Temazepam

3-Hydroxydiazepam

Restoril, Normison, Euhypnos, Temaze, Jellies

Psychoactive Class

Depressant Sedative Anxiolytic GABAergic Muscle Relaxant

Chemical Class

Temazepam is a short-acting benzodiazepine that produces sedative,¹ hypnotic, anxiolytic, muscle relaxant, and anticonvulsant effects.¹ Although its chemical synthesis was established by 1965, it was initially employed as a military sedative-hypnotic before gaining widespread civilian prescription for the treatment of severe insomnia, panic disorders, and anxiety. It has since become one of the most frequently prescribed benzodiazepines internationally. Like all benzodiazepines, it carries a risk of dependence with repeated use.²

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Threshold~2 mg

Light5-10 mg

Moderate10-30 mg

Strong30-40 mg

Heavy40+ mg

Bioavailability

90-100%

Duration

Onset20-90 minutes

After Effects6-12 hours

Total6-10 hours

Half-life

3.5-18 hours

Subjective Effects

The temazepam experience is dominated by heavy sedation, anxiety relief, and physical relaxation rather than any form of sensory alteration. As a hypnotic benzodiazepine, its effects pull strongly toward sleep, with dose-dependent improvements in sleep onset and total sleep time. At moderate to high doses, memory formation becomes unreliable, and coordination and clarity of thought are noticeably impaired; residual grogginess and impaired cognitive and motor performance can carry over into waking hours.

Physical

Pronounced sedation, muscle relaxation, and a heavy, sleep-directed body feeling are the primary physical effects, frequently accompanied by dizziness and a loss of motor coordination.

Sedation

Seizure suppression

Uncomfortable

Dizziness

Cognitive

The headspace is characterized by anxiety suppression alongside a general dulling and slowing of thought. Confusion can occur at higher doses, and anterograde amnesia is common, leaving recall of the period after ingestion partial or absent.

Suppressions

Reagent Testing

Loading reagent data

Expected colorimetric results are being prepared.

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Temazepam acts as a positive allosteric modulator at GABA-A receptors via the benzodiazepine binding site.¹ This binding enhances the affinity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA for the receptor, increasing the frequency of chloride ion channel opening and resulting in neuronal hyperpolarization.¹ Temazepam also interacts with the translocator protein (TSPO).

Pharmacokinetics

Temazepam is very well absorbed orally, with 90 to 100% of an administered dose reaching the bloodstream owing to minimal first-pass metabolism of approximately 5 to 8%.¹² The drug is 96% bound to plasma proteins.² It is principally metabolized in the liver through direct glucuronide conjugation (Phase II), with less than 5% undergoing demethylation to oxazepam, which is subsequently eliminated as its glucuronide.¹ Because metabolism is predominantly Phase II conjugation, temazepam is considered largely devoid of CYP450 interactions.¹ The glucuronide metabolites have no demonstrable CNS activity.¹ The terminal elimination half-life ranges from 3.5 to 18 hours, with a mean of approximately 9 hours.² Following a single dose, 80 to 90% is excreted in the urine predominantly as the O-conjugate metabolite, with 3 to 13% appearing in the feces.¹

Interactions

Dangerous

Highest risk

These combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.

AlcoholGHB/GBLOpioidsTramadol

Unsafe

Avoid

There is considerable risk of physical harm when taking these combinations, they should be avoided where possible.

DiphenhydraminePCP

Caution

Use caution

These combinations are not usually physically harmful, but may produce undesirable effects, such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. Extreme use may cause physical health issues. Synergistic effects may be unpredictable. Care should be taken when choosing to use this combination.

DXMKetamineMXE

TripSit

Tolerance

Full Tolerance

Tolerance to sedative-hypnotic effects can emerge quickly, often after only a few days of uninterrupted use. Pharmacodynamic adaptation to some effects of benzodiazepine hypnotics may occur during extended nightly use, which can contribute to rebound insomnia after discontinuation.

Cross Tolerance

Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates

Baseline Reset

Following cessation of use, tolerance generally returns to baseline within 7-14 days. However, this timeframe may be significantly longer in proportion to the duration and intensity of long-term usage patterns.

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

High

Temazepam has a high potential for psychological addiction and is considered significantly more addictive than other benzodiazepines. It produces euphoria more commonly than most benzodiazepines and has the highest preference ratings among recreational drug users due to its rapid onset, perceived strength, and subjective 'high'.

