Restoril Review: Key Ingredients & Side Effects 2026

Advertising Disclosure

Restoril is the brand name for temazepam, a prescription benzodiazepine used for the short-term treatment of insomnia. It may help some people fall asleep or remain asleep, but it carries important risks involving sedation, falls, dependence, withdrawal, and interactions with opioids or alcohol.

The current prescribing information describes treatment as generally lasting 7 to 10 days. Restoril is not usually a preferred long-term treatment for chronic insomnia.

Medical note: This information is educational and does not provide a diagnosis or personalized treatment instructions. Do not start, change, share, or stop temazepam without guidance from the prescriber managing your care.

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Restoril at a Glance

Active ingredient: Temazepam
Drug class: Benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic
Approved use: Short-term treatment of insomnia
Typical labeled duration: Generally 7 to 10 days
Available capsule strengths: 7.5 mg, 15 mg, 22.5 mg, and 30 mg
Prescription status: Prescription only
Controlled-substance status: Schedule IV in the United States

What Is Restoril?

Restoril is a sedating medication prescribed for insomnia. It belongs to the benzodiazepine family, which also includes medicines used for anxiety, seizures, and medical procedures. Restoril’s approved role is specifically the short-term treatment of insomnia.

Restoril and generic temazepam contain the same active drug. Appearance and inactive ingredients may differ. No reliable evidence was identified showing that brand-name Restoril works better than an approved generic temazepam product.

How Temazepam Affects Sleep

Temazepam strengthens the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid, usually shortened to GABA. GABA reduces activity in the brain and nervous system, which can produce relaxation, drowsiness, and slower reactions.

In short-term studies, temazepam has helped some patients with sleep onset and sleep maintenance. This means it may reduce the time needed to fall asleep or help reduce waking during the night. The response varies, and sedation does not necessarily mean that the underlying cause of insomnia has been addressed.

Does Restoril Work?

There is clinical evidence that temazepam as an active drug can improve certain sleep outcomes over the short term. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has suggested temazepam as an option for sleep-onset and sleep-maintenance insomnia, but it rated the recommendation as weak. The supporting trials were generally small, and much of the evidence involved a 15 mg dose.

The evidence does not establish that temazepam is an ideal treatment for every person with insomnia. It also does not show that the current Restoril brand formulation is more effective than generic temazepam.

For chronic insomnia, current guidance generally favors cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, known as CBT-I, before medication. CBT-I is a structured treatment that addresses sleep habits, schedules, and thoughts that can keep insomnia going.

How Restoril Is Taken

Restoril should be taken exactly as prescribed. The medication guide instructs patients to take it immediately before going to bed and only when they can remain in bed for 7 to 8 hours.

Do not take a larger dose or take it more often than prescribed.
Do not take someone else’s medication or give yours to another person.
Do not combine it with alcohol.
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you, including the following morning.
Contact the prescriber if insomnia does not improve within the expected short treatment period or becomes worse.

The available strengths do not indicate which dose is right for a particular person. Age, other medicines, breathing problems, and sensitivity to sedatives can all affect prescribing decisions.

Common Side Effects

Restoril can impair alertness, balance, memory, and coordination. Commonly reported effects include:

Drowsiness or a next-morning “hangover” feeling
Dizziness
Headache
Fatigue or lethargy
Nausea
Nervousness

Confusion, poor coordination, and oversedation are especially concerning for older adults because they can contribute to falls and injuries.

Serious Warnings and Interactions

Opioids and other sedatives

Combining temazepam with an opioid can cause profound sedation, dangerously slowed breathing, coma, or death. If both medicines are considered necessary, the prescriber must weigh the risks and monitor treatment carefully.

Alcohol, sleep medicines, sedating antihistamines, and other drugs that slow the central nervous system can also increase impairment. A doctor or pharmacist should review all prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, and supplements before temazepam is used.

Complex sleep behaviors

People taking Restoril have reported activities performed while not fully awake, including sleep-walking, sleep-driving, preparing or eating food, making phone calls, or having sex. The person may have no memory of the event afterward.

Stop taking the medicine and contact the prescriber promptly if a complex sleep behavior occurs. Sleep-driving or another activity that creates immediate danger requires urgent help.

Next-day impairment

Reaction time and judgment may remain impaired the next day, particularly when a person does not get a full night’s sleep, takes a higher dose, or combines temazepam with another sedating substance. Feeling awake does not always mean coordination and judgment have fully returned.

Dependence, Addiction, and Withdrawal

Restoril’s boxed warning addresses abuse, misuse, addiction, physical dependence, and withdrawal. These terms are related but do not mean the same thing:

Physical dependence means the body has adapted to the drug. Stopping suddenly can then cause withdrawal.
Tolerance means some effects may become weaker after repeated exposure.
Misuse includes taking the drug differently from how it was prescribed.
Addiction involves compulsive use despite harm and can occur even with prescription drugs.

Withdrawal can include rebound insomnia, anxiety, tremors, unusual sensations, confusion, and, in severe cases, seizures. The risk can rise with higher doses or longer use.

Do not stop temazepam suddenly after continued use unless a clinician specifically instructs you to do so. A prescriber may use a gradual dose reduction based on the person’s treatment history and symptoms.

