Should You Take Temazepam For Sleep?

If you struggle with insomnia, one of the medications your doctor may recommend is temazepam. This is a medication that belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. It slows down brain function, helping patients fall asleep and stay asleep. With so many different sleep medications available, though, it is worth considering whether or not temazepam is the right sleep medication for you. Here are a few pros and cons to consider.

Pro: Temazepam helps with problems like sleepwalking and nightmares.

Some medications help you fall asleep, but they do not do much for the conditions that arise once you are already asleep. Temazepam, on the other hand, helps address bad dreams, night terrors, sleepwalking, and other issues that may interfere with sleep once you've already drifted off. This makes it a good choice for patients whose sleep struggles extend beyond simple trouble falling asleep.

Con: Temazepam can cause some memory loss.

Some patients experience short-term memory loss after taking temazepam. This memory loss is not permanent, and it mostly happens when patients do not sleep for a full 7 to 8 hours after taking the medication. You may struggle to remember things for a short term for an hour or two after waking. This does not happen to everyone — but if you are someone who needs to be fully functional and alert as soon as you wake up in the morning, a different sleep medicine might work better for you. 

Pro: Temazepam is easy to take.

Temazepam does not need to be taken with food. And you only need to take one dose per day, about a half-hour before bedtime. Usually, one dose is just one gel cap or pill. Your doctor will usually start you with a low dose, and then increase you to a higher dose if you need a little more help falling asleep. There are no injections or blood tests involved with temazepam.

Con: Temazepam can cause rebound insomnia when you stop taking it.

Most doctors will only have you take temazepam for a couple of weeks at a time. When you stop taking it, you may struggle to fall asleep for the first night or two afterward. This is called rebound insomnia. For most, it is just a minor annoyance, and they get better rest once a day or two passes. But if you think rebound insomnia will make you anxious or uneasy, then you may want to look into other sleep medicines instead.

Temazepam is a really good option for many people who struggle with insomnia. But don't be afraid to ask your doctor about other options if you suspect temazepam is not right for you.