Posted on August 5, 2009 in Latest News
Temazepam (Restoril) is a drug in benzodiazepines group of drugs. It is used to treat insomnia symptoms, such as trouble falling or staying asleep. In addition, temazepam has anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), anticonvulsant, and skeletal muscle relaxant properties. This article gives information on dosage, contraindications, possible side effects and drug interactions of temazepam. This article is only for the information and is not a substitute to the prescription of a medical practitioner. One needs to consult a registered medical practitioner before taking temazepam.
Dosage: Temazepam is produced as a gel-filled capsule, designed to be taken orally. A normal therapeutic dose of temazepam would be 10mg-30mg for adults. For elderly and debilitated patients the initial dose before retiring should not exceed 15 mg. The dose should be short-term i.e. only for 7-10 consecutive days. Use for more than 2-3 consecutive weeks requires complete re-evaluation of the patient.
Contraindications:
- Temazepam is contraindicated if the person is allergic to temazepam or to other benzodiazepines drugs.
- This medicine should not be taken if the person suffers from myasthenia gravis, sleep apnea syndrome, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other breathing problems.
- Temazepam is not recommended for a person having previous paradoxical reactions to alcohol and/or sedative medications.
- This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby, or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not take this medicine. This medicine is contraindicated for anyone under 18 years old.
Side Effects:
Some of the common side effects include: Dizziness, fatigue, lethargy, drowsiness, headache, confusion, euphoria, staggering, ataxia, falling and infrequent paradoxical reactions (e.g. excitement, stimulation, hyperactivity, hallucinations).
Drug Interactions:
Temazepam interacts with certain other drugs, including cimetidine (an antihistamine); disulfiram (a drug given to help patients control cravings for alcohol); or clozapine (an antipsychotic medication). It should be co-administered with other CNS depressants such as barbiturates, alcohol, opiates and tricyclic antidepressants as temazepam is itself a CNS depressant.
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