Physical

Extremely High

Physical dependence develops readily with regular use, and abrupt discontinuation can be life-threatening, potentially resulting in severe withdrawal syndrome, seizures, or death.² Withdrawal symptoms can occur even from standard therapeutic doses after short-term use.³ Gradual tapering under medical supervision is essential for cessation.

Toxicity

Central Nervous System

Pronounced CNS depression occurs at therapeutic doses, including impairment of memory, learning, motor coordination, and reaction time; at higher doses or in overdose, confusion, coma, and absent reflexes may develop.

Respiratory

Respiratory depression can occur at higher doses and has proven fatal even when temazepam is taken alone, which is unusual among benzodiazepines.¹

Hepatic

Severe hepatic impairment decreases temazepam elimination by approximately half; hyperplastic liver nodules were observed in female mice at the highest doses in animal studies.²

Psychosis Risk

Psychotic states have been reported rarely in the medical literature following abrupt withdrawal from benzodiazepines, even from therapeutic doses.⁴ Hallucinations are listed as a less common side effect occurring in under 0.5% of users. Paradoxical reactions including aggression, violent behavior, and agitation occur rarely, with an incidence below 1% in the general population.

Seizure Risk

Sudden discontinuation after regular use can result in potentially life-threatening seizures; this risk is a primary concern with benzodiazepine withdrawal and necessitates gradual tapering rather than abrupt cessation.² Paradoxical increased seizure activity may occur in epileptic individuals. Antipsychotics increase the severity of withdrawal convulsions.

History & Culture

Discovery and Development

Temazepam was patented in 1962, with its chemical synthesis established by the mid-1960s.⁵ While the compound entered medical use in 1969, its specific application as a treatment for insomnia was not fully recognized until 1981.⁵ By…

Legality

International

1961 Single Convention: temazepam is not scheduled.

1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances: Schedule IV.

1988 Convention: temazepam is not listed in precursor Tables I or II.

By Country

United StatesPrescription onlySchedule IV depressant (DEA code 2925)

Controlled Substances Act; 21 CFR § 1308.14; 21 U.S.C. § 829(b)⁴⁴⁴⁵⁴⁶

The current eCFR lists Temazepam as a Schedule IV depressant, DEA controlled-substances code 2925, in 21 CFR § 1308.14(c)(54). For Schedule IV controlled substances that are prescription drugs, 21 U.S.C. § 829(b) bars dispensing without a conforming written or oral prescription and limits refills to five within six months. This is a federal baseline only and does not determine state-specific rules.

AustriaPrescription onlyAnlage 1 Z 2 · Annex IV

Psychotropenverordnung (PV)¹⁴¹⁵

The current official RIS consolidated Psychotropenverordnung lists Temazepam in Anlage 1 section 2, covering substances in Annex IV of the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Under § 10, medicines containing psychotropic substances may only be prescribed and dispensed according to medical, dental or veterinary science; pharmacies may not dispense unless the prescription meets § 10(2), and repeat dispensing cannot be ordered for benzodiazepine medicines. Temazepam is also expressly named in § 11a's travel threshold.

ChilePrescription onlyReceta Médica Retenida

Decreto Supremo N.º 405 de 1983, Ministerio de Salud, as published by Instituto de Salud Pública; Decreto Supremo N.º 867 de 2007^1920212223

The Instituto de Salud Pública publishes the official text of Decreto Supremo N.º 405/83, which expressly includes TEMAZEPAM in its list and states that pharmaceutical products containing the listed drugs or salts have the sale condition Receta Médica Retenida. Decreto Supremo N.º 867 is the psychotropic-substances regulation under Ley N.º 20.000; the recovery relies on the directly inspectable ISP decree for the temazepam-specific dispensing consequence. This classification records prescription-only access for temazepam products, not unrestricted supply.

Hong KongSchedule 1

Classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Subject to strict regulatory controls on possession, prescribing, and dispensing.

NetherlandsPrescription onlyLijst II · UR

Opiumwet, Lijst II; CBG-authorised temazepam medicinal-product record^2627282930

Temazepam is expressly listed in Lijst II annexed to the Dutch Opiumwet. Dutch CBG medicine records identify authorised temazepam products as UR; CBG defines UR as dispensing only on prescription. This classification records prescription-only availability for authorised medicine while retaining the Opiumwet List II classification; it does not treat the statutory List II prohibitions as a general ban on authorised medical supply.

PortugalSchedule IV

Classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance under national drug legislation. Available for medical use with appropriate prescription.

