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Temazepam Facts

Depressant; Hypnotic; Sedative; Benzodiazepine; GABA-A receptor positive allosteric modulator

Description

Temazepam is a synthetic depressant of the benzodiazepine class. It amplifies GABA — the brain's main inhibitory signaling system — slowing neural activity to produce sedation and sleep.[1]

Subjective effects include sedation, anxiety relief, muscle relaxation, and anterograde amnesia — impaired ability to form new memories while the drug is active. The experience is one of gradual, enveloping heaviness: a warm cognitive dimming and physical loosening that builds steadily toward sleep.

Temazepam produces physical dependence with regular use, and tolerance to its sleep-promoting effect builds within two to three weeks of nightly dosing.[2][3] Alone, it is rarely fatal — but combining it with opioids or alcohol dramatically raises the risk of fatal stopped breathing.[4]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 2 mgLight5 – 10 mgCommon10 – 30 mgStrong30 – 40 mgHeavy40+ mg

Starts in 30 – 60 minLasts 7 – 8 hoursAfter-effects 3.5 – 18.4 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Low
Chronic toxicity
Moderate
Physical dependence
High
Psychological dependence
Moderate
Withdrawal
Severe · medical supervision
Compulsive redosing
Moderate

Tolerance

Builds
Moderate
Fully resets after
10.5 days
Carries over to
benzodiazepines; barbiturates; zolpidem; zopiclone; zaleplon; alcohol

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
Dreaming suppression; +4 possible, including Spatial disorientation, Visual acuity suppression, Vestibular distortion
Body
Sedation; Muscle relaxation; Motor control impairment; Bodily heaviness; Physical fatigue; +7 possible, including Dizziness, Respiratory depression, Nystagmus (eye wobbles)
Thinking
Analysis suppression; Cognitive impairment; Decision impairment; Focus suppression; +14 possible, including Language suppression, Memory suppression, Information processing suppression
Feeling
Anxiety suppression; +3 possible, including Emotional lability
Self
none likely · 6 possible, including Communication suppression, Craving
Time
none likely · 2 possible, including Temporal disorientation

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Known benzodiazepine hypersensitivity; Pregnancy; Acute narrow-angle glaucoma; Injection by any route
Relative
Obstructive sleep apnea; Myasthenia gravis; Severe depression with suicidal ideation; History of substance use disorder; Severe hepatic impairment; Elderly patients; Acute alcohol intoxication

Combinations60 recorded

Lethal (1)
Opioids
Dangerous (21)
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Antipsychotics; Atypical antipsychotics; Benzodiazepines; Buprenorphine, Kratom; Cannabis, THC; Clonidine, Guanfacine; Gabapentin, Pregabalin; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Local anesthetics; Naltrexone; SNRIs; Stimulants; Synthetic cannabinoids; Ibogaine; Ketamine, DXM, PCP; MAOIs; NSAIDs; Poppers (Alkyl nitrites); Poppers, Nitrates
Caution (26)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/temazepam
Not graded (12)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

  • Extreme drowsiness — can't stay awake or be roused
  • Confusion, slurred speech, severe loss of coordination
  • Slow, shallow, or irregular breathing
  • Unconsciousness / unresponsive; limp, floppy body
  • Blue lips or fingertips
  • Vomiting while sedated (choking / aspiration risk)
  • Cold, clammy skin; weak pulse

What to do

  1. Try to wake them — shout, firm sternal rub
  2. If unresponsive or breathing is impaired, call emergency services
  3. Place them in the recovery position — critical, they can choke on vomit
  4. Monitor breathing continuously; be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR
  5. Never leave them alone to "sleep it off"
  6. Do not give other drugs, stimulants, or more depressants

Most depressant overdoses resolve with airway protection, breathing support, and monitoring. The danger is respiratory depression and choking on vomit — sharply worse when combined with opioids or alcohol. GHB/GBL overdoses often involve sudden deep unconsciousness and may self-resolve, but airway protection is essential.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^StatPearls Publishing (2024) Temazepam - StatPearls Link
  2. [2]
    ^Kales A, Bixler EO, Soldatos CR, et al. (1986) Quazepam and temazepam: effects of short- and intermediate-term use and withdrawal — Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics PMID:2868823
  3. [3]
    ^Lader M (1994) Anxiolytic drugs: dependence, addiction and abuse — European neuropsychopharmacology PMID:7919947
  4. [4]
    ^Gudin JA, Mogali S, Jones JD, Comer SD (2013) Risks, management, and monitoring of combination opioid, benzodiazepines, and/or alcohol use — Postgraduate medicine doi:10.3810/pgm.2013.07.2684
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