Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - Temazepam 20 mg tablets
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Temazepam 20 mg Tablets
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Each tablet contains 20 mg of Temazepam.
Excipient(s) with known effect
Each tablet contains 280 mg of lactose.
For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
White to pale yellow, flat bevel edged tablets with a break-line on one side, 5K2 on reverse.
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Temazepam tablets are indicated for the short term treatment of insomnia, only where the condition is severe, disabling or subjecting the individual to extreme distress.
Temazepam tablets are indicated for pre-medication before minor surgery or other procedures especially in the case of outpatients.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Route of administration: oral
Treatment to be given
- under close medical supervision
- at the lowest effective dose
- for the shortest possible duration (not exceeding 4 weeks).
Treatment should be tapered off gradually (see section 4.4).
Extension of use should not take place without further clinical evaluation.
Chronic use not recommended (little is known of the long term safety and efficacy: potential for dependence - see section 4.4).
When treatment is started the patient should be informed that
- treatment will be of limited duration
- the dosage will be progressively decreased
- there is the possibility of rebound phenomena.
Treatment should be initiated with the lowest recommended dose. Never exceed the maximum dose. Reduced doses may be suitable for patients who have cerebral vascular changes (e.g. arteriosclerosis) or impaired liver function.
Prior to starting treatment with Temazepam, a discussion should be held with patients to put in place a strategy for ending treatment with Temazepam in order to minimise the risk of dependence, addiction and drug withdrawal syndrome (see section 4.4).
Treatment should be given for the shortest possible duration.
Insomnia
These tablets should be taken on retiring or up to 30 minutes before going to bed.
Adults: 10-20 mg daily. In exceptional circumstances, the dose may be increased to 30-
40 mg daily.
Children: The safety and efficacy of Temazepam in children less than 18 years of age has not been established and as such is not recommended for use.
The Elderly: 10 mg daily. In exceptional circumstances, the dose may be increased to 20 mg.
Pre-medication
Adults: The usual dose is 20-40 mg. This should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before surgery.
Children: The safety and efficacy of Temazepam in children less than 18 years of age has not been established and as such is not recommended for use.
The Elderly: Lower doses may be required by elderly patients, up to half the normal adult dose may be adequate.
Patients should be accompanied home when Temazepam has been used as a pre-medicant prior to surgery or other procedures on a day attendance basis.
4.3 Contraindications
Temazepam is contra-indicated in the following:
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1
- Acute pulmonary insufficiency and where there is respiratory insufficiency
- Patients who have previously shown a hypersensitivity to benzodiazepines
- Obsessional states (inadequate evidence of safety and efficacy)
- Severe hepatic insufficiency (may precipitate encephalopathy)
- Neuromuscular respiratory weakness including myasthenia gravis
- Sleep apnoea syndrome (risk of further respiratory depression)
- Children
- Breastfeeding
- Planning a pregnancy (see section 4.6)
- Pregnancy (unless there are compelling reasons – see section 4.6).
Temazepam should not be used alone in depression or anxiety with depression (may precipitate suicide).
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
The cause for insomnia should be determined prior to the use of temazepam, and it should not be used for first line treatment of psychotic illness.
When temazepam is used for pre-medication, patients should be accompanied home afterwards.
Tolerance
Loss of efficacy to the hypnotic effects may develop after repeated use for a few weeks (chronic use not recommended-see section 4.2 for duration of therapy).
Drug dependence, tolerance and potential for abuse
Drug addiction comprises behavioural, cognitive and physiological phenomena that may include a strong desire to take the drug, difficulties in controlling drug use and possible tolerance or physical dependence. Physical dependence is a state that develops as a result of physiological adaptation in response to repeated drug use, which manifests as withdrawal signs and symptoms after abrupt discontinuation or a significant dose reduction of a drug. Addiction and dependence are related but distinct presentations and in discussing these themes, terminology that apportion blame to the individual should be avoided.
