Withdrawing from benzodiazepines requires careful monitoring, and temazepam is no exception.
This drug is highly addictive, and is the story behind many UK patients finding themselves in rehab facilities for detoxing and therapy.
So, what can Rehab 4 Addiction do for you? Our lovely team works hard to place you with the right treatment centre, depending on the type of treatment you’re ready to receive.
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Temazepam is a drug that primarily treats insomnia, but can also treat severe anxiety and panic disorders. It’s a short-acting benzodiazepine that increases feelings of relaxation, helping people with severe insomnia to fall asleep, or those with anxiety to feel calmer.
This benzodiazepine works by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in areas with GABAA receptors, which then suppresses central nervous system function (1).
In the UK, temazepam is only prescribed for short-term treatment, as the risk of addiction is high. Generally, adults are given 10-20mg once a day for insomnia unless exceptional circumstances apply (2).
Misusing temazepam has often been associated with violence. One study found a link between temazepam use and getting into trouble with the police (3). Other research has taught us that temazepam misuse can cause drug users to become more chaotic (4).
The safest way to stop taking temazepam is to slowly withdraw, otherwise there is a risk of withdrawal symptoms or rebound syndrome (5). Rebound syndrome is when the initial insomnia symptoms come back, but present much more severely than before.
For patients who continue to use temazepam beyond their prescription, as well as risking addiction, they may also become more vulnerable to developing long-term health issues, such as cognitive impairment (6).
Benzodiazepines are highly addictive. Controlled, short-term use helps avoid dependence, but it isn’t a foolproof solution.
The risk of addiction is always there, and certain factors increase this risk significantly, from doubling up on a dose to using temazepam for longer than advised.
Not everyone sets out to misuse temazepam. They may feel the drug is less effective than it once was, so they increase their dose to attempt to better treat their insomnia or anxiety.
This results in high tolerance. Soon after, they become reliant on temazepam, and any attempts to quit come with withdrawal symptoms.
It’s not just the physical effects that delay people from getting sober. They may feel anxious about what life would look like without temazepam, and whether it would bring their insomnia back.
Unfortunately, this often pushes people to keep taking temazepam, and they may develop an addiction.
Temazepam users have described their addiction as a “constant mental preoccupation”, which highlights just how challenging it is to recover from (7).
Safe withdrawal from temazapam involves tapering and monitoring withdrawal symptoms, rather than going cold turkey. This type of gradual withdrawal tends to lead to fewer symptoms, but there’s never a guarantee of zero withdrawal symptoms.
Both the brain and body are impacted when someone withdraws from temazepam. They may experience a range of physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms, including:
Many of these symptoms can become serious health problems, so it’s important for those with temazepam addiction to receive professional care when they go through withdrawal.
Symptoms such as delirium, hallucinations, seizures and severe agitation should be dealt with immediately, so patients who are not under supervision at this time should contact emergency services.
Temazapam detoxing usually takes place in an inpatient rehab setting, where withdrawal symptoms can be observed and treated, and patients can receive multi-layered support for their addiction.
Withdrawal doesn’t always happen in this environment, but even in outpatient settings or at home, the general timeline is similar.
Hours after the last dose of temazepam, patients may already be experiencing early rebound symptoms. They may be struggling to sleep, experiencing strong cravings, and feeling a heightened desire to take temazepam.
This is normal, and medical professionals know how to guide patients through this stage. It will never be easy to deal with the initial withdrawal symptoms, but with the right support, it’s possible.
After the first day of withdrawal, symptoms tend to escalate, so many patients will deal with worse insomnia. They may also feel a heightened sense of anxiety. Most of the time, this lasts for a few days.
In many cases, medication can be prescribed to treat withdrawal symptoms, and sometimes psychological support can be offered along with this.
After around five days, some patients will begin to feel more stable, both in their mind and body. There will still be ongoing symptoms relating to withdrawal, but they tend to reduce significantly at this stage, or days later.
At around the two-week point, most people find that they feel much closer to their normal state, and they are ready to start intensive therapy for their temazepam withdrawal (if this is the path they’ve chosen).
Even whilst other treatments are being pursued, certain symptoms may stick around. Brain fog, sleep disruption and anxiety are some symptoms that are commonly felt for up to 2-8 weeks.
This isn’t the case for all patients, but for those with ongoing symptoms, support will be provided.
