II. Class

  1. Medium Acting Benzodiazepine

III. Indications

  1. Insomnia with frequent awakening
    1. Short-term use only (7 to 10 days)

IV. Dosing: General

  1. Start 15 mg orally taken 1 to 2 hours before bedtime (7.5 mg in elderly or debilitated)
  2. Maximum Dose: 30 mg at bedtime (15 mg in elderly)

V. Pharmacokinetics

  1. Onset: 30-60 minutes
  2. Serum Peak Level: 2-3 hours after oral dose
  3. Duration: 6-8 hours
  4. Half-Life: 8-15 hours
    1. May be as long as 25 hours in some patients due to potentially active metabolites
  5. Metabolism to Glucuronidation

VI. Dosing: Equivalent dosing (for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal)

  1. Valium = Dose x1.0
  2. Phenobarbital = Dose x3.0

VII. Advantages

  1. Less daytime sedation or accumulation

VIII. Disadvantages

  1. More risk of rebound Insomnia

X. References

  1. (2019) Med Lett Drugs Ther 61(1578): 121-6
  2. (2020) Presc Lett, Resource #361206, Appropriate Use of Benzodiazepines
  3. Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster Miami, p. 55
  4. Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia

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Related Studies

Cost: Medications

temazepam (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
TEMAZEPAM 15 MG CAPSULE Generic $0.08 each
TEMAZEPAM 22.5 MG CAPSULE Generic $2.03 each
TEMAZEPAM 30 MG CAPSULE Generic $0.09 each
TEMAZEPAM 7.5 MG CAPSULE Generic $1.32 each

Ontology: Temazepam (C0039468)

Definition (NCI) A benzodiazepine derivative with antidepressant, sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant properties. Temazepam potentiates the inhibitory activities of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by binding to the GABA receptor, located in the limbic, neocortical and mesencephalic reticular system. This increases the frequency of chloride channel opening events, allowing the flow of chloride ions into the neuron leading to membrane hyperpolarization and decreases neuronal excitability.
Definition (MSH) A benzodiazepine that acts as a GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID modulator and anti-anxiety agent.
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH D013693
SnomedCT 334023006, 321143008, 387300007, 54705000
LNC LP14551-3, MTHU001573
English 3-Hydroxydiazepam, Hydroxydiazepam, Methyloxazepam, Oxydiazepam, Temazepam, 3 Hydroxydiazepam, 2H-1,4-Benzodiazepin-2-one, 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-1-methyl-5-phenyl-, Temazepam [anaesthesia], Temazepam [anesthesia], Temazepam [hypnotic], 10-chloro-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-phenyl-3,6-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-2,8,10,12-tetraen-5-one, temazepam, temazepam (medication), TEMAZEPAM, Temazepam [Chemical/Ingredient], Temazepam [anesthesia] (product), Temazepam [hypnotic] (product), Temazepam (product), Temazepam (substance), Temazepam [anesthesia] (substance), Temazepam [hypnotic] (substance)
Swedish Temazepam
Czech temazepam
Finnish Tematsepaami
Russian GIDROKSIDIAZEPAM, METILOKSAZEPAM, TEMAZEPAM, KAMAZEPAM, ГИДРОКСИДИАЗЕПАМ, КАМАЗЕПАМ, МЕТИЛОКСАЗЕПАМ, ТЕМАЗЕПАМ
Japanese テマゼパム, ヒドロキシジアゼパム, メチルオキサゼパム
Polish Temazepam
Spanish temazepam [hipnótico] (producto), temazepam [anestésico] (producto), temazepam [hipnótico], temazepam [anestésico], temacepam (producto), temacepam (sustancia), temacepam, temazepam (sustancia), temazepam, Hidroxidiazepam, Metiloxazepam, Temazepam
French Témazépam
German Hydroxydiazepam, Methyloxazepam, Temazepam, 3-Hydroxydiazepam, Oxydiazepam
Italian Temazepam
Portuguese Hidroxidiazepam, Metiloxazepam, Temazepam

Ontology: Restoril (C0723045)

Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH D013693
German Restoril
English restoril, Restoril, Mallinckrodt Brand of Temazepam, Novartis Brand of Temazepam