For all patients, prolonged use of this product may lead to drug dependence and addiction but can occur with short-term use at recommended therapeutic doses. The risks are increased in individuals with current or past history of substance misuse disorder (including alcohol misuse) or mental health disorder (e.g., major depression).
Additional support and monitoring may be necessary when prescribing for patients at risk of drug misuse.
A comprehensive patient history should be taken to document concomitant medications, including over-the-counter medicines and medicines obtained on-line, and past and present medical and psychiatric conditions.
Patients may find that treatment is less effective with chronic use and express a need to increase the dose to obtain the same level of symptom control as initially experienced. Patients may also supplement their treatment with additional medications to achieve the same effect. These could be signs that the patient is developing tolerance. The risks of developing tolerance should be explained to the patient.
Overuse or misuse may result in overdose and/or death. It is important that patients only use medicines that are prescribed for them at the dose they have been prescribed and do not give this medicine to anyone else.
Patients should be closely monitored for signs of misuse, abuse, or addiction.
The clinical need for treatment with Temazepam should be reviewed regularly, with frequent assessments of patients being undertaken during the course of their treatment.
Drug withdrawal syndrome
Prior to starting treatment with Temazepam, a discussion should be held with patients to explain the risk of dependence, addiction, and drug withdrawal syndrome. A withdrawal strategy for ending treatment with Temazepam should also be put in place with the patient before starting treatment (there may be exceptions to this in specific clinical situations such as symptom management in end of life palliative care).
Drug withdrawal syndrome may occur upon abrupt cessation of therapy or dose reduction. When a patient no longer requires therapy, it is advisable to taper the dose gradually to minimise symptoms of withdrawal. Tapering from a high dose may take in excess of weeks or months. Patients should be informed of this when the medication is first prescribed.
The reduction schedule for a patient should be tailored to the individual and should be modified to allow intolerable withdrawal symptoms to improve before making the next reduction. If using a published withdrawal schedule, apply it flexibly to accommodate the person’s preferences, changes to their circumstances and the response to dose reductions.
Suggest a slow stepwise rate of reduction proportionate to the existing dose, so that decrements become smaller as the dose is lowered, unless clinical risk is such that rapid withdrawal is needed.
If a patient develops withdrawal reactions, consider pausing the taper or increasing the dosage to the previous tapered dosage level.
If women take this drug during pregnancy, there is a risk that their newborn infants will experience neonatal withdrawal syndrome.
Rebound symptoms
Symptoms including insomnia and anxiety may occur on withdrawal of treatment. As this is greater after
abrupt discontinuation, the dose should be decreased gradually ( see section 4.2).
Amnesia
Anterograde amnesia may also occur, most often several hours after ingestion. To reduce the risk, patients should ensure that they will be able to have an uninterrupted sleep of 7-8 hours (see also section 4.8). Insufficient sleep may adversely affect the ability to drive/operate machinery etc (see section 4.7).
Bereavement/loss
Psychological adjustment may be inhibited by benzodiazepines.
Falls – particularly in the elderly
Due to muscle relaxant effects, benzodiazepines increase the risk of falls (and consequently hip fractures etc) particularly in the elderly when the get up at night (See section 4.2 – reduced dosage elderly patients).
Psychiatric and 'paradoxical reactions'
Reactions such as restlessness, agitation, irritability, aggressiveness, excitement, confusion, delusions, rages, nightmares, hallucinations, psychoses, inappropriate behaviour and other adverse behavioural effects can occur. These reactions are more likely to occur in children and the elderly, and extreme caution should be used in prescribing benzodiazepines to patients with personality disorders. Should they occur, treatment should be discontinued.
Risk from concomitant use of opioids
Concomitant use of Temazepam and opioids may result in sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death. Because of these risks, concomitant prescribing of sedative medicines such as benzodiazepines or related drugs such as Temazepam with opioids should be reserved for patients for whom alternative treatment options are not possible. If a decision is made to prescribe Temazepam concomitantly with opioids, the lowest effective dose should be used, and the duration of treatment should be as short as possible (see also general dose recommendation in section 4.2).
