Hypnotic drugs Hypnotic medications temazepam, Restoril
Hypnotic : temazepam, Restoril
Generic Name: temazepam
Brand Name(s): Restoril
Common Use: Hypnotic
Hypnotic
Temazepam is an active benzodiazepine with hypnotic properties.
In sleep laboratory studies, temazepam decreased the number of nightly awakenings
but had no effect on sleep latency. Rebound insomnia was not observed after
withdrawal of the drug. Temazepam decreased stage 3, and combined stage
3 and 4 sleep, accompanied by a compensatory increase in stage 2 sleep,
but did not alter REM sleep.
Orally administered temazepam is well absorbed in man. Temazepam
has a half-life of about 8 to 10 hours in plasma (with considerable inter-individual
variability). On multiple dosing, steady state is reached usually within
3 to 5 days with excretion of the drug mainly in the urine in the form of
the inactive O-conjugate metabolite.
Temazepam is a hypnotic agent useful in the short-term management
of insomnia. It has no effect, however, in shortening the time taken by
patients to fall asleep.
Efficacy has not been established in children under 18 years of age. As
with other hypnotics, temazepam is not indicated for prolonged administration.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to benzodiazepines and in myasthenia gravis.
Adverse Side Effects
The most common adverse reactions reported after administration
of temazepam and other drugs of this class are dizziness, lethargy and drowsiness.
Confusion, euphoria, staggering, ataxia and falling are commonly encountered.
Paradoxical reactions such as excitement, stimulation and hyperactivity
and hallucinations are observed infrequently.
Other adverse reactions are weakness, anorexia, horizontal nystagmus, vertigo,
tremor, lack of concentration, loss of equilibrium, dry mouth, blurred vision,
palpitations, faintness, hypotension, depression, shortness of breath, nausea,
diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, genitourinary complaints, pruritus, skin
rash, urticaria, and anterograde amnesia. Abnormal liver function tests
have been reported occasionally with temazepam.
Overdose
Manifestations of acute overdosage of temazepam, as with
other benzodiazepines, can be expected to reflect the increasing CNS effects
of the drug and include somnolence, confusion and coma, with reduced or
absent reflexes. With large overdoses, respiratory depression, hypotension
and finally coma will result.
If the patient is conscious, vomiting should be induced mechanically
or with emetics (e.g., syrup of ipecac 20 to 30 mL). It should be borne
in mind that multiple agents may have been ingested.
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