Temazepam

From Free net encyclopedia

(Difference between revisions)
Revision as of 19:56, 17 April 2006
David Andel (Talk | contribs)

Next diff →

Current revision

[[Image:{{{image|Temazepam.png}}}|{{{width|220}}}px|Temazepam chemical structure]]
Temazepam

7-Chloro-1,3-dihydro-
3-hydroxy-1-methyl-5-phenyl-
1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one
IUPAC name
CAS number
846-50-4 		}}}
PubChem
5391 		DrugBank
APRD00676
Chemical formula {{Carbon
Molecular weight {{{molecular_weight}}}
Bioavailability {{{bioavailability}}}
Metabolism {{{metabolism}}}
Elimination half-life {{{elimination_half-life}}}
Excretion {{{excretion}}}
Pregnancy category {{{pregnancy_category}}}
Legal status {{{legal_status}}}
Routes of administration {{{routes_of_administration}}}

16H{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}}}13Cl{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|}}N{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|}}2O{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|}}2 | molecular_weight = 300.7 | bioavailability = 96% | metabolism = Hepatic | elimination_half-life = 8-20 hours | excretion = Renal | pregnancy_category = X (USA)
Class C (UK) | legal_status = Schedule IV(US)
Schedule 3 (UK) | routes_of_administration = Oral }}

Temazepam (marketed under brand names Restoril®, Normison®) is a powerful hypnotic drug, which is a benzodiazepine derivative. It possesses powerful anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, amnestic, sedative and skeletal muscle relaxant properties.

Contents

[edit]

History

Until recently temazepam was produced as a gel-filled capsule intended to be taken orally. However, it gained a certain notoriety in the United Kingdom, and especially Scotland, when it was discovered that if the capsules were melted and injected the effects were more potent and similar to alcohol. However, the liquid has a tendency to congeal in arteries and cause thrombosis and gangrene, in some cases requiring amputation.

[edit]

Pharmacology

See Diazepam#Pharmacology.

[edit]

Indications

Temazepam is commonly prescribed for insomnia and other sleep disorders. Temazepam is considered to be one of the most addictive of the benzodiazepines and thus not suited for long-term treatment. Street terms include "rugby balls", "terms", "jellies", "mazzies", "beans" and "eggs".

[edit]

Military Use

The United States Air Force uses temazepam under trade name Restoril as "no-go pills" to help pilots sleep after a mission (Cf. "go-pills"; amphetamine, or recently modafinil, used as a stimulant for pilots). Another drug used for the same purpose is zolpidem.

[edit]

Dosage

Temazepam is available in 7.5mg, 15mg and 30mg capsules.

It is available as 10 and 20mg tablets in the UK.

When used for treatment of insomnia, the usual dose is 7.5mg to 15mg taken at bedtime.

Usual UK doses (from BNF) are 10-20mg at bedtime, max 30-40mg in exceptional circumstances.

[edit]

Side effects

Common side effects include:

  • Somnolence
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Euphoria
  • Sluggishness
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Nervousness
  • Loss of appetite

Rare side effects include:

  • Neurological - Agitation, anxiety, mental confusion, depression, hallucinations, hangover, increased dreaming, lack of coordination, loss of equilibrium, amnesia, nightmares, restlessness, vertigo
  • Cardiovascular - Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Respiratory - Difficult or labored breathing, hypoventilation
  • Gastrointestinal - Abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, vomiting
  • Ocular - Blurred vision, burning sensation in eyes, nystagmus
  • Other - Abnormal sweating, backache, dry mouth, muscular weakness

Before taking temazepam, one should ensure that at least 8 hours are available to dedicate to sleep. Failing to do so can increase the side effects of the drug.

[edit]

Interactions

See Diazepam#Interactions.

[edit]

Contraindications

See Diazepam#Contraindications.

[edit]

Overdose

See Diazepam#Overdose.

[edit]

Legal Status

Temazepam is a Class C drug in the United Kingdom and possession is illegal without a prescription. Additionally, all manufacturers in the UK have replaced the gel-capsules with solid tablets.

In the US, temazepam is a Schedule IV drug and is only available by prescription. Certain states require specially coded prescriptions for this medication.

Internationally, temazepam is a Schedule IV drug under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances[1].

In Canada Temazepam can be issued as a standard prescription by any family doctor who sees a need for it.

[edit]

Trivia

The recreational effects of the drug were documented in the Black Grape album, It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah. The track 'Tramazi Parti' contains the lyric: I got my boots on the back of my head / It's full of jellies in the good old bed / And no one knows what no one said. Although there is no medical research confirming this behaviour, it is not inconsistent with the known side effects of the drug.

[edit]

External links

Template:Benzodiazepinespl:Temazepam fi:Tematsepaami sv:Temazepam

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/Temazepam"