Temazepam

Pronunciation: te-MAZ-eh-pam.

Generic name: temazepam
Brand names: Restoril
Drug class: Benzodiazepine (sedative-hypnotic)
Form: Capsule (United States: 7.5 mg, 15 mg, 22.5 mg, 30 mg), tablet, or oral solution (United Kingdom: 10 mg/5 ml), depending on country and product
Route: Oral
Legal status: Prescription-only medicine; a controlled substance (Schedule IV in the United States; a Controlled Drug in the United Kingdom and Australia)

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · Canada

What temazepam is and how it works

Temazepam is a benzodiazepine used for short-term treatment of insomnia that is severe, disabling, or causing extreme distress. It increases the effect of a calming brain chemical called GABA, which produces sedation. (1) (2) (3)

Temazepam carries a boxed warning — the FDA's strongest safety warning — covering three risks: dangerous sedation and breathing problems when combined with opioids; risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction even at prescribed doses; and physical dependence with potentially life-threatening withdrawal reactions if the medicine is stopped abruptly or reduced too quickly. It is intended for short-term use, and any decision to stop or change the dose must be made together with the prescriber, not independently by the patient.

Mechanism of action: how temazepam works

Temazepam is a benzodiazepine that acts as a positive allosteric modulator at GABA-A receptors, enhancing GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmission, producing sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, and muscle-relaxant effects. (1) (3)

What temazepam is used for

Short-term treatment of insomnia

Temazepam is indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia. In the United States, prescribing instructions specify use for short periods, typically 7 to 10 days. The United Kingdom product information describes short-term treatment of severe, disabling, or extremely distressing sleep disturbance, generally not exceeding 2 to 4 weeks including a tapering-off period, and notes it is particularly suited to situations needing rapid onset without a lingering next-day effect. (1) (3) (2)

Before taking temazepam

Do not take / not appropriate for

Do not take temazepam if you have a known hypersensitivity to temazepam, other benzodiazepines, or any product ingredient. (all products) (1) (3)
The UK product information additionally contraindicates temazepam in severe respiratory depression or sleep apnoea, severe hepatic insufficiency (which may precipitate encephalopathy), depression or anxiety with depression when used alone, and during breastfeeding. (UK temazepam oral solution) (3)

Tell your clinician about

Any personal or family history of alcohol or drug misuse, addiction, or substance use disorder.
Current or recent use of opioid pain or cough medicines, alcohol, or other sedating medicines, because of the risk of dangerous combined sedation and breathing problems.
Depression, suicidal thoughts, or anxiety with depression.
Breathing problems, including sleep apnoea, or severe liver or kidney disease.
Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
Any previous experience of withdrawal symptoms when stopping a benzodiazepine or sedative before.

(1) (2) (3)

How to take temazepam

Take temazepam exactly as prescribed, at bedtime, and only on a night when you can devote a full 7 to 8 hours to sleep before you need to be active again.
Temazepam is intended for short-term use only, generally no more than a few weeks depending on the exact local product information; do not take it for longer than prescribed.
Do not increase the dose or take it more often than prescribed, even if it seems to stop working as well — tell the prescriber instead.
Do not stop taking temazepam or reduce the dose on your own after regular use, even if you feel it is no longer needed. Stopping abruptly or too quickly after continued use can cause withdrawal reactions that may be life-threatening. If you and your prescriber decide to stop, this should follow a gradual, medically supervised tapering schedule.
Do not drink alcohol or take other sedating medicines while taking temazepam unless the prescriber has specifically approved it.

(1) (2) (3)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4)

Missed dose

Temazepam is normally taken only at bedtime and only when needed for sleep. If you did not take your dose at bedtime and you cannot still get a full 7 to 8 hours of sleep before you need to be active again, skip that dose rather than taking it late, to avoid next-day drowsiness or impaired coordination and memory. This is routine as-needed hypnotic dosing guidance, not a change to your ongoing prescribed treatment plan; contact the prescriber if you are unsure.

