Short answer: Temazepam (Restoril) is a benzodiazepine sleeping pill approved for short-term treatment of insomnia, usually 7 to 10 days. It is a Schedule IV controlled substance and shares the dependence and withdrawal risks of other benzodiazepines.
Key takeaways
- What it is: Temazepam is a benzodiazepine hypnotic and a Schedule IV controlled substance in the US.
- Main uses: Short-term insomnia.
- Timing: effects start in 30 to 60 minutes and last 6 to 8 hours.
- Most dangerous mix: Opioids (oxycodone, fentanyl, codeine), which can cause slowed breathing, coma, death.
- Naloxone: it does not reverse this drug, but give it whenever opioids could be involved.
- Dependence risk: High.
- Legal route: only with a prescription from a DEA-registered clinician, filled by a licensed pharmacy.
What is temazepam?
Temazepam is approved for short-term treatment of insomnia, generally 7 to 10 days. It helps people fall asleep and stay asleep.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended first treatment for chronic insomnia and works better long term than any sleeping pill.
Quick facts
| Fact | Temazepam |
|---|---|
| Generic name | Temazepam |
| Brand names | Restoril |
| Drug class | Benzodiazepine hypnotic |
| US legal status | Schedule IV, prescription only |
| Approved uses | Short-term treatment of insomnia |
| Forms | Capsules |
| Onset | 30 to 60 minutes |
| Half-life | About 9 hours (range 3.5 to 18) |
| Broken down by | Glucuronidation |
How long does temazepam last?
- Starts working: 30 to 60 minutes
- Effects last: 6 to 8 hours
- Half-life: About 9 hours (range 3.5 to 18)
It is approved for short-term use, generally 7 to 10 days. Longer use raises the risk of dependence.
Timing varies with the dose, the form, how it is taken, liver and kidney function, age, and other drugs taken at the same time.
What are the biggest risks of temazepam?
The FDA requires boxed warnings, its strongest, on temazepam products, including:
- Taking benzodiazepines with opioids can cause profound sedation, slowed breathing, coma, and death.
- Benzodiazepines can be misused and can lead to addiction, which raises the risk of overdose and death.
- Regular use can cause physical dependence. Stopping suddenly or cutting the dose quickly can cause withdrawal reactions, including seizures, that can be life-threatening.
Common side effects include drowsiness, next-day grogginess, dizziness, headache, and fatigue. Complex sleep behaviors such as sleep-driving can occur.
What should you never mix with temazepam?
| Combined with | What happens | Label guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Opioids (oxycodone, fentanyl, codeine) | Slowed breathing, coma, death | Boxed warning; avoid unless no alternative |
| Alcohol | Stronger sedation and slowed breathing | Avoid |
| Other sedatives, sleep medicines, gabapentinoids | Additive drowsiness and impaired coordination | Use caution |
| Diphenhydramine and other sedating antihistamines | Additive sedation | Avoid |
Check any combination with the DoseUses combination checker or ask a pharmacist.
What are the signs of a temazepam overdose, and what should you do?
Temazepam overdose causes excessive sleepiness, confusion, poor coordination, slowed breathing, and coma, especially with alcohol or opioids.
If someone may have overdosed
- Call 911 if the person is unresponsive, hard to wake, or breathing slowly.
- For advice when the person is awake and stable, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US, free, 24 hours).
- If opioids could be involved, including pills not from a pharmacy, give naloxone if you have it. Naloxone does not reverse temazepam, but it will not harm the person.
- Stay with the person and place them on their side if they are drowsy or vomiting.
What is temazepam withdrawal like, and how long does it last?
People who take temazepam regularly, even as prescribed, can become physically dependent within weeks. Rebound insomnia, worse than before treatment, is common for a few nights after stopping.
- Days 1 to 2Symptoms beginRebound anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, sweating, and tremor.
- Weeks 1 to 3Acute withdrawalPanic, irritability, muscle pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and in severe cases seizures or delirium.
- MonthsProtracted symptoms in some peopleA minority have lingering anxiety, poor sleep, low mood, or tingling that can last weeks to more than 12 months.
See the withdrawal timelines and the full temazepam withdrawal guide.
Is temazepam legal?
In the United States, temazepam is a Schedule IV controlled substance. The only legal way to get it is with a prescription from a clinician registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), filled by a licensed pharmacy. Depending on state law, that can be a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
- Refills: a Schedule IV prescription can be refilled up to five times within six months of the date it was written. After that, a new prescription is needed.
- Telehealth: federal flexibilities let DEA-registered clinicians prescribe Schedule II to V medicines after a telemedicine visit, without a prior in-person exam, through December 31, 2026. A permanent DEA rule was under final review in late 2026. State rules can be stricter.
- Monitoring: prescribers and pharmacists in most states check a prescription drug monitoring program, a database of controlled-substance prescriptions, before prescribing or dispensing.
Outside the United States
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Class C; prescription only |
| Canada | Schedule IV (targeted substance); prescription only |
| Australia | Schedule 4 prescription medicine |
| International | Schedule IV of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances |
Frequently asked questions about temazepam
How long can you take temazepam?
It is approved for short-term use, generally 7 to 10 days. Longer use raises the risk of dependence.
Is temazepam a strong sleeping pill?
It is moderately potent. It helps people stay asleep but can cause next-day drowsiness.
Does temazepam show on a drug test?
Yes. Benzodiazepine screens usually detect it for 2 to 5 days.
Sources
- Restoril (temazepam) prescribing information, DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine.
- FDA warns about serious risks and death when combining opioid pain or cough medicines with benzodiazepines, US Food and Drug Administration, 2016.
- FDA requiring Boxed Warning updated to improve safe use of benzodiazepine drug class, US Food and Drug Administration, 2020.
- Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering, American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2025.
- Controlled Substance Schedules, DEA Diversion Control Division.
- 21 CFR 1306.22, Refilling of prescriptions (Schedules III and IV), Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
- Prescribing controlled substances via telehealth, US Department of Health and Human Services.
- BeSafeRx: Your Source for Online Pharmacy Information, US Food and Drug Administration.
This guide summarizes the sourced DoseUses Temazepam profile, written from FDA labels, DEA rules, and federal health agencies. It is educational and is not medical advice. Last updated October 5, 2026.
