If you are experiencing insomnia, your doctor or mental health practitioner may prescribe you a medication called temazepam, or Restoril. Restoril belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines that facilitate sleep by promoting sedation. Although your doctor will likely only prescribe Restoril to you for a short period of time--7 to 10 days--you should be aware of the effects you may experience while taking the medication.
Common Side Effects
The most common side effects of Restoril are those involving the central nervous system (CNS). In addition to sedation and sleepiness, you may also become sluggish, dizzy, lightheaded and clumsy. You may experience headache and nausea. Patients have also reported feeling hangover-like symptoms the morning after taking Restoril. You should be aware that due to these common side effects, your risk for falls is significantly increased, which is particularly dangerous for older adult patients.
Uncommon Side Effects
You should understand the uncommon, more severe, side effects of Restoril so that you can report them to your doctor should they occur. You should call your doctor immediately if you experience any symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as itching, rash or difficulty breathing. The same is true if you should become confused, agitated or anxious. Basically, it is important that you report any changes in mood or behavior to your doctor in a timely manner so that she can evaluate your continued use of the medication.
Interactions
Because Restoril is a CNS depressant, concurrent use of other CNS depressants is strongly discouraged. Do not drink alcohol while taking Restoril. Also, taking other medications with Restoril, such as antihistamines, other sedatives, antidepressants and narcotics will produce additive CNS effects, the most dangerous of which is respiratory depression.
Contraindications
Because Restoril is metabolized in the liver, you should tell your doctor if you have liver disease. Impaired liver function may result in slower elimination of the medication, thereby lengthening the duration of its effects. Impaired kidney function is also a contraindication for Restoril. Do not smoke while taking Restoril, as tobacco can decrease its effectiveness. Also, if you are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant, you should not take Restoril. According to Drugs.com, "Benzodiazepines may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. An increased risk of congenital malformations associated with the use of diazepam and chlordiazepoxide during the first trimester of pregnancy has been suggested in several studies." Your doctor will evaluate you for additional contraindications.
Withdrawal
Since you will likely not take Restoril for an extended period of time or at high dosages, you may experience only mild withdrawal symptoms, such as dysphoria, when you decide to discontinue the medication. Your doctor, however, may advise you to taper off of Restoril over a period of days or weeks to avoid even the mildest of withdrawal effects. If you have been taking the medication for an extended period of time or at high dosages, abrupt cessation can result in symptoms such as sweating, tremors and convulsions. In these instances, you should avoid abrupt discontinuation.
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