The patients should be followed closely for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation. In this respect, it is strongly recommended to inform patients and their caregivers (where applicable) to be aware of these symptoms (see section 4.5).
Specific Patients Groups
Patients with depression
Temazepam should not be used alone to treat depression or anxiety associated with depression as suicide may be precipitated in such patients.
Patients with a history of alcohol & drug abuse
Temazepam should be used with extreme caution in patients with a history of alcohol or drug abuse (risk of abuse/ dependence).
Patients with phobias and/or chronic psychoses
Temazepam is not recommended (inadequate evidence of efficacy and safety).
Pregnant women
Avoid regular use in pregnant women (risk of neonatal withdrawal symptoms); use only if clear indication such as seizure control (high doses during late pregnancy or labour may cause neonatal hypothermia, hypotonia and respiratory depression) (see also section 4.6).
Excipient(s)
Lactose
Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
Sodium
This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per capsule, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Not recommended
Alcohol: Temazepam should not be used together with alcohol (enhanced sedative effects: effect the ability to drive or operate machinery).
Sodium oxybate: Avoid concomitant use (enhanced effects of sodium oxybate).
To be taken into account
Centrally acting drugs: Combination with CNS depressants may enhance the central depressive effect during concomitant use of antipsychotics (neuroleptics), tranquillisers, hypnotics, anxiolytics/sedatives, antidepressants, narcotic analgesics, barbiturates, antiepileptic drugs, anaesthetics, sedative antihistamines and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. The elderly may require special supervision.
Antiepileptic drugs: Plasma phenytoin concentrations increased or decreased by temazepam, Phenytoin levels may need monitoring during temazepam withdrawal. Side effects may be more evident with hydantoins or barbiturates.
Narcotic analgesics: Enhancement of the euphoria may also occur, leading to an increase in psychological dependence.
Other drugs enhancing the sedative effect of Temazepam: Cisapride, lofexidine, nabilone.
Compound that affect hepatic enzymes (particularly cytochrome P450):
- inhibitors (eg cimetidine; ritonavir; fluvoxamine) reduce clearance and may potentiate the action of benzodiazepines
- inducers (eg rifampicin) may increase clearance of benzodiazepines
Antihypertensives, vasodilators & diuretics: Enhanced hypotensive effects with ACE-inhibitors, alpha-blockers, angiotensin-II receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers adrenergic neurone blockers, beta-blockers, moxonidine, nitrates, hydralazine, minoxidil, sodium nitroprusside and diuretics. Enhances sedative effect with alpha blockers or moxonidine.
Dopaminergics: Concurrent use with benzodiazepines may decrease the therapeutic effects of levodopa.
Theophylline: Possible reduced effects of temazepam.
Antivirals: Concurrent use of zidovudine with benzodiazepines may decrease Zidovudine clearance.
Clozapine: Reports of cardiorespiratory collapse. Also increase in hypersalivation with both drugs.
Disulfiram: Inhibits the metabolism of benzodiazepines and enhances sedative effect. May cause temazepam toxicity.
Muscle relaxants (e.g. baclofen and tizanidine): Enhanced sedative effect.
Opioids:
The concomitant use of sedative medicines such as benzodiazepines or related drugs such as Temazepam with opioids increases the risk of sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death because of additive CNS depressant effect. The dosage and duration of concomitant use should be limited (see section 4.4).
4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
Temazepam should only be used during pregnancy if there are compelling reasons (e.g. no alternative: benefit outweighs risk).
An increased risk of congenital malformations in humans has been associated with benzodiazepine use, particularly if taken in the first and second trimesters. If the product is prescribed to a woman of childbearing potential, she should be warned to contact her physician regarding stopping if she intends to become or suspects she may be pregnant.
If the product is administered at high doses during the late phase of pregnancy or during labour, effects on the neonate such as hypothermia, irregularities in foetal heart rate and hypotonia, poor sucking and moderate respiratory depression, can be expected. Infants born to mothers who took benzodiazepines chronically during the latter stages of pregnancy may have physical dependence and may be at some risk for withdrawal symptoms in the postnatal period.
