Restoril (Temazepam) Withdrawal Timeline

Published by Joseph, EditorCompiled from cited sources · not yet medically reviewedUpdated Oct 26, 20265 sources

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For information only, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before stopping or changing any medication. Medical disclaimer

⚠ Medical warning

Stopping benzodiazepines suddenly can be life-threatening. Never stop or cut your dose quickly on your own. Talk to your prescriber about a slow, personal taper plan. Call 911 for a seizure, confusion or hallucinations.

Quick answer

Restoril (temazepam) is a benzodiazepine prescribed for short-term insomnia (generally 7 to 10 days). Its FDA label warns that abrupt discontinuation or rapid dose reduction after continued use may cause acute withdrawal reactions, which can be life-threatening, including seizures. Its terminal half-life is about 3.5 to 18 hours (mean 8.8), so levels fall fairly quickly after the last dose and symptoms can start sooner than with long-acting benzos such as diazepam. Some people develop a protracted withdrawal lasting weeks to more than 12 months. Never stop on your own after regular use.

Restoril withdrawal timeline at a glance

When did you last use or take it?

⚠ Medical warning (read before using this)

This places the typical ranges from this article's sources on your date. It is not a prediction or a diagnosis, and being past a phase does not mean symptoms or risks are over.

A rough guide from published sources, not medical advice. Everyone is different.

Phase	When	What you may feel	Severity	Red flags
Early symptoms	Within the first day or two after a missed dose or reduction (timing varies)	Rebound anxiety; Restlessness, irritability; Trouble sleeping	Moderate	—
Acute withdrawal	Days to weeks after stopping or reducing	Anxiety and panic attacks; Insomnia; Tremor, muscle pain or stiffness; Fast heart rate; Sensitivity to light; Memory problems	Can be life-threatening	A seizure, confusion, or seeing or hearing things that aren’t there: call 911; Severe confusion, mania or psychosis; Thoughts of suicide or self-harm: call or text 988 now
Protracted withdrawal (some people)	Beyond 4 to 6 weeks; can last more than 12 months	Anxiety, depression, insomnia; Cognitive problems; Tingling or crawling skin sensations; Muscle twitches, tremor; Ringing in the ears	Moderate	Thoughts of suicide or self-harm: call or text 988 now

Print a daily symptom log for this timeline · My quit tracker

Symptoms, phase by phase

The Restoril label says acute benzodiazepine withdrawal has included irritability, insomnia, memory problems, muscle pain or stiffness, panic attacks, sensitivity to light, restlessness, fast heart rate and tremor, and more severe reactions including catatonia, convulsions, delirium tremens, depression, hallucinations, mania, psychosis, seizures and suicidality. It adds that some people develop a protracted withdrawal syndrome with symptoms lasting weeks to more than 12 months. The label recommends a gradual taper using a patient-specific plan. It also notes Restoril is meant for short-term use, and that insomnia that doesn’t improve after 7 to 10 days may point to another illness that should be checked.

Early symptoms: Within the first day or two after a missed dose or reduction (timing varies)

Rebound anxiety
Restlessness, irritability
Trouble sleeping

Acute withdrawal: Days to weeks after stopping or reducing

Anxiety and panic attacks
Insomnia
Tremor, muscle pain or stiffness
Fast heart rate
Sensitivity to light
Memory problems

Protracted withdrawal (some people): Beyond 4 to 6 weeks; can last more than 12 months

Anxiety, depression, insomnia
Cognitive problems
Tingling or crawling skin sensations
Muscle twitches, tremor
Ringing in the ears

What makes withdrawal longer or shorter

How long you’ve taken it. The label says continued use can lead to clinically significant physical dependence.
Dose. Higher doses raise the risk.
Half-life. Temazepam’s mean half-life of 8.8 hours means levels fall fairly quickly after the last dose.
Alcohol, opioids and other sedatives. The label’s boxed warning says combining benzodiazepines and opioids can cause profound sedation, breathing problems, coma and death.

When to see a doctor or get help now

Before making any change to your dose.
Call 911 for a seizure, confusion, hallucinations or severe agitation.
Call or text 988 for thoughts of suicide.
If you’ve run out of a prescription, contact your prescriber or urgent care the same day rather than waiting it out.

Not sure where to start? Call SAMHSA’s free, confidential helpline at 1-800-662-4357, 24/7. See Get Help.

Tapering

The FDA label says to use a gradual taper, with a patient-specific plan, to stop Restoril or reduce the dose. We don’t publish dose-by-dose schedules. Your prescriber should set your plan, and adjust it if symptoms appear.

Tips for getting through it

Keep a symptom diary for your prescriber
Avoid alcohol and other sedatives
Try a calming breathing exercise; the NHS describes one for stress, anxiety and panic
Ask about therapy (such as CBT) for anxiety and insomnia
Read our general benzo withdrawal timeline
Ask about CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) to help sleep without medicine

Frequently asked questions

How long does temazepam withdrawal last?

Acute symptoms usually run days to weeks, but the label says some people have protracted withdrawal lasting weeks to more than 12 months.

Is temazepam withdrawal dangerous?

It can be. The label warns that stopping suddenly after continued use can cause life-threatening reactions such as seizures.

I only took it for a week. Will I have withdrawal?

The label describes dