What happens during Temazepam Withdrawal?
Temazepam withdrawal can be one of the most dangerous withdrawals to experience. In fact, withdrawing from any type of benzodiazepine can be extremely uncomfortable, difficult and in some cases, life-threatening. Prescription benzos like temazepam can easily lead to drug dependence, resulting in withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia and irritability.
Temazepam is a prescription benzos used for short-term treatment of insomnia. It works by slowing down brain activity, making it easier to fall asleep. Temazepam is a controlled substance usually taken orally by mouth. Even when used as prescribed by a medical provider, the drug can cause dependence. Dependence leads to withdrawal when drug use has stopped. When withdrawal symptoms become unmanageable, users relapse into drug use once again. This can eventually lead to an addiction to the drug.
Benzodiazepine: Temazepam
Temazepam is the generic version of the brand-name Restoril. The benzos medication is often prescribed in combination with other medications and types of therapy. Benzos work by increasing the actions of the neurotransmitter GABA. GABA sends signals throughout the nervous system to help slow down activity. It can slow down primary functions in the brain as well as provide muscular relaxation. This can be helpful in improving sleep.
Short-acting benzos like temazepam can induce effects as fast as 20 minutes after a dose is taken. The effects will peak around 90 minutes. It is safe when taken as prescribed. However, when it is abused or used recreationally to induce feelings of calm or a deeper sleep than normal, it can create dependence. It creates an unnecessary connection between relaxation, sleep and the drug.
Side Effects of developing an addiction to Temazepam
- Anxiety
- Abdominal cramps
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Panic
- Fear
- Seizures
- High blood pressure
- Irrational thoughts and behaviors that include suicidal ideation
- Fever
- Increased sweating
- Tremors
- Loss of appetite
- Psychosis
- Hallucinations
- Muscle spasms
How does Withdrawal occur?
What happens when you become dependent on temazepam? Someone who becomes physiologically dependent on the drug can develop withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly cut back or stop drug use altogether. Abrupt cessation or rapid withdrawal from these benzos can result in dangerous and life-threatening symptoms.
Temazepam can make it difficult for the brain to return to its pre-drug state. When drug use has stopped, the entire nervous system, which had become dependent on the drug, experiences a sudden deprivation. This sudden shock to the system can send both the brain and body into chaos as it tries to rebalance and readjust itself. This event is also known as withdrawal.
Temazepam Withdrawal
Temazepam is generally prescribed for short-term use only. It is typically prescribed for no longer than 10 days due to the risk of tolerance development. To reduce the risk of withdrawal, it should only be taken for the shortest amount of time possible.
When taking the drug, the onset of effects can occur within 10-20 minutes and can reach peak concentration in the blood after about an hour and a half. The average half-life of temazepam is about 8 hours and can remain in your system for up to five days.
Withdrawal from a short-acting benzos like temazepam can begin within hours after a person takes their last dosage of the medication. These early withdrawal side effects are usually referred to as rebound symptoms that consist of worsening anxiety and insomnia. When you become tolerant of the drug, you will feel the need to increase your dose in order to experience the same effects. When you eventually try to stop drug use, withdrawal symptoms will occur.
When you stop taking the drug, the brain and body don’t immediately adjust to drug absence. During this period, the brain and body can work in overdrive scrambling to readjust and sending the body into severe distress.
Once the drug has been processed and removed from the body, acute withdrawal begins. It can start 1-4 days after the last dose and will consist of intense and severe withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, users can experience acute withdrawal for as long as 10-14 days. In extreme cases, withdrawal can last as long as 4 weeks.
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Temazepam Withdrawal Symptoms
- Autonomic hyperactivity
- Insomnia and sleep disturbances
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea – When this occurs, a lot of fluids are lost along with basic nutrients. If they are not replenished, the user can face malnutrition and dehydration leading to organ failure.
- Psychomotor agitation
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Hallucinations
- Tremors and shaking
- Seizures
- Mood swings
- Drug cravings
- Memory impairment – The drug can cause short-term memory gaps.
- Slowed breathing
- Confusion – During difficult withdrawal periods, the user can experience mental disorientation and confusion.
Protracted Withdrawal
Users of temazepam are more likely than most to experience post-acute withdrawal syndrome, also referred to as benzos withdrawal syndrome or protracted withdrawal. It can develop and last anywhere from 4-6 weeks after the initial withdrawal period. It can even occur at a lower level of intensity and continue persistently for several months. During protracted withdrawal, psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression and panic, can manifest and get worse. It may take several months or even as long as a year for the symptoms to subside and go away.
Signs a person may be abusing Temazepam
- Taking a higher dose than prescribed by your provider
- Taking the drug more frequently than prescribed by your provider
- Taking the drug for longer than prescribed by your provider
- Taking the drug in a different way than is prescribed by your provider
- Taking the drug for other purposes other than is prescribed by your provider
- Taking a prescription that doesn’t belong to you
- Buying the drug from illegal sources and not from a pharmacy and a prescription
- Mixing it with other drugs
- Lying to doctors and using multiple doctors in order to get more prescriptions for the drug
Reach out to Hotel California by the Sea
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There are many different factors that influence temazepam withdrawal. How much a person takes. How long a person takes the medication. If the person is using the medication alongside other substances. The severity of addiction and their sensitivity to the drug. These are all important factors to consider when it comes to the duration and severity of withdrawal. Most providers recommend a gradual taper off temazepam. This will help lessen the impact of serious withdrawal symptoms.
Professional behavioral programs like Hotel California by the Sea provide treatments for those who are suffering from substance use disorders. It can be especially difficult when dealing with benzos addiction and benzos withdrawal. We offer treatment at all levels of care including detox, residential, PHP and IOP. We also utilize evidence-based treatment methods such as CBT, DBT and family therapy. Hotel California by the Sea is dedicated to helping clients reach their goals in sobriety and overcome their addiction.
References:
https://rehabs.com/benzodiazepines/temazepam/withdrawal
https://www.goodrx.com/temazepam/temazepam-side-effects
https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/temazepam-oral-capsule
https://detoxplusuk.com/temazepam-addiction-symptoms
https://www.rehabcenter.net/temazepam/withdrawal/
https://delphihealthgroup.com/benzodiazepines/restoril/withdrawal-and-timelines/