Temazepam, a benzodiazepine hypnotic medication, has some serious side effects that can lead to an overdose if the drug is taken in larger quantities than prescribed. The amount of medication needed to produce an overdose varies greatly from person to person, but every overdose case reflects the central nervous system (CNS) effects that the medication has on the body.
Temazepam is intended to be used for the short-term treatment of insomnia, and in turn, the major sign of a temazepam overdose is excessive sleepiness, or somnolence. This symptom is most often seen in conjunction with mental confusion, respiratory depression, and impaired motor function. If a person is taking temazepam, and then cannot be roused from sleep with significant effort, a temazepam overdose should be suspected.
All benzodiazepines, and benzodiazepine-like drugs, carry a significant overdose risk. Temazepam is seen relatively often in cases of benzodiazepine overdose. An Australian study showed that the drug and its close relative, nitazepam, accounted for the most commonly detected drugs in overdose deaths. An overdose of temazepam leads to coma more often than do other benzodiazepine drug overdoses. Temazepam is often a drug of choice used in suicide attempts because of its sleep-inducing quality.
A side effect of temazepam is euphoria if it is used in higher doses. This fact leads to many overdose cases being caused from illegal use of the drug. Temazepam comes in a fluid-filled capsule, which makes it particularly easy to inject. After a person has injected temazepam, he or she can progress to acute overdose quickly. Signs of acute overdose include severe hypoventilation, agitation, and poor balance. Another added danger of injecting temazepam is that the liquid tends to congeal in the arteries, which can lead to deadly thrombosis and gangrene.
If the patient is found conscious, and temazepam overdose is suspected, it is recommended that vomiting be induced mechanically or with an emetic medication, like syrup of ipecac. After the patient is transported to the hospital, often times a gastric lavage is the next course of action. An endotracheal tube may be inserted if the patient is unconscious to prevent aspiration.
Many times, in cases of severe temazepam overdose, maintenance of pulmonary ventilation is needed because the drug causes severe hypoventilation and the brain and other organs may not be receiving adequate oxygen. Hypotension, or a slowed heart rate, is also a concern, and medication may be given intravenously to control this symptom.