Question
A friend of mine has been having problems sleeping for a while now, and has just told me that he's been taking 40mg of Temazepam each night for the last 6 days (this has not been prescribed by a doctor). He isn't on any other medication, but he has mild epilepsy (seizures once every 6-12 months, doesn't take any medication). I have been reading a bit about it, and it seems that 40mg is over the maximum dose, and that people with a history of epilepsy should not take it. I've also read that when you come off Temazepam, it should be done gradually. I'm sure your best advice would be to go to a doctor, but it just won't happen. I think he will agree to stop taking it, but would it be best for him to take 37.5mg (3 & 3/4 tablets) tomorrow or jump down to 30mg (the maximum 'safe' dose) straight away?
Answer
Please understand, first of all you dont even know if it really is restoril, as it wasnt prescribed by a doctor. Understand I am not an md, but when it comes to restoril which is the name for temazepan, when you stop all your sleep problems come back horrendously, the withdrawal will make you listless, nausiated, and could even produce a seizure, he needs to go to an md, but if he wont. what he must do is gradually chop off 1/4 of the pill then wait 7 to 10 days then go down to 1/2 then wait another 7-10 days then another quarter and finally off of it, as you need to wait the 7-10 days to have your brain adjust to the lessor dose understand he will still have the withdrawal effects but very little , if he does have bad withdrawal then he must cut the dosage even smaller back or wait longer than 10 days to reduce the dose again. i also am enclosing safe no drug tips to help insomnia, feel free to email again, and please go to an md, its safer.karel
You must reset your sleep clock. Do the following religiously for
4-6 weeks though many have seen changes in as little as 2 weeks.
You must go to bed and awaken the same time every day regardless
of how much or little sleep you got the night before. This starts to
reset your sleep clock. 3 hours before bedtime stay away from
tea, coffee, caffeine, caramel colored soda like, coke,pepsi, ginger ale,
or root beer, chocolate and exercise .All these make for restless sleep.
Make sure room is quiet and dark. When you go to bed if you start to
twist and turn or if you wake up in the middle of the night and cant
go back to sleep, twist and turn for only 20 minutes, then get up, go
into a different room and read a book or magazine only! No computer!
When you start to doze immediately go back into the bedroom.Do this as
many times as you awaken during the night.It will lesson.This retrains
the brain into thinking that the bedroom is for restful sleep only.
30 minutes before bedtime take a hot bath and immerse hands under the
water.Latest research states that the palms of the hand when immersed
in hot water send signals to the brain to relax. 15 minutes before bedtime\
drink a glass of warm milk. Milk when heated contains tryptophan, a
natural amino acid sleep inducer. Go to sleepnet.com click on disorders
insomnia for more tips. Feel free to email again , Karel
