
Temazepam
Restoril
Short-term help for a rough stretch of sleep, with a clear review date and a plan for stopping safely.
Draft for review · Clinical content has not been revalidated for this website.
Use only your prescribed schedule. No extra night-time dose and no added sleep medicine without checking.
What it is used for
Temazepam treats short-term insomnia: trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. A usual course is brief, often 7–10 days.
If sleep has not improved in that time, call your team. Pain, mood symptoms, sleep apnea, or another problem may need its own treatment.
How it works
It strengthens GABA, a calming brain signal. Sleepiness may start within an hour, but timing varies. It can also slow memory, balance, and breathing.
With regular use, it may work less well and your body may adapt to it. Physical dependence can occur even when you follow the prescription.
What to expect over time
FIRST NIGHT
Go straight to bed. Watch for morning grogginess.
WITHIN 7–10 DAYS
Review sleep, daytime function, and side effects.
WHEN STOPPING
Follow your plan; regular use may need a taper.
Taking your medication
Take it right before getting into bed, only with 7–8 hours available before you must be active. Do not drive or do dangerous tasks after taking it.
Follow the dose and schedule on your prescription. Do not add nights, increase the dose, or combine sleep medicines on your own.
Do not stop regular use suddenly. Call before running out and ask for a written taper if needed. Do not skip nights or make homemade mixtures as a taper.
When to get help
Call 911: slow/stopped breathing, inability to wake, collapse, a seizure, or severe face/throat swelling with breathing trouble.
Call immediately: sleep-driving or other activity you do not remember. Before another dose, get a safe plan that addresses any withdrawal risk from regular use.
Get urgent help: confusion, hallucinations, dangerous agitation, or suicidal thoughts; call 911 for immediate danger. Promptly report falls or worsening sedation.
Early side effects
Morning grogginess, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, tiredness, nausea, and trouble concentrating can occur. Some people become restless or irritable.
Other effects to discuss
Memory problems, poor balance, and falls can occur even when you feel less sleepy. A full night does not guarantee safe driving. Report persistent fogginess rather than accepting it as normal.
What to keep track of
Keep a brief sleep and dose record. Track benefit, morning alertness, memory, and balance; ask someone you trust about unusual nighttime behavior. There is no routine drug-level test, but your health or longer-term use may call for blood tests.
Before you start
Discuss breathing problems or sleep apnea, falls, liver/kidney disease, depression, substance use, and previous withdrawal. Tell your team about pregnancy or nursing. Late pregnancy exposure can cause newborn sedation or withdrawal. Temazepam enters breast milk and may affect infant alertness, feeding, or weight gain. Arrange a treatment and feeding plan; do not suddenly stop regular use yourself.
Medicines & interactions
Opioids
Pain medicines and codeine-containing cough products can dangerously slow breathing. Ask about naloxone if opioids are involved; it does not reverse temazepam. Do not stop methadone or buprenorphine yourself.
Alcohol & other sleep medicines
Avoid alcohol. Do not add another benzodiazepine, zolpidem, or other sleep aid unless your prescriber has specifically planned the combination.
OTC medicines & other sedatives
Nighttime cold products, PM remedies, diphenhydramine, muscle relaxants, and gabapentin/pregabalin can increase impairment. Ask your pharmacist before combining them.
Valproate, cannabis, CBD & changes
Mention these and all supplements. Check before starting or stopping anything; fewer liver-enzyme interactions does not mean no interactions. Do not adjust the dose yourself.
Everyday tips
Ask about CBT-I, structured treatment for chronic insomnia.
Keep a steady wake time and a calm wind-down routine.
Get into bed after the dose; allow a full night for sleep.
Rise slowly at night and keep the bathroom path clear.
Your questions, answered
What if I miss a dose?
Take it only when ready for bed with a full 7–8 hours still available. Otherwise skip it; never double. If you use it regularly, ask what to do about missed doses rather than assuming they cannot cause withdrawal.
Will it change my personality?
It can affect memory, mood, and behavior. Report fogginess, flatness, irritability, or unusual actions. Do not assume every change is harmless or will disappear on its own.
Is dependence the same as addiction?
No. Dependence means your body has adapted and may need a taper. Addiction involves a different pattern, such as loss of control or use despite harm. Discuss an urge to take more without embarrassment.
Can I stop when I feel better?
After regular use, ask for a stopping plan first. Withdrawal can include severe anxiety, shaking, confusion, or seizures. Sleep may worsen temporarily, but persistent symptoms need reassessment. A taper should be adjusted to you, not rushed.
Storage & safety
Keep capsules in their original closed container at room temperature, away from heat and moisture, secure from children, pets, and others. Never share; use medicine take-back. For overdose call Poison Control, 1-800-222-1222; call 911 for severe symptoms.
About this information
For general information only; not a substitute for individualized medical advice. This sheet does not cover every risk or interaction. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist before changing how you take this medication.
Sources
Educational inclusion does not mean this medication or its indications are treated at this practice. Review the guide for your exact product with your prescriber or pharmacist.