Temazepam

So I've been on Temazepam (Restoril) 15 mg since last March. My LLMD prescribed it to me for sleep because I couldn't sleep anymore AT ALL. I wish I knew at the time about the habit formation and dependency issue. It did help me sleep but only with supplements for sleep. I would get 6-7 hours of restful sleep. Overtime, especially the last few months, it has lost its effect. I wake up a lot, though I try to fall asleep after that to make up for the lost hours. Other things I am concerned about is whether Temazepam is causing damage to my nervous system. It is hard to tell if it is Lyme (and co-infections) or if the sleeping pills can also produce these symptoms, especially overtime:

-Anxiety
-Depression
-Neuropathy
-Burning skin
-Panic
-Heart palpitations
-Irregular heartbeats
-Jitteriness
-Nightmares
-Tingly/prickly feeling

Interesting thing is that when I take Temazepam before sleep, these symptoms die down and then they reappear the next day. Since I've been taking them a while, it is possible I am already withdrawing and experiencing those symptoms without actually getting off the pills. At the same time, it is hard to tell because I also have Lyme.

I also have sensitivities to food, chemical sensitivities, sensitivities to smell, low tolerance to supplements and medications, MTHFR and other gene mutations. All these things can cause the same symptoms, so it is even harder to pinpoint. One thing for certain is that I know Temazepam isn't good for me longterm and it is probably doing some damage. I wish I could taper off them, but I am scared.

I am even more scared because I just started a Lyme treatment and new probiotics. Wish I never started these pills in the first place! And my LLMD has no set schedule on how to taper off them and they're in capsules also. My only hope is when I do start tapering off them, my acupuncturist knows how to deal with withdrawal symptoms.

Any thoughts? Ideas? Opinions? Suggestions? Thank you!

It is a benzo , can slow heart rare ...but maybe switch to xanax and taper down ..it can help spasms ..but ya irs hardly worth it ..for sleap melatonin and kavance has helped

I prefer zolpidem for sleep as it has a short half life. I have reduced my alprazolam intake and saw that benzodiazepene withdrawal symptoms can mimic many Lyme symptoms so I decided to stop reducing and level out the alprazolam use. This way I can be absolutely sure that I am experiencing a Lyme symptom.

This too can be addictive but when I feel like I can sleep then I dont take it.

It does sound like your dependence is building up, and letting you know when you 'need' more.


I don't know if neurontin would help you or not. Some find it helpful, I didn't like IT's side affects.

I am not even sure how you can get off temazepam when it's in capsule form.

cr3ativegirl said...
You pull apart the capsule and remove a tiny bit then put back together.

That's creative! Thanks.