Temazepam
Temazepam is a hypnotic benzodiazepine primarily used to induce sedation and treat insomnia. As a tranquilizer, it slows down brain activity and affects the central nervous system, making it effective for reducing anxiety and promoting sleep. Initially synthesized in 1964 and introduced to the U.S. market in 1981 under the brand name Restoril, temazepam is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance, indicating it has a legitimate medical use but also a potential for abuse. Over the years, it has gained notoriety, particularly in Europe, for its misuse, often being sought after as an alternative to heroin due to its sedative effects.
Temazepam can be ingested orally, inhaled, or injected, with the latter posing significant health risks, including circulation problems and blood-borne infections. Short-term effects may include drowsiness and impaired coordination, while long-term use can lead to addiction and withdrawal challenges. The medication's supply issues in recent years have raised concerns about withdrawal symptoms for those who rely on it for sleep. Despite its risks, temazepam continues to be prescribed for sleep disorders, with ongoing monitoring by the medical community regarding its use and potential side effects.
Subject Terms
Temazepam
ALSO KNOWN AS: Eggs; jellies; norries; Restoril; rugby balls; ruggers; tems
DEFINITION: Temazepam is a hypnotic benzodiazepine that slows brain activity to induce sedation. It is considered a tranquilizer that dulls and slows the central nervous system.
STATUS: Legal by prescription in the United States (US) and worldwide; certain US states require specially coded prescriptions
CLASSIFICATION: Schedule IV controlled substance
SOURCE: Synthetic compound with no natural sources; obtained through prescription or manufactured in illicit, clandestine labs
TRANSMISSION ROUTE: Ingested orally, inhaled, or injected intravenously or intramuscularly
History of Use
Temazepam was first synthesized in Europe in 1964 and marketed as a treatment for insomnia in 1969. During the Cold War in the 1970s, temazepam found a purpose in mind-control and brainwashing methods but proved unsuccessful as a “truth” serum because of its potent sedative effects.
Temazepam was marketed in the US in 1981 as a sedative-hypnotic drug under the name Restoril. It became an effective sleep aid known as no-go pills for US Air Force pilots following missions. It is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance, which includes drugs with a low abuse potential and legitimate medical use.
By the late 1980s, temazepam was one of the most widely abused prescription tranquilizers in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom, because of its sedative effects. It became the benzodiazepine of choice for intravenous drug use because of its easily injectable capsule contents. It is often used as an inexpensive alternative to heroin. Even though temazepam has been placed under stricter regulations, it remains a highly sought-after and abused benzodiazepine worldwide.
Effects and Potential Risks
Temazepam functions as a tranquilizer and central nervous system depressant. It works by stimulating the release and binding of gamma-aminobutyric acid, a natural nerve-calming agent, to receptors in the brain. This effect causes activity in the brain to slow, inducing sleep, reducing anxiety, and relaxing muscles.
Temazepam is a fast-acting and rapidly absorbed benzodiazepine. Negative short-term effects include drowsiness, confusion, and dizziness, as well as impaired judgment, coordination, and balance.
Many temazepam users engage in injecting hard and soft gel-filled capsule contents to achieve a greater high. However, injecting capsule contents intended for oral use can cause serious circulation problems (such as vein blockage, gangrene, and limb amputations) and blood-borne infections (such as human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis).
Long-term temazepam use can lead to mental difficulties, depression, chronic fatigue, and erratic behavior. Temazepam dependence can lead to addiction and benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.
Although temazepam remains a commonly prescribed medication for sleep disorders in the twenty-first century, its potential for side effects and dependence remained carefully watched by the medical community. Specifically, when combined with opioids or other drugs that suppress the central nervous system, the risk of life-threatening complications multiplies. Further, due to shortages in the medication’s supply in the mid-2020s, many in the medical community warned that even responsible users of temazepam could experience withdrawals if unable to obtain their medication in a timely fashion.
Bibliography
"About Temazepam." NHS, 3 Feb. 2022, www.nhs.uk/medicines/temazepam/about-temazepam. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
Dobbin, Malcolm, et al. "Association of Benzodiazepine Injection with the Prescription of Temazepam Capsules." Drug and Alcohol Review, vol. 22, no. 2, 2003, pp. 153–57.
Eddey, David P., and Mark J. Westcott. "The Needle and the Damage Done: Intra-Arterial Temazepam." Emergency Medicine, vol. 12, no. 3, 2000, pp. 248–52.
"Temazepam." MedlinePlus, 15 May 2021, medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a684003.html. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
Vermeeren, Annemiek. "Residual Effects of Hypnotics: Epidemiology and Clinical Implications." CNS Drugs, vol. 18, no. 5, 2004, pp. 297–98.