Temazepam is available as tablets (10mg and 20mg) and liquid 10mg/5ml.

What is temazepam used for?

• Short-term treatment of sleeping problems (insomnia) associated with anxiety. This includes difficulty falling asleep, waking in the night and waking early in the morning.
• Making you feel relaxed, calm and/or sleepy before surgical, medical or dental procedures (pre-med).

Temazepam is only suitable for short-term use (up to four weeks), because you can quickly develop a tolerance to temazepam effects or become dependent on it.

How does temazepam work?

Temazepam works by acting on receptors in the brain called GABA receptors. This causes the release of a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) in the brain.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are stored in nerve cells in the brain and nervous system. They are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. GABA is a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural 'nerve-calming' agent. It helps keep the nerve activity in the brain in balance, and is involved in inducing sleepiness, reducing anxiety and relaxing muscles.

With sleeping problems temazepam decreases the time taken to fall asleep and the number of times you wake during the night, as well as increasing the total amount of time spent sleeping.

Temazepam relieves feelings of anxiety and agitation – it is used as a pre-medication before minor surgery or other minor medical procedures.

Temazepam key facts

• Temazepam can be addictive and should not normally be taken for more than two to four weeks at a time, including a period where the dose is gradually reduced. Don't stop taking it suddenly.
• Temazepam is only available on prescription.
• Temazepam causes drowsiness that can last into the next day. Do not drive if affected.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking temazepam.
• Common temazepam side effects include feeling sleepy, dizzy, confused and less alert, numbed emotions, muscle weakness, headache and double vision.
• Temazepam may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery as it causes drowsiness and impairs concentration. These effects may continue into the following day and can be made worse by drinking alcohol.

Who can and can't take temazepam?

Temazepam is suitable for adults and children. It should not be taken by:

• People with sudden or severe breathing difficulties, or slow, shallow breathing (respiratory depression).
• People with sleep apnoea syndrome, which is a condition where breathing stops for short spells during sleep.
• People with a condition called myasthenia gravis, which involves abnormal muscle weakness.
• People with long-term psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia.
• People with obsessive conditions or phobias.
• People who are very restless or hyperactive.
• People with severe liver problems.
• People who are allergic to other benzodiazepines.
• Breastfeeding.

Some people, particularly elderly people and children, may need a lower dose or extra monitoring. Make sure your doctor knows if you or your child:

• have liver or kidney problems
• have breathing problems
• have a history of alcoholism or drug abuse
• have a personality disorder, history of psychiatric illness or are suffering from depression
• have recently suffered a loss or bereavement, for example the death of a close friend or relative. Benzodiazepines such as temazepam can affect the way you adjust psychologically to events like this.

Temazepam: dosage 

• Temazepam is taken by mouth as tablets or liquid. It can be taken either with or without food. Always take the medicine as directed by your doctor. Do not exceed the dose prescribed by your doctor.
• For sleeping problems (insomnia) you should only take this medicine before going to bed at night. If you forget to take it at bedtime don't take it at any other time, or you will end up feeling drowsy, dizzy and confused during the day.
• Temazepam is generally only suitable for short-term use (less than four weeks). If it is used for longer periods or in high doses, dependence upon the medicine may develop and withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, muscle pain, sweating, tremor, anxiety, tension, restlessness, confusion and irritability and may then occur if treatment is stopped suddenly. Your body may also become tolerant to the medicine, with higher doses needed to achieve the same effect. For this reason, you should not exceed the dose of this medicine prescribed by your doctor, or take it for longer than recommended. If you are still having trouble sleeping after this time you should consult your doctor for further advice.
• Depending on how long you have been taking temazepam for, your doctor may suggest that you stop taking it gradually to avoid withdrawal effects or a return in your sleeping problems.

Can I drive while taking temazepam?

Temazepam causes drowsiness and muscle weakness and can impair concentration, alertness and judgement. These effects may continue into the following day. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. If you've been given temazepam during a minor outpatient procedure it's important that someone else is available to drive you home afterwards. You shouldn't drive for the next 24 to 48 hours.

Can I drink alcohol with temazepam?

• No, you should not drink alcohol while you're taking temazepam, or the day after taking it since its effects can last into the next day. Drinking alcohol will make you feel more sleepy, as well as causing increased problems with concentration, alertness, coordination and judgement. It can also cause problems with your breathing.

Is temazepam safe to use in pregnancy?

Temazepam may be harmful to a developing baby and it should be avoided during pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor. This is particularly important during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy and before or during labour. Regular use of temazepam during pregnancy should be avoided, as the baby could become dependent on the medicine and then suffer withdrawal symptoms after the birth. If this medicine is used in late pregnancy or during labour it may cause floppiness, low body temperature and breathing or feeding difficulties in the baby after birth.

Is temazepam safe to use if breastfeeding?

• Temazepam passes into breast milk. It should not be used by mothers who are breastfeeding as it may be harmful to the nursing infant. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.

Side effect of temazepam

• Drowsiness and sedation, including drowsiness the next day
• Feeling light-headed or dizzy.
• Numbed emotions.
• Reduced alertness.
• Muscle weakness.
• Shaky movements and unsteady walk (ataxia).
• Confusion.
• Blurred vision.
• Slurred speech.
• Slow, shallow breathing.
• Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention) or urinary incontinence.
• Headache.
• Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain.
• Skin rashes.
• Low blood pressure (hypotension).
• Loss of memory (amnesia).
• Changes in sex drive.
• Increased salivation or dry mouth.
• Blood disorders.
• Jaundice.
• Unexpected effects such as increase in aggression, excitement, restlessness, irritability, rages, nightmares, hallucinations, psychotic reactions.

If you want any more information about the possible side effects of temazepam, read the leaflet provided with the medicine. 

Can I take temazepam with other medicines?

It's important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you're already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start taking temazepam. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines in combination with temazepam, to make sure that the combination is safe.

Some key points are:

Temazepam and opioids

• If you are taking an opioid medicine, for example a strong painkiller such as morphine, fentanyl, dihydrocodeine or tramadol, a cough suppressant such as pholcodine or codeine, or a medicine to treat addiction like methadone, taking temazepam as well can cause you to sleep very deeply so that you don't breathe properly or have difficulty waking up. You should only take these medicines together if your doctor has specifically recommended it.

Temazepam and painkillers

• If you need to take a painkiller with temazepam it's fine to take paracetamol or ibuprofen. Don't take co-codamol, codeine or dihydrocodeine.

Other medicines that make you feel sleepy

The medicines below will increase the sedative effect of temazepam. If you're taking one of these you shouldn't take temazepam as well, unless it's specifically recommended by your doctor:

• antihistamines that make you sleepy, such as chlorphenamine, promethazine, cinnarizine or hydroxyzine
• antipsychotics, such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol
• anti-sickness medicines like buclizine or cyclizine
• baclofen
• barbiturates, such as phenobarbital, primidone, amobarbital
• gabapentin
• lofexidine
• MAOI antidepressants, such as phenelzine
• other benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide
• pregabalin
• sleeping tablets, such as zopiclone, zolpidem, melatonin
• tizanidine
• tricyclic and related antidepressants such as amitriptyline, mirtazapine

References:

https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/brain-nervous-system/a7628/temazepam/

https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/brain-nervous-system/a7040/lormetazepam/