Overdose

If an overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical care immediately, or contact a poison control service. In the United States call 1-800-222-1222 or use poisonhelp.org, and call 911 for unconsciousness, seizures, or slow/difficult breathing. Overdose risk is significantly higher when temazepam is combined with alcohol, opioids, or other sedating medicines, and can be fatal. This guidance concerns accidental or excessive single-occasion intake and is separate from the withdrawal risk of stopping regular use, which requires a medically supervised taper rather than emergency self-treatment. (2) (1)

Side effects

Temazepam commonly causes sedation-related effects. Some risks — dangerous interaction with opioids, and dependence/withdrawal — are covered separately under Serious warnings because of their severity.

Next-day drowsiness or 'hangover' grogginess

What to notice: Feeling sleepy, sluggish, or mentally slow the day after taking a dose.

What to do: Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how temazepam affects you the next day; tell the prescriber if this persists or is severe. (2)

Dizziness or impaired coordination

What to notice: Unsteadiness, especially if getting up during the night.

What to do: Take care moving around at night; tell the prescriber if falls occur, especially in older adults. (2)

Memory problems or unusual behaviour

What to notice: Memory loss for events after taking a dose, confusion, or behaviour that feels out of character.

What to do: Tell the prescriber promptly; do not simply stop the medicine yourself in response. (2)

Worsening mood or suicidal thoughts

What to notice: New or worsening depression, agitation, or thoughts of self-harm.

What to do: Seek urgent medical help or contact emergency services; do not wait for the next routine appointment. (2) (3)

Serious warnings

Profound sedation and respiratory depression with opioids or other CNS depressants — emergency

Symptoms: Extreme drowsiness, unresponsiveness, slowed or difficult breathing, or bluish lips or fingertips, especially when temazepam is combined with an opioid, alcohol, or another sedating medicine.

Action: Call emergency services immediately. Never combine temazepam with opioids, alcohol, or other sedating medicines unless a prescriber has explicitly approved the combination and set the exact doses. (1) (3)

Abuse, misuse, and addiction — high

Symptoms: Using more temazepam than prescribed, using it more often, or feeling unable to stop.

Action: Contact the prescriber if this happens. Do not increase the dose or frequency on your own, and store the medicine securely. (1)

Physical dependence and withdrawal after stopping or reducing the dose — emergency

Symptoms: Seizures, severe anxiety, tremor, muscle twitching, sweating, hallucinations, or suicidal thoughts, which can appear after abrupt discontinuation or a rapid dose reduction, particularly after continued regular use.

Action: Do not stop taking temazepam or reduce the dose on your own. Any planned stop must be a gradual, prescriber-directed taper. If withdrawal symptoms occur — for example after a missed supply, or if a dose has already been stopped without medical advice — seek urgent medical care immediately rather than waiting; this can be life-threatening. (1) (3)

Severe allergic reaction — emergency

Symptoms: Rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, throat, or tongue, or difficulty breathing.

Action: Seek emergency medical care immediately. (2)

Interactions

Medicine or test	Effect	Action
Opioid pain or cough medicines	Combined use can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.	This combination should be reserved by the prescriber for situations where there is no alternative, with the lowest effective doses and close monitoring; never combine independently. (1)
Alcohol	Additive central nervous system depression; the UK product information treats concomitant alcohol as contraindicated.	Avoid alcohol while taking temazepam. (3) (1)
Other CNS depressants (other benzodiazepines, barbiturates, antipsychotics, antidepressants, sedating antihistamines)	Additive sedation and risk of respiratory depression.	Tell the prescriber and pharmacist about all current medicines before combining with temazepam. (1) (2)
Hepatic enzyme inhibitors	May potentiate temazepam's sedative effect.	Review all current medicines with the prescriber before starting. (3)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Older adults

Older adults are usually started on a lower dose because of an increased risk of serious side effects, including excess sedation and falls. (2) (3)

Pregnancy

Use in late pregnancy can cause neonatal sedation and withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. The UK product information advises against regular use in pregnancy. Discuss the balance of risks and benefits with the prescriber if pregnant or planning pregnancy. (1) (3)

Breastfeeding

Temazepam passes into breast milk. The UK product information contraindicates use during breastfeeding; the US label advises monitoring infants for excess sedation if used while breastfeeding. Discuss with the prescriber before breastfeeding while taking temazepam. (1) (3)

History of substance use disorder

People with a personal or family history of alcohol or drug misuse have a higher risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction with temazepam. Disclose this history so the prescriber can weigh the risks and monitor treatment closely. (1)

Monitoring

Before starting

Confirm the diagnosis and severity of insomnia, and whether short-term temazepam treatment is appropriate versus non-drug approaches.
Assess for opioid or other sedating-medicine use, alcohol use, respiratory conditions, hepatic impairment, pregnancy/breastfeeding status, and history of substance use disorder.
Discuss the boxed-warning risks (opioid combination, abuse/misuse/addiction, dependence/withdrawal) and the planned short duration of treatment before the first dose.

