Last Updated:

January 30th, 2026

Temazepam addiction: Signs, symptoms and side effects

Temazepam, known as Restoril in some countries, helps people fall asleep when they have severe insomnia. Restoril works faster than some other benzos, with drowsiness setting in in just 30 minutes. These effects are down to the potency of temazepam, but this is also what makes Restoril highly addictive and potentially dangerous. Leaving temazepam addiction untreated or coming off it without the right support can both put your life at risk. It is so important to understand the roots, symptoms, and risks of temazepam addiction and how professional support can help.

Temazepam Addiction Pills

What is temazepam addiction?

You’re addicted to temazepam when Restoril misuse is negatively affecting your life, but stopping still doesn’t feel possible. Most people start taking temazepam because sleep deprivation has made their lives unbearable. Months without proper sleep can leave you exhausted and mentally burnt out, and the first few nights on temazepam can feel miraculous.

However, tolerance to temazepam can build within a few short weeks. Adding half a tablet to get to sleep can seem reasonable, but this can soon get out of hand, and you may start double-dosing every single night.

Our brains naturally produce a drug called GABA that helps us relax and sleep. Temazepam artificially creates far more GABA than your brain would ever make on its own, and after just a few occasions of nightly use, your brain starts cutting back on natural GABA production. It is this that causes a physical temazepam dependence and withdrawal symptoms if you give up taking Restoril.

Continued temazepam abuse finally causes a complete Restoril addiction when you are relying on it for stress, sleep, and just feeling yourself. Your body now needs temazepam to avoid withdrawal; life feels impossible to cope with if you haven’t taken it, and you feel like there’s no way out.

How can I spot temazepam addiction signs?

If your GP prescribed temazepam, it is completely normal to believe it must be safe. Even if you bought Restoril illegally, if it comes in a legitimate-looking box, you probably feel very confident that there won’t be any problem. But it is crucial to see through addiction denial as soon as possible because temazepam can turn deadly very quickly. Ask yourself if you have observed any of these temazepam addiction signs:

  • Using temazepam in the daytime, not just before bed
  • Running out of temazepam long before your next prescription is due
  • Going to different GPs or chemists so you can stock up on temazepam supplies
  • Doubling or tripling your dose when one tablet stops working
  • Drinking alcohol with temazepam or adding other drugs to boost the effects
  • Complete memory blanks after using temazepam
  • Trying to stop before, but relapsing because of withdrawal
  • Counting tablets obsessively and panicking if you’re down to your last few
  • Lying to your doctor about temazepam use or hiding your stash from family

Why is Temazepam addictive?

Restoril’s effects on GABA are really the science behind how physical temazepam dependence develops. But not everybody who takes or even abuses temazepam becomes addicted. That is because there are other factors outside your control which increase benzodiazepine addiction risks:

 

Sleep deprivation desperation
Chronic insomnia can destroy your quality of life, and after weeks without proper sleep, you may be willing to risk almost anything for one good night’s rest. Temazepam gives you that rest right away, so the dangers feel like acceptable trade-offs.
Short prescription becoming long-term use
Temazepam comes with strict warnings and is only meant for 7-14 day use. But insomnia rarely vanishes in two weeks, and some doctors may prescribe more, or you may source temazepam elsewhere. This massively ramps up the chances of developing temazepam dependence, as a short-term solution becomes a long-term trap.
Rebound insomnia trapping you
Once you are dependent on temazepam and quit, the insomnia that rebounds can be many times worse than before you started taking it. Even the greatest willpower in the world can then be overcome, and you end up giving in to get some sleep.
Co-occurring temazepam addiction and mental health
Temazepam is also an effective but dangerous way to soothe symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder and depression. It is not prescribed for any of these things because the relief it provides is short-lived and usually makes them worse. Facing even harder mental health challenges, you may then up your dose even more, locking in the addiction.

Temazepam Addiction Heart Issues

Temazepam side effects and addiction dangers

Temazepam abuse and addiction cause enormous damage to your health, personal life and future. The longer you keep using without seeking help, the worse these dangers become:

Temazepam overdose
Taking too much temazepam can slow your breathing and heart rate to dangerous levels, leading to coma. Because it stays in the body for many hours, repeated doses can quickly become toxic. Mixing temazepam with alcohol, heroin, or painkillers greatly increases the risk of respiratory failure. If someone won’t wake up or their breathing seems abnormal, call 999 immediately.
Increased dementia risk
Studies show people who take benzodiazepines for years face significantly increased dementia risk as they age. Your thinking gets worse while you’re using temazepam, and sometimes the decline continues even after you quit. If you’re over 60, this risk multiplies.
Mental health emergencies
Temazepam makes anxiety and depression worse over time, and the emotional flatness it produces can stop you from caring about things that used to matter. Some users experience serious mental health problems like suicidal thoughts or severe depression, which can endanger their lives.
Pregnancy dangers
The NHS does not recommend temazepam use when pregnant. There have been studies which have found a higher rate of congenital disabilities with temazepam in the first trimester, and a very high risk of babies being born with temazepam dependence in late-stage pregnancy use. This can cause the same dangerous withdrawal symptoms in the baby, including fatal seizures.

Finding help for Temazepam addiction

The safest way to get off temazepam is to start with a professional drug detox in a residential facility. Your detox team may replace temazepam with diazepam (Valium), which leaves your body more gradually and causes less severe withdrawal. They can then lower your diazepam gradually and stay alert for seizures, heart rhythm problems, blood pressure spikes, and psychological crises.

When your body is stable, benzodiazepine rehab therapy looks closely at how and why your temazepam addiction developed. Rehab will give you the chance to work through all your personal struggles, sleep strategies, and relapse prevention planning to identify and manage your unique relapse dangers. The best temazepam rehab programmes then offer different aftercare, sober living and alumni services to help you make the transition back to normal life.

You will also be advised on how to access local support groups and recovery services. These vary across the UK, but there are NA meetings and similar groups around the country.

If you’re ready to make a change, Recovery.org can put you in touch with temazepam treatment services wherever you are. Contact us for expert, confidential guidance on what’s available and how to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do people continue using Temazepam despite tolerance or side effects?
It is often because of physical dependence and fear of withdrawal. Stopping causes severe anxiety, zero sleep, shaking, and seizure risk. That fear keeps you taking temazepam even when it’s stopped working. Psychologically, temazepam may have also become the only way to cope with stress and insomnia.
How does temazepam affect the brain and body?
Temazepam destroys short-term memory, slows reaction times, and weakens coordination. Long-term temazepam misuse can also cause lasting cognitive damage and significantly increase dementia risk in older adults. It also worsens the anxiety and depression it’s meant to treat, and mixing temazepam with alcohol or other drugs can stop your breathing.
Who should avoid using temazepam without medical supervision?
Nobody should use temazepam without a prescription and medical supervision. Temazepam has a high addiction risk, can harm the baby of pregnant or breastfeeding women, cause breathing problems, liver and kidney disease in chronic users, and increase the chances of falls and confusion in older adults.

(Click here to see works cited)