Temazepam Egg

Description

Temazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines.

It’s used to treat sleeping problems (insomnia).

It can also be taken to help you relax before an operation or other medical or dental treatments. This is known as a pre-med.

It works by increasing the levels of a calming chemical in your brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Key facts

• Temazepam usually starts to work after around 30 minutes. The effect lasts for around 7 to 8 hours.
• The most common side effects of temazepam include feeling drowsy or lightheaded, and having a dry mouth.
• It’s not recommended to use temazepam for longer than 4 weeks. If you take it for too long it’s possible that you could get addicted.
• If temazepam affects your eyesight or makes you feel sleepy, dizzy or confused, do not drive, ride a bike, or use tools or machines until you feel OK again.
• Do not drink alcohol when taking temazepam. It can make you sleep very deeply. You may have breathing problems and difficulty waking up.

Side Effects

Like all medicines, temazepam can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects

These common side effects of temazepam happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

• Disturbed sleep (such as vivid dreams)
• Feeling drowsy, tired, less alert or “hungover” the next day
• Feeling lightheaded, unsteady or dizzy
• A dry mouth

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.

Serious side effects

It happens rarely, but some people have serious side effects when taking temazepam.Tell a doctor or call 111 straight away if you get any of the following side effects:

• the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow although this may be less obvious on brown or black
• skin (jaundice) – this can be a sign of liver problems
• difficulty peeing or peeing less than usual
• noticeable heartbeats (palpitations)
• changes in the way you feel or act, such as feeling numb or restless, agitated or aggressive or acting inappropriatelyyou think things that are not true (delusions) or you see or hear things that are not there (hallucinations)
• poor co-ordination or weak muscles
• slurred speech
• memory loss or confusion

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, temazepam may cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:

• your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• you’re breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you’re choking or gasping for air)
• your throat feels tight or you’re struggling to swallow
• your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzysomeone faints and cannot be woken upa child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who’s unwell may also have a rash that’s swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.Other side effectsThese are not all the side effects of temazepam. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Information Leaflet

Temazepam 20mg – Patient Information Leaflet

Dosage Recommendation

The usual dose of temazepam for sleep problems is 10mg to 20mg, taken once a day.In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose of 30mg to 40mg.If you’re over 65 and at risk of falling over, your dose may be lower.

How to take it

You’ll usually take temazepam once a day, half an hour before bedtime.It’s important to take it exactly as your doctor has told you. Your doctor may recommend taking it only 2 or 3 nights a week.Take temazepam tablets with a drink of water. You can take it with or without food.

How long to take it for

You’ll usually only take temazepam for a short time, from a few days to 4 weeks.

If you forget to take it

If you forget to take it by bedtime, just skip the missed dose and start again the next night.

If you take too much

Taking more than your prescribed dose of temazepam can be dangerous. It can make you very sleepy, and affect your balance and speech. You could have difficulty breathing, especially if you have taken other medicines or alcohol at the same time.

Urgent advice:

Contact 111 for advice now if: you take more than your prescribed dose of temazepamGo to 111.nhs.uk or call 111If you need to go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.Take the temazepam packet or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you.