Lactation
Use during lactation should be avoided as temazepam is found in breast milk.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Patients should be advised that sedation, drowsiness, amnesia, impaired concentration, dizziness, blurred vision and impaired muscle function may occur and that, if affected, they should not drive or use machines, or take part in other activities where this would put themselves or others at risk. If insufficient sleep duration occurs, the likelihood of impaired alertness may be increased. Concurrent medication may increase these effects (see also section 4.5).
This medicine can impair cognitive function and can affect a patient’s ability to drive safely. This class of medicine is in the list of drugs included in regulations under 5a of the Road Traffic Act 1988. When prescribing this medicine, patients should be told:
- The medicine is likely to affect your ability to drive
- Do not drive until you know how the medicine affects you
- It is an offence to drive while under the influence of this medicine
However, you would not be committing an offence (called ‘statutory defence’) if:
- The medicine has been prescribed to treat a medical or dental problem and
- You have taken it according to the instructions given by the prescriber and in the information provided with the medicine and
- It was not affecting your ability to drive safely.
4.8 Undesirable effects
The following phenomena occur predominantly at the start of therapy and usually disappear thereafter:-
Drowsiness during the day, drowsiness and light-headedness the next day, numbed emotions, reduced alertness, confusion and ataxia (especially in the elderly), fatigue, dizziness, muscle weakness, and double vision.
More rarely, headache, vertigo, hypotension, salivation changes, visual disturbances, dysarthria, tremor, incontinence, urinary retention, blood disorders, jaundice, vivid dreams/nightmares, restless sleep, palpitations, change in libido, skin reactions, sedation, impaired muscular function, dry mouth and gastrointestinal disturbances may occur.
Pre-existing depression may be unmasked during benzodiazepine use.
Blood dyscrasias and increased liver enzymes have also been reported to occur occasionally. If any of these effects do occur, treatment should be discontinued.
Rarely reported adverse reactions include hypersensitivity reactions.
Psychiatric and 'paradoxical' effects including paradoxical aggressiveness, restlessness, agitation, irritability, delusion, rages, nightmares, hallucinations, psychoses, excitement, confusion, and other changes in behaviour are known to occur when using benzodiazepines. Should this occur, use of the product should be discontinued. The reactions are more likely to occur in the elderly.
Anterograde amnesia may occur using therapeutic dosages, the risk increasing at higher dosages. Amnesia may be associated with inappropriate behaviour (see section 4.4).
Use (even at therapeutic doses) may lead to the development of physical dependence;
discontinuation of therapy may result in withdrawal or rebound phenomena (see section 4.4). Psychological dependence may occur. Abuse has been reported in polydrug abusers.
Psychiatric disorders:
Drug dependence (see section 4.4)
General disorders and administration site conditions:
Drug withdrawal symptoms (see 4.4 Special warnings and precautions).
Symptoms reported following discontinuation of benzodiazepines include headaches, muscle pain, anxiety, tension, depression, insomnia, restlessness, confusion, irritability, sweating, and the occurrence of “rebound” phenomena whereby the symptoms that led to treatment with benzodiazepines recur in an enhanced form. These symptoms may be difficult to distinguish from the original symptoms for which the drug was prescribed.
In severe cases the following symptoms may occur: derealisation; depersonalisation; hyperacusis; tinnitus; numbness and tingling of the extremities; hypersensitivity to light, noise, and physical contact; involuntary movements; hyperreflexia, tremor, nausea, vomiting; diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, loss of appetite, agitation, palpitations, tachycardia, panic attacks, vertigo, short-term memory loss, hallucinations/delirium; catatonia; hyperthermia, convulsions. Convulsions may be more common in patients with pre-existing seizure disorders or who are taking other drugs that lower the convulsive threshold such as antidepressants.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9 Overdose
Benzodiazepines potentiate the effects of other central nervous system depressants, including alcohol.