SingaporePrescription onlyThird Schedule

Poisons Rules, Third Schedule, rule 15³⁶³⁷

Temazepam is a Third Schedule poison under Singapore's Poisons Rules. Rule 15 requires Third Schedule substances to be sold only upon a prescription given by a medical practitioner, dentist, or veterinary surgeon. The Rules also impose prescription and dispensing requirements, so temazepam is not available for ordinary non-prescription supply.

SwedenSchedule IV (List IV)

Classified as a prescription medication under List IV (Schedule 4) of the Narcotics Drugs Act of 1968. Legal only with valid medical prescription.

ThailandSchedule II (Psychotropic Substances Act)

Listed in Schedule II of the Psychotropic Substances Act. Subject to controls on importation, manufacture, possession, and distribution.

United KingdomPrescription onlyClass C · Schedule 3

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2 Part III; Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, Schedule 3 and regulation 15^40414243

Current legislation.gov.uk text places Temazepam in Part III (Class C drugs) of Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The current Schedule 3 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 expressly names Temazepam and states that Schedule 3 drugs are subject to regulation 15. Regulation 15 applies controlled-drug prescription-form requirements to drugs other than Schedules 4 and 5. S.I. 2015/891 removed the former Temazepam exception from regulation 15 and from the Schedule 3 heading; the replacement deliberately makes no obsolete exception claim.

AustraliaPrescription onlySchedule 4 · Appendix D

Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 (F2026L00633), Schedule 4¹¹¹²¹³

The current Commonwealth Poisons Standard identifies TEMAZEPAM in Schedule 4, marked # and also listed in Appendix D. The Therapeutic Goods Administration defines Schedule 4 as Prescription Only Medicine. The Poisons Standard is given legal effect through state and territory legislation.

CanadaPrescription onlyCDSA IV · Targeted substance

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Schedule IV; Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations¹⁶¹⁷¹⁸

The current consolidated Controlled Drugs and Substances Act expressly lists temazepam in Schedule IV, under benzodiazepines. The current Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations classify Schedule IV benzodiazepines as targeted substances and permit an individual to possess one only when obtained from a practitioner or in accordance with a prescription. Health Canada's Drug Product Database independently identifies the approved TEMAZEPAM product as “TARGETED SUBSTANCES (CDSA IV)”.

GermanyAnlage III BtMGCitation needed

Listed in Anlage III of the Betäubungsmittelgesetz (Narcotics Act) since August 1, 1986.²⁴ Prescriptions must be written on special narcotic prescription forms, except for preparations containing 20 mg or less per dosage unit.

IrelandPrescription onlySchedule 3

Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 173 of 2017), Regulations 10, 15 and 16; Schedule 3²⁵

Temazepam is a Schedule 3 controlled drug under Ireland's Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017. The Regulations prohibit production, supply, importation, and exportation of a controlled drug except as authorised, and permit possession of Schedule 3 drugs for medical purposes only in accordance with a practitioner's directions. Schedule 3 controlled-drug prescriptions must comply with the prescribed form and supply conditions, including the 14-day supply window in Regulation 16.

New ZealandPrescription onlyClass C5

Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, Schedule 3, Part 5; Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977^3132333435

Temazepam is listed as a Class C controlled drug in Schedule 3, Part 5 of New Zealand's Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. Medsafe identifies temazepam with the benzodiazepines as Class C5 controlled drugs and states the associated maximum prescription duration and dispensing controls. The classification supports prescription-only controlled-drug access rather than unrestricted supply.

RussiaSchedule III

Designated as a Schedule III controlled substance since 2013. Subject to regulatory controls on medical prescribing and distribution.

South AfricaSchedule 5

Listed as a Schedule 5 controlled substance. Possession and supply are regulated under national pharmaceutical and narcotics legislation.

SwitzerlandVerzeichnis B

Specifically listed under Verzeichnis B (Schedule B) of controlled substances regulations. Medicinal use is permitted with appropriate prescription from authorized practitioners.

UkrainePrescription onlyTable III List 2

Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 770 of 6 May 2000, Table III List No. 2; Law of Ukraine No. 60/95-VR³⁸³⁹

Temazepam is listed as a psychotropic substance in Table III, List No. 2 of Ukraine's controlled-substances list. Under the Law of Ukraine on narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, citizens may acquire psychotropic substances in Tables II and III only on a doctor's prescription. The substance is therefore lawfully available only through the controlled medical-supply framework, rather than for ordinary non-prescribed possession.

References

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Citations

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