What is the dose range for Temazepam (temazepam)?

From the Guidelines

Temazepam should be prescribed in a dose range of 15 to 30 mg taken orally at bedtime for the short-term treatment of insomnia, with a recommended dose of 15 mg for sleep onset and sleep maintenance insomnia, as suggested by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline 1.

Key Considerations

• Treatment should generally be limited to 7-10 days to minimize the risk of dependence and withdrawal symptoms.
• For elderly patients or those with hepatic impairment, a lower starting dose of 7.5 mg is recommended to reduce the risk of adverse effects.
• The medication should be taken 30 minutes before bedtime for optimal effect, and patients should be advised to avoid driving or operating machinery after taking the medication due to potential side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and coordination problems.

Mechanism of Action and Pharmacokinetics

• Temazepam is a benzodiazepine that works by enhancing the effect of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the brain, which helps to induce sleep.
• It has a medium duration of action with an elimination half-life of approximately 8-12 hours.

Safety and Efficacy

• Patients should be aware that temazepam can cause dependence with prolonged use, and abrupt discontinuation after extended treatment may lead to withdrawal symptoms.
• The American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline suggests that clinicians use temazepam as a treatment for sleep onset and sleep maintenance insomnia in adults, based on trials of 15 mg doses of temazepam 1.
• The guideline also recommends caution when using temazepam in patients with compromised respiratory function, hepatic heart failure, or depression, and advises against its use during pregnancy or nursing.

From the FDA Drug Label

A dose-proportional relationship has been established for the area under the plasma concentration/time curve over the 15 - 30 mg dose range. 7.5 mg of temazepam is recommended as the initial dosage for elderly and debilitated patients. Patients with chronic insomnia were evaluated in 2 week, placebo controlled sleep laboratory studies with temazepam at doses of 7.5 mg.

The dose range of Tempazepam is 15-30 mg.

• The recommended initial dose for elderly and debilitated patients is 7.5 mg.
• Tempazepam has been evaluated at a dose of 7.5 mg in patients with chronic insomnia 2, 2.

From the Research

Temazepam Dose Range

• The recommended dose of temazepam is 30 mg before bedtime for most adults and 15 mg for geriatric or debilitated patients 3.
• There is no mention of a specific dose range for temazepam in the other studies, as they focus on comparative tolerability of newer agents for insomnia 4, therapeutic options in the treatment of insomnia 5, review of safety and efficacy of sleep medicines in older adults 6, and non-benzodiazepine receptor agonists for insomnia 7.
• However, it is worth noting that benzodiazepines, including temazepam, are generally discouraged in the geriatric population, especially for long-term use, due to their potential side effects 6.

Key Points

• Temazepam is a 1,4-benzodiazepine used for the symptomatic treatment of insomnia 3.
• The dose of 30 mg usually produces peak plasma concentrations within 3 hours after oral ingestion and has a mean half-life of 10 to 15 hours 3.
• Temazepam has been shown to reduce awakening during the night and increase sleep duration, but there is no consistent evidence that it reduces sleep latency 3.