Who Should Use Extra Caution?

A prescriber should review the risks particularly carefully for people with:

A history of alcohol or drug misuse
Sleep apnea, chronic lung disease, or another breathing disorder
Depression, suicidal thoughts, or significant mental health symptoms
Liver or kidney problems
A history of falls, confusion, or strong reactions to sedatives
Current use of opioids or other central nervous system depressants

Older adults may be more sensitive to sedation, poor balance, confusion, and falls. Safety and effectiveness have not been established in children.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Anyone who is pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding should discuss temazepam with a clinician. Use later in pregnancy may cause sedation or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Available observational information has not established a clear association with major birth defects, but the evidence does not remove all risk.

Temazepam may also affect a breastfed infant. Possible concerns include unusual sleepiness, poor feeding, and poor weight gain. A clinician can help weigh these risks against the risks of untreated sleep problems.

When to Seek Urgent Medical Help

Call emergency services for symptoms such as:

Slow, shallow, or difficult breathing
Extreme sleepiness, collapse, or inability to wake
Severe swelling, hives, or trouble breathing
A seizure
A suspected overdose
Dangerous behavior while not fully awake

Do not leave a severely sedated person alone while waiting for help.

Restoril for Chronic Insomnia

Restoril’s labeled role is short term. Persistent insomnia may have several contributing factors, including sleep apnea, restless legs, pain, depression, medication effects, irregular sleep schedules, or substance use. Evaluation is important when sleep problems continue rather than repeatedly extending sedative treatment.

For chronic insomnia, CBT-I is generally preferred as a first-line treatment. Unlike a sedative, CBT-I is designed to produce longer-lasting changes in sleep patterns without causing medication dependence.

Alternatives to Discuss With a Clinician

The best alternative depends on the type and cause of the sleep problem. Options a clinician may consider include:

CBT-I: A structured, non-drug treatment recommended for chronic insomnia.
Sleep-schedule and behavioral changes: Often incorporated into CBT-I rather than used as isolated “sleep hygiene” tips.
Low-dose doxepin: A prescription option that may be considered for sleep-maintenance problems.
Dual orexin receptor antagonists: Prescription medicines that work differently from benzodiazepines.
Evaluation of contributing conditions: Treatment may need to focus on pain, breathing disorders, mood symptoms, medication effects, or another underlying issue.

These options have different benefits, side effects, interactions, and costs. None is automatically safer or more appropriate for every person.

Access, Storage, and Cost

Restoril and generic temazepam require a prescription and should be obtained from a licensed pharmacy. Temazepam is a Schedule IV controlled substance, so it should be stored securely and never shared.

Unused capsules should be disposed of through a medicine take-back program when possible. A pharmacist can explain local disposal options.

Cost varies by strength, quantity, pharmacy, location, insurance coverage, and whether brand-name or generic temazepam is dispensed. A reliable universal price cannot be provided without those details.

Pros and Cons

Potential advantages

May help some people fall asleep or stay asleep over the short term
Available in several capsule strengths
Generic temazepam may be available

Important limitations

Generally intended for only 7 to 10 days
Can cause next-day impairment, confusion, and falls
Carries risks of misuse, addiction, physical dependence, and withdrawal
Can interact dangerously with opioids, alcohol, and other sedatives
Does not treat many underlying causes of persistent insomnia

Company Contact Information

The current Restoril label identifies SpecGx LLC as the labeler and directs patients to Par Health for additional information. Par Health’s official contact page lists the following legacy SpecGx contact details:

Address: 385 Marshall Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119

Phone: 1-800-778-7898

Safety-reporting email: PVGenerics@mnk.com

Official website: parhealth.com

Final Verdict

Restoril may be a useful short-term prescription option for some adults with insomnia, particularly when difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep requires brief medical treatment. The evidence is more limited than the drug’s long history might suggest, and professional recommendations are cautious.

Its short treatment window, next-day impairment, complex sleep behaviors, and dependence and interaction risks are substantial limitations. For ongoing insomnia, CBT-I and an evaluation of contributing causes generally offer a more appropriate long-term direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Restoril the same as temazepam?

Restoril is a brand name for temazepam. Generic versions contain the same active drug, although their appearance and inactive ingredients may differ.

How long can you take Restoril?

The prescribing information describes Restoril as a short-term treatment, generally for 7 to 10 days. Longer use requires a clinician to reassess the benefits, risks, and reason the insomnia is continuing.

Can you drink alcohol while taking Restoril?

No. Alcohol can increase sedation, impaired judgment, falls, and breathing problems. It should be avoided while taking temazepam.

Can Restoril be taken with an opioid?

The combination can cause profound sedation, slowed breathing, coma, or death. It should occur only when a prescriber has determined that alternatives are inadequate and has provided close supervision.

What happens if you stop Restoril suddenly?

Sudden discontinuation after continued use can cause withdrawal, including rebound insomnia, anxiety, tremors, confusion, and potentially seizures. Ask the prescriber whether a gradual reduction is needed.

Is Restoril recommended for chronic insomnia?

Restoril is labeled for short-term treatment. For chronic insomnia, current guidance generally favors CBT-I, while benzodiazepines are not usually preferred as an ongoing treatment.

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Restoril Review