Temazepam is a benzodiazepine that is frequently prescribed to treat anxiety disorders. In the mid-1960s, the drug was discovered and marketed as a less harmful and addictive alternative to barbiturates.
Temazepam is a short-acting benzodiazepine that causes a rise in the production of the neurotransmitter GABA, which reduces brain activity (gamma-aminobutyric acid). The medicine comes in the form of a white crystalline powder that is water-soluble. As the action of this brain chemical is influenced, your anxiety will be reduced, and your sense of relaxation will grow. The medicine also has a sedative effect, which allows you to sleep.
Temazepam is available under various brand names, but Restoril, made by the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Group, is the most widely prescribed. Temazepam has a molecular structure and action that is extremely similar to Xanax, Ativan, and Valium. Consequently, it can create physical dependence.
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In the United Kingdom, the medication is categorised as a Class C drug. This means that while the drug has clinical benefits, it also has the potential for addiction.
Restoril is taken as a pill or capsule and is taken orally. Each person should be given the lowest possible dose based on age, weight, and gender. The standard dose for healthy persons is 15 mg before bed. Debilitated or elderly people should start with 7.5 mg and raise the dose only if the lower amount is ineffective.
Temazepam is most typically recommended to treat short-term insomnia induced by a traumatic incident or a stressful living condition. Benzodiazepines, including this one, aren’t meant to be used for long-term insomnia or sleep disturbances.
Overactivity in the brain is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, which can induce sleep issues. Temazepam works by increasing the production of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a natural inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the brain.
When GABA is created, it can help you fall and stay asleep by calming overactivity in the brain.
Addiction is one of those concepts that everyone is familiar with, yet few can truly define. Let’s attempt to describe it a little more. Addiction, or drug use disorder, is defined as possessing at least two of the following features, according to the American Psychiatric Association:
The extent of Temazepam abuse (quantity ingested, period of use, presence of other substances used at the same time, etc.) will determine the level of addiction and physical and psychological dependence. The severity of the addiction is also determined by the number of symptoms a patient exhibits.
Common contributors to benzodiazepine addiction have been identified as alcohol and other psychoactive drug consumption, significant life events, and a lack of competent intervention. Cluster B personality disorders, neuroticism, anxiety, and depressive disorders are common psychological characteristics predisposing people to Temazepam addiction.
A history of substance abuse is one of the most critical risk factors for developing a Restoril addiction. When administering temazepam to persons who experience insomnia, doctors should use extreme caution and ask many questions to see whether there are any pre-existing addictions. It’s also important to remember that combining Restoril and alcohol can harm the central nervous system.
There are various reasons why people who already have addictions are more likely to get addicted to sleeping pills. People who take stimulants regularly may rely on their sedative effects to alleviate the ‘come-down’ symptoms of agitation, anxiety, and insomnia. Those with pre-existing chemical addictions may need the escape provided by inebriation and seek it through any means available, with legal sleeping tablets being a convenient option.
It has been proven that there is a clear link between addiction and heredity. If their parents or first-degree relatives are addicts, drug users are more likely to develop an addiction later in life. Some environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status, having drug-using acquaintances or living in a drug-abusing region, increase the likelihood of addiction.
It’s unclear which factors have a more significant influence, but they both play an important role in developing an addiction.
The sooner you recognise that you are abusing a benzodiazepine such as Temazepam, the sooner you can obtain the treatment you need to quit.
Ignoring a drug addiction can be harmful because it can lead to long-term health problems and mental and behavioural difficulties. Knowing the warning signs of Temazepam usage is the best method to prevent the problem from worsening because you can seek help as soon as you detect such symptoms.
If you’re taking Temazepam and you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you’ve probably developed a Temazepam addiction and are abusing the drug:
The following are possible physical symptoms of Temazepam dependence:
When someone stops using Temazepam, whether they have abused the drug or not, drug withdrawal symptoms can occur, especially if done too rapidly. Temazepam withdrawal symptoms should be closely monitored at a medical facility or by having the individual meet with a physician on a regular basis.
When determining where and how to withdraw, pre-existing issues and present circumstances must be considered. Anxiety, depression, long-term insomnia, unwillingness to withdraw, and co-existing disorders can make the process more difficult. The following are some of the most common withdrawal symptoms experienced by people who stop taking benzodiazepines:
It is critical to be aware of the warning symptoms of temazepam abuse and the risks of abusing this medicine. Four out of every ten people who take benzodiazepines like temazepam daily for more than six weeks develop an addiction. As a result, it is critical that you take action if you find that you cannot function without your prescription or are experiencing adverse side effects when you do not take it.
You are most likely in the early stages of addiction if you have increased your temazepam consumption to have the same effect as before or if you experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit. You may become angry or agitated, or you may be unable to sleep, which is why you took the drug in the first place.