Please note that skipping the detox phase can be incredibly dangerous. It’s always recommended to begin the medical detox before getting therapy.
If you have chosen to go to rehab for 28 days, you will start with a temazepam detox, and depending on your progression and treatment plan, you will either begin to have therapy while you detox or just after.
Various types of therapy can help people heal from temazepam addiction. The best treatment facilities will have multiple options available, and you may even be able to try different types to see what works for you.
If you are a dual diagnosis patient (you have another mental health diagnosis as well as addiction), it’s important to inform the rehab staff, and they will incorporate this into your psychological treatment.
Some common therapy types used in rehab are:
Yes, you can certainly get therapy for insomnia at inpatient or outpatient rehab.
If you’re still dealing with insomnia, many therapeutic techniques for addiction will also help you to manage your insomnia. The same goes for any mental health conditions you have; therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) are used across the board, and are beneficial for most mental health issues.
At rehab, you will be on a tailored treatment plan. Staff will be aware of your ongoing insomnia, so they can personalise your treatment to ensure it’s a key issue that’s worked on.
28 days at rehab isn’t enough to prevent temazepam addiction from recurring. It lays a foundation for recovery, but patients must put what they’ve learnt into practice in order to get the most out of their stay.
This starts with the aftercare period. In the first year, most rehab centres will provide aftercare for patients, meaning they are still getting support even though they’re no longer staying at the rehab facility.
From sleep management to ongoing therapy, aftercare can be made up of various types of treatment, and it is always entirely personalised.
As the first year is the most vulnerable when it comes to relapse, after this, many patients have received the treatment they need to overcome the challenges of recovery, avoid relapse, and stay resilient if relapse does happen.
You may be ready for temazepam withdrawal, but where do you start?
Start with us. We know all there is to know about temazepam detoxing in the UK, and we can arrange for you to get the most effective treatment that honours your story.
Get in touch with us on 0800 140 4690 (UK) or +44 345 222 3508 (international) to begin your recovery today.
Below, we answer some common questions around this important topic:
Yes, you may be able to get a temazepam detox at home in certain circumstances. It’s only a possibility if you don’t need 24/7 supervision, so people with health conditions or severe addictions are unlikely to get a home detox.
Safe home detoxing is convenient and cost-effective. It’s especially beneficial for people who have plenty of support at home, and few triggers.
However, the more risk factors involved, the more dangerous it would be to detox from temazepam at home. In most cases, inpatient rehab is the gold standard treatment.
Only take temazepam if there is no other option, and it is being prescribed as a short-term treatment.
As you take your prescription, make sure you only ever take the dose prescribed by your GP, and you stop taking the drug as soon as your GP suggests.
As some people have other factors increasing their vulnerability to addiction, it’s not always a case of simply following a doctor’s orders. Addiction usually creeps up on us, so it’s crucial to look out for early warning signs of dependence and get help as soon as possible.
No, rebound insomnia is rarely permanent. Most people will only experience this for a few days or weeks after withdrawing from temazepam.
Getting psychological support at rehab may shorten the duration of rebound insomnia. While it’s sometimes unavoidable, learning from sleep experts and working on your mental health in general can improve your sleep during and after temazepam addiction treatment.
Yes, all benzodiazepines are known for being addictive. Whilst addiction isn’t a guarantee, there is always a risk of becoming dependent on a benzodiazepine, as they are habit-forming.
Temazepam is a particularly addictive benzodiazepine. Its effects are produced very quickly, often within half an hour, which puts users at a high risk of developing a psychological dependence on the drug.
It’s not usually safe to drive when you are taking temazepam. Its calming effects can impact your concentration, energy levels and reaction times, which are essential skills for driving.
No, temazepam can react with alcohol in dangerous ways, so you should never drink alcohol when taking temazepam.
Both of these substances are central nervous system depressants. If you are already taking temazepam, you may experience slowed concentration, memory and breathing. Drinking alcohol increases these effects, which can lead to a life-threatening scenario.
What’s more, using both temazepam and alcohol increases your risk of overdose.
[1] https://nhssomerset.nhs.uk/news/document/temazepam-tapering-document-sept-2023/
[2] https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/temazepam/
[3] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/16066359709005262
[4] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1360-0443.1992.tb01918.x
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK599496/
[6] https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/4/1629
[7] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949875924002200
