Restoril (Temazepam) at a glance: schedule, half-life, and class
- 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
- FDA boxed warnings
- Use with opioids; misuse and addiction; dependence and withdrawal
Restoril uses: what temazepam is prescribed for
Temazepam is approved for short-term treatment of insomnia, generally 7 to 10 days. It helps people fall asleep and stay asleep.[1]
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended first treatment for chronic insomnia and works better long term than any sleeping pill.
Restoril dosage: how temazepam is usually prescribed
The figures below come from the FDA-approved label and describe how prescribers typically use temazepam. They are not personal dosing advice. A prescriber sets the dose for each person and adjusts it over time.[1]
| Group | Typical dose | Label guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | 15 mg at bedtime | Range 7.5 to 30 mg |
| Older or frail adults | 7.5 mg at bedtime | Start low |
Restoril (temazepam) side effects and risks
FDA boxed warnings
- Taking benzodiazepines with opioids can cause profound sedation, slowed breathing, coma, and death.[2]
- Benzodiazepines can be misused and can lead to addiction, which raises the risk of overdose and death.[3]
- Regular use can cause physical dependence. Stopping suddenly or cutting the dose quickly can cause withdrawal reactions, including seizures, that can be life-threatening.[3]
Common side effects include drowsiness, next-day grogginess, dizziness, headache, and fatigue. Complex sleep behaviors such as sleep-driving can occur.[1]
Restoril interactions: what not to mix with temazepam
Choose what it would be combined with:
| 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 |
This is not a full list. A pharmacist can check a complete medication list, including supplements and over-the-counter products.[1]
Restoril overdose: signs of temazepam overdose and what to do
Temazepam overdose causes excessive sleepiness, confusion, poor coordination, slowed breathing, and coma, especially with alcohol or opioids.[1]
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.
Restoril withdrawal timeline: how long temazepam withdrawal lasts
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.[3]
- 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.
Warning: Stopping temazepam abruptly after regular use can cause seizures. The dose should be reduced gradually under the care of a prescriber.
After more than a few weeks of nightly use, the dose should be tapered gradually. Rebound insomnia for a few nights after stopping is common and usually passes.[4]
How to get prescribed Restoril (temazepam) legally in the US
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.[5]
- 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.[6]
- 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.[7]
- Monitoring: prescribers and pharmacists in most states check a prescription drug monitoring program, a database of controlled-substance prescriptions, before prescribing or dispensing.
- Pharmacies: a legitimate pharmacy always requires a valid prescription, has a licensed pharmacist available, and is licensed in the state it ships to. The FDA's BeSafeRx tool and the NABP's safe pharmacy list help confirm a pharmacy is real.[8][9]
- Cost: generic temazepam is inexpensive.
Traveling: keep the medicine in its original pharmacy container and carry a copy of the prescription. Check the rules of the destination country before travel, because many countries restrict controlled medicines or require a permit.
Can you order Restoril (temazepam) online legally?
Yes, but only with a valid prescription and only from a pharmacy licensed in your state. Many licensed pharmacies, including mail-order pharmacies run by insurers, fill temazepam prescriptions online and ship them. Buying temazepam from a website that does not require a prescription is illegal, and the product is often fake.[8][10]
- See a licensed clinicianA clinician evaluates you in person or by telemedicine and decides whether temazepam is appropriate.
- The prescription goes to a pharmacyPrescriptions for controlled medicines are usually sent electronically, straight from the prescriber to the pharmacy you choose.
- The pharmacy checks and fills itA pharmacist verifies the prescription and your identity, then dispenses the medicine in person or by mail.
Signs that an online seller is illegal:
- It sells temazepam with no prescription, or after only a short online questionnaire.
- It takes orders through social media, messaging apps, or email.
- It asks for payment in cryptocurrency, gift cards, or money transfers.
- It has no US street address, no state pharmacy license, and no pharmacist to speak to.
- Its prices are far below those of ordinary pharmacies, or it ships from another country.
The FDA's BeSafeRx tool links to each state's license lookup, and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy lists verified online pharmacies.[8][9]
Restoril price: how much does Restoril (temazepam) cost without insurance?
Generic temazepam is inexpensive.
What you pay depends on the strength, the number of doses, your insurance plan, and the pharmacy. Cash prices for the same prescription can differ several times over between pharmacies in the same town, so check current prices before you fill it.
Ways to pay less, legally:
- Ask the prescriber whether a generic temazepam is available. FDA-approved generics work the same way as the brand and usually cost much less.
- Compare cash prices between pharmacies before you fill the prescription.
- Use a free prescription discount card, such as GoodRx or SingleCare, when you pay cash. These cards cannot be combined with insurance on the same fill.
- For brand-name medicines, check the manufacturer's savings program or patient assistance program.
- Ask about a 90-day supply or your insurer's mail-order pharmacy, which often lowers the cost per dose when your prescriber agrees it is appropriate.
Warning: A price far below what licensed pharmacies charge, especially with no prescription required, is a strong sign of an illegal seller and counterfeit medicine.[8]
Is Restoril legal? Temazepam legal status in other countries
| 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 |
Laws change and differ in detail. Check current rules before carrying any controlled medicine across a border.[11]
Common questions about Restoril (temazepam)
How long can you take Restoril (temazepam)?
It is approved for short-term use, generally 7 to 10 days. Longer use raises the risk of dependence.
Is Restoril (temazepam) a strong sleeping pill?
It is moderately potent. It helps people stay asleep but can cause next-day drowsiness.
Does Restoril (temazepam) show on a drug test?
Yes. Benzodiazepine screens usually detect it for 2 to 5 days.
Can you buy Restoril (temazepam) without a prescription?
No. Restoril (temazepam) is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the US, so it is illegal to buy or possess it without a valid prescription. Websites and social media sellers that offer it without one are not legal pharmacies, and the DEA warns that pills sold this way are often counterfeit and can contain fentanyl. The legal route is a visit with a licensed clinician, in person or by telehealth, and a prescription filled at a state-licensed pharmacy. The FDA's BeSafeRx tool and the NABP's safe pharmacy list help confirm an online pharmacy is real.
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.
- Safe Pharmacy. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
- One Pill Can Kill. US Drug Enforcement Administration.
- International drug control conventions. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
