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- $Unique_ID{BRK03342}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{temazepam}
- $Subject{Restoril Sandoz Benzodiazepine sedative/hypnotic temazepam insomnia
- falling asleep waking night morning wakefulness depressant central nervous
- system brain spinal cord}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{
- Restoril*0334201.scf}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- temazepam
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- Restoril (Sandoz)
- temazepam (various manufacturers)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Benzodiazepine sedative/hypnotic
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- temazepam
-
- DOSAGE FORM
-
- Capsules (15 mg and 30 mg)
-
- STORAGE
-
- This medication should be stored at room temperature in a tightly closed,
- light-resistant container.
-
- USES
-
- Temazepam is prescribed to treat insomnia, including problems with
- falling asleep, waking during the night, and early morning wakefulness. It is
- not clear exactly how this medicine works, but it may relieve insomnia by
- acting as a depressant of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
-
- TREATMENT
-
- This medicine should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. It can be
- taken with food or a full glass of water if stomach upset occurs. Do not take
- this medication with antacids, since they may retard its absorption from the
- gastrointestinal tract.
- If you are taking this medication regularly and you miss a dose, take the
- missed dose immediately if you remember within an hour. If more than an hour
- has passed, do not take the missed dose at all; just wait for the next
- scheduled dose. Do not double the dose.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Bitter taste in the mouth, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness
- (after a night's sleep), dry mouth, excessive salivation, fatigue, flushing,
- headache, heartburn, loss of appetite, nausea, nervousness, sweating, or
- vomiting. As your body adjusts to the medication, these side effects should
- disappear.
- To relieve constipation, increase the amount of fiber in your diet (fresh
- fruits and vegetables, salads, bran, and whole-grain breads), exercise, and
- drink more water (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise).
- Dry mouth can be relieved by chewing sugarless gum or by sucking on ice
- chips.
- If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down for a while; get up slowly from a
- sitting or reclining position, and be careful on stairs.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- blurred or double vision, chest pain, depression, difficulty in urinating,
- fainting, falling, fever, joint pain, hallucinations, mouth sores, nightmares,
- palpitations, rash, severe depression, shortness of breath, slurred speech,
- sore throat, uncoordinated movements, unusual excitement, unusual tiredness,
- or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- Temazepam interacts with several other types of drugs:
- 1. To prevent oversedation, this drug should not be taken with alcohol,
- other sedative drugs, or central nervous system depressants (such as
- antihistamines, barbiturates, muscle relaxants, pain medications, narcotics,
- antiseizure medications, and phenothiazine tranquilizers) or with
- antidepressants.
- 2. Temazepam may decrease the effectiveness of carbamazepine, levodopa,
- and oral anticoagulants (blood thinners) and may increase the effects of
- phenytoin.
- 3. Disulfiram, cimetidine, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), and
- isoniazid may increase the blood levels of temazepam, which can lead to toxic
- effects.
- 4. Concurrent use of rifampin may decrease the effectiveness of
- temazepam.
- BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
- taking, especially those listed above.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to temazepam or other benzodiazepine tranquilizers
- (such as alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, clorazepate, diazepam, flurazepam,
- halazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam, prazepam, and triazolam).
- * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had liver disease,
- kidney disease, epilepsy, lung disease, myasthenia gravis, porphyria, mental
- depression, or mental illness.
- * This medicine can cause drowsiness. Avoid tasks that require
- alertness, such as driving a car.
- * Temazepam has the potential for abuse and must be used with caution.
- Tolerance may develop quickly; do not increase the dosage without first
- consulting your doctor. It is also important not to stop taking this drug
- suddenly if you have been taking it in large amounts or if you have used it
- for several weeks. Your doctor may want to reduce the dosage gradually.
- * This is a safe drug when used properly. When it is combined with other
- sedative drugs or alcohol, however, serious side effects may develop.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. This type of medicine
- may increase the chance of birth defects if it is taken during the first three
- months of pregnancy. In addition, use of this medicine during the last six
- months of pregnancy may result in addiction of the fetus, leading to
- withdrawal side effects in the newborn. Also, use of this medicine during the
- last weeks of pregnancy may cause excessive drowsiness, slowed heartbeat, and
- breathing difficulties in the infant. Tell your doctor if you are
- breast-feeding. This medicine can pass into breast milk and cause unwanted
- side effects in nursing infants.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-