During treatment

Reassess the ongoing need for treatment regularly; avoid open-ended, indefinite prescribing beyond the short-term indication.
Watch for signs of tolerance, dose escalation, or misuse.
Any discontinuation plan should use a gradual, individualised taper rather than an abrupt stop, especially after continued regular use.
Monitor older adults and people with respiratory or hepatic disease particularly closely for excess sedation.

(1) (3)

Storage

Store at room temperature, away from excess heat and moisture (not in a bathroom), and keep in a secure place out of reach of children and anyone for whom it was not prescribed, given its potential for misuse. Dispose of unused medicine through a pharmacy take-back programme rather than flushing it.

Study the drug class: Benzodiazepines · Z-drugs and other hypnotics

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. Use the current local indication, dosing, taper protocol, and controlled-drug prescribing rules.

All regions

Indication: Short-term insomnia

Dose summary: No universal dose is displayed. Typical adult doses in the sources reviewed range from about 7.5 mg to 30 mg at bedtime (United States), or 10 mg to 20 mg (United Kingdom oral solution context), with lower starting doses in older adults; use the exact current local product information and limit duration to the shortest effective course.

Renal context: Severe hepatic insufficiency is a contraindication in the UK product information reviewed because it may precipitate encephalopathy; renal-impairment-specific dosing was not detailed in the sources reviewed. Do not infer a web-based adjustment. (1) (3)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Severe hepatic insufficiency is contraindicated in the UK product information reviewed because of encephalopathy risk; use local product information and specialist judgement rather than a web-based adjustment.

Overdose note

Benzodiazepine overdose management is supportive, with attention to airway and respiratory support; flumazenil may be considered by a clinician in selected cases but carries its own seizure risk, particularly with dependence or co-ingested pro-convulsant drugs, and is not a self-administered treatment. (1) (3)

Frequently asked questions

Can I just stop taking temazepam once I feel better?

No. Do not stop or reduce temazepam on your own after taking it regularly. Abrupt discontinuation or rapid dose reduction can cause withdrawal reactions that may be life-threatening, including seizures. Any stop or dose change should be planned with your prescriber, usually as a gradual taper. (1) (3)

Is it safe to take temazepam with a painkiller like an opioid?

This combination can cause profound sedation, breathing problems, coma, and death, and should only be used together if a prescriber has specifically decided there is no safer alternative and has set the exact doses and monitoring. (1)

How long can I take temazepam for?

Temazepam is intended for short-term use only. The exact recommended duration differs by country product information (for example, around 7 to 10 days in the United States, or up to about 2 to 4 weeks including tapering in the United Kingdom oral-solution product reviewed); follow the prescriber's exact plan rather than a general rule. (1) (3)

What is the mechanism of action of temazepam?

What is the generic name of Temazepam?

The generic name is temazepam. It is sold under brand names including Restoril. (1) (2) (3) (4)

What class of drug is temazepam?

Temazepam is classed as: Benzodiazepine (sedative-hypnotic). (1) (2) (3) (4)

References

FDA Restoril (temazepam) capsules prescribing information, including boxed warningU.S. Food and Drug Administration · United States · accessed 2026-07-23 · source 1
MedlinePlus: TemazepamMedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine · United States · accessed 2026-07-23 · source 2
UK Temazepam 10 mg/5 ml Oral Solution Summary of Product Characteristicselectronic Medicines Compendium (UK SmPC) · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-23 · source 3
TGA ARTG: NORMISON temazepam 10 mg tablet blister packTherapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods · Australia · accessed 2026-07-26 · source 4

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient temazepam names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

RESTORIL30 mg, 7.5 mg, 22.5 mg, 15 mg · specgx llc

Canada

RESTORIL

View brands in additional countries.