Features
Benzodiazepines commonly cause drowsiness, ataxia, dysarthria and nystagmus. Coma, hypotension and respiratory depression occasionally occur but are seldom serious if these drugs are taken alone. Coma usually lasts only a few hours but in elderly people it may be more protracted and cyclical. Respiratory depression is more serious in those with severe obstructive airways disease. Patients who are asymptomatic at 4 hours are unlikely to develop symptoms.
Management
- Maintain clear airway and adequate ventilation, if indicated.
The value of gastric decontaminants is uncertain. Consider activated charcoal
(50g for an adult: 1g/Kg for a child) within 1 hour of ingestion if more than 1mg/Kg has been taken provided the patient is not too drowsy
- Gastric lavage – unnecessary if only benzodiazepine taken.
- Supportive measures as indicated by the patient’s clinical condition.
Rarely flumazenil may used as an antidote, however it has a short half-life (about 1 hour). It should not be used in mixed overdoses or as a “diagnostic test”.
Patients should be informed of the signs and symptoms of overdose and to ensure that family and friends are also aware of these signs and to seek immediate medical help if they occur.
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: hypnotics and sedatives, benzodiazepine derivatives, ATC code: N05C D07
Temazepam is a benzodiazepine; it has anxiolytic, sedative and hypnotic characteristics as well as possible muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant characteristics. Animal studies have shown anticonvulsant activity. These effects are most likely to be due to potentiation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), although other neurotransmitters may also be affected.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
Absorption
Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that Temazepam is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (90-100%, and the first pass effect is slight at about 5%). The time to reach peak plasma levels is usually about 50 minutes when administered orally. Maximum plasma levels observed after doses of 20mg are 660-1100ng/ml. With multiple dosing steady state is obtained by the third day and there is little or no accumulation of parent drug of metabolites. Distribution
The volume of distribution is 1.3 to 1.5 l/kg body weight; for the unbound fraction 43-68 l/kg. Approximately 96% of the unchanged drug is bound to plasma proteins.
Metabolism
Temazepam is metabolised principally in the liver where most of the unchanged drug is directly conjugated to the glucuronide and excreted in the urine. Less than 5% of the drug is demethylated to oxazepam and eliminated as the glucuronide. The glucuronides of temazepam have no demonstrable CNS activity.
Elimination
Temazepam is rapidly eliminated, most studies showing an elimination half-life in the range 7-11 hours (mean 8 hours). Following a single dose, 80% of the dose appears in the urine, mostly as the conjugates and 12% of the dose appears in the faeces. Less than 2% of the dose is excreted unchanged in the urine.
Elimination in reduced renal function
In established renal insufficiency the metabolic clearance of temazepam as well as the plasma level of the non-protein bound temazepam remain within the normal range. The elimination half-life for temazepam glucuronide is however increased by which this inactive metabolite accumulates. As stated under 'overdose' it is unlikely that temazepam may be significantly removed by dialysis.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
Preclinical information has not been included because the safety profile of temazepam has been established after many years of clinical use. Please refer to section 4.
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Microcrystalline Cellulose, Lactose, Croscarmellose Sodium, Magnesium Stearate and Titanium Dioxide (E171).
6.2 Incompatibilities
Not applicable.
6.3 Shelf life
36 months in HDPE or polypropylene containers
24 months in blister packs
6.4 Special precautions for storage
Store in a dry place. Protect from light.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
HDPE containers with LDPE lids or polypropylene containers with polyethylene caps in packs of 250 and 1000 tablets.
PVdC coated PVC film with hard temper aluminium foil blister strips in packs of 7, 10,
14, 21, 28, 30, 56, 60, 84, 90, 100, 110, 112, 120, 150, 160 and 168.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
Teva UK Limited
Ridings Point,
Whistler Drive,
Castleford,
WF10 5HX,
United Kingdom
8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
PL 00289/0149
9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE
AUTHORISATION
Date of first authorisation: 06 June 1994
Date of latest renewal: 02 July 2010
10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
19/03/2026