Temazepam misuse is especially dangerous if you simultaneously abuse other sedative substances such as alcohol or opiate pills. This puts you at risk of overdosing.
You may find it difficult to function without your prescription if you have established an addiction. Your temazepam use may affect your daily life negatively, and as your need for it rises, you may find yourself with little time for anything else. You can start acting out drug-seeking behaviours like:
An urge to consume a specific substance is one of the most visible indications of addiction. As a result, if you continue to use temazepam despite knowing it is detrimental to your life or the lives of others, you are endangering yourself and must seek help.
There can also be physical signs of addiction, such as:
People abusing temazepam for a long time develop particular signs and symptoms. These can include the following:
The long-term use of temazepam can be harmful to one’s physical and mental health. If you overuse this medication for a long time, you’re more likely to develop symptoms like depression and anxiety.
Temazepam overdose can be lethal if not treated promptly by a medical expert. Absent reflexes, disorientation, slow breathing, lethargy, and dizziness are symptoms of a Temazepam overdose. Unconsciousness may ensue, leading to a coma and eventual death. To avoid a situation like this, call the emergency services as soon as you observe any adverse symptoms.
You get an overdose when you take more Temazepam than your body can metabolise. In this case, treatment may include causing vomiting or pumping your stomach to rid it of Temazepam. Flumazenil, a benzodiazepine antagonist, may also be administered after the fluids have been provided.
Combining Temazepam with other medicines or substances (polydrug abuse) frequently results in fatal overdoses.
It’s probable that if you’re misusing Temazepam, you also suffer from a co-occurring mental health problem. When you have a co-occurring condition and are trying to recover from addiction, it might be challenging to do so without simultaneously addressing your co-occurring disorder(s). This is because co-occurring disorders frequently contribute to substance misuse, and neglecting to address the disorder can result in a return to drug use in the future. It’s also possible that multiple conditions co-occur, such as Temazepam and alcohol addictions and suffering from anxiety, for example.
The following disorders have been observed in patients who are addicted to Temazepam:
If your Temazepam addiction is serious, you should seek treatment at a residential treatment centre or an inpatient facility. You’ll be treated in a safe and regulated environment, with access to medical care from addiction specialists 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Detoxification is the first and most crucial stage in addiction treatment because it will effectively clear your body of any traces of Temazepam. Detoxification is safer when done with a medical professional’s help.
Detox should be followed by rehabilitation to avoid relapse and bring you back to physical and mental health. In an inpatient facility, you’ll be supervised by addiction specialists and kept busy and comfortable, so you don’t think about your desires too much.
Counselling sessions may be held with your family to teach them how to help you during your recovery. During rehab, you will receive individual counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy to help you understand what led to your addiction and how to avoid it in the future.
You can go home after rehab and continue your treatment through an aftercare programme. These aftercare programmes have been shown to be very helpful in helping people stay sober for a long time. Aftercare is available in your community through 12-step programs.
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If you have established an addiction to temazepam and want to quit, you will almost certainly need to go through a detox programme first. This is best done under the supervision of medical professionals who can intervene in the event of an emergency or health problems during the withdrawal process.
Because of the possibility of severe withdrawal symptoms, it is never a good idea to stop taking temazepam abruptly at home.
Sleeping pill addiction is no less dangerous or harmful than any other substance addiction and requires immediate medical intervention. Comprehensive supervised detoxification is needed, particularly for those with mental health or other substance misuse issues.
When considering whether inpatient or outpatient treatment is best for an individual, there are many other things to consider. Inpatient treatment establishes a new schedule and offers individual and group counselling and medication if needed. People who are addicted to other drugs or alcohol frequently benefit from treatment in a residential institution where they are removed from their routine.
Those with a dual diagnosis will need to be treated for both their physical and mental health issues. This could start with a stay in a residential rehab centre to address the drug problem, followed by outpatient treatment. The treatment will continue for as long as it takes to control the symptoms of the individual’s diagnosis.
Individuals addicted to Temazepam without any underlying disorders generally find that persistent insomnia is the driving force behind their continued drug use. When combined with regular visits to a recognised rehabilitation facility, outpatient treatment that focuses on therapy to relieve insomnia has proven to be highly beneficial. These facilities also provide group therapy and courses and guarantee that they are treated by certified staff.
Depending on the intensity and type of your addiction, any or a combination of the following techniques of therapy can be used to assist you in making a successful recovery:
CBT is a goal-oriented, short-term talking therapy that attempts to complete rather than leave treatment unfinished. CBT is distinct from counselling in that it can go as long as both the therapist and the patient agree. CBT is based on a set of objectives that the counsellor and the patient work through from one session to the next. Once all of the goals have been reached, the therapy is complete.
The 12-step programme is a type of addiction treatment in which patients are given a set of 12 stages to follow to recover from their addiction. These phases are meant to help you move smoothly from the initial stages of acceptance through the restoration of your interpersonal ties.
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