Like all medicines, temazepam can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.
Common side effects
These common side effects of temazepam happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Disturbed sleep (such as vivid dreams)
Your doctor may suggest a different medicine or a lower dose.
Feeling drowsy, tired, less alert or "hungover" the next day
Try to lie down or sit down until it passes. Do not drive, ride a bike, or use tools or machinery until you feel OK. If the symptoms do not disappear after a few days or get worse, talk to your doctor.
Feeling lightheaded, unsteady or dizzy
Your doctor may suggest a lower dose. Do not drive, ride a bike or use machinery until you feel better.
A dry mouth
If this bothers you, try taking sips of water and keep some water by your bed at night. Using a mouthwash before bedtime may also help. Ask your pharmacist to recommend one that's good for a dry mouth, as some can make a dry mouth worse.
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.
Serious side effects
It happens rarely, but some people have serious side effects when taking temazepam.
Tell a doctor or call 111 straight away if you get any of the following side effects:
- the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin (jaundice) – this can be a sign of liver problems
- difficulty peeing or peeing less than usual
- noticeable heartbeats (palpitations)
- changes in the way you feel or act, such as feeling numb or restless, agitated or aggressive or acting inappropriately
- you think things that are not true (delusions) or you see or hear things that are not there (hallucinations)
- poor co-ordination or weak muscles
- slurred speech
- memory loss or confusion
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, temazepam may cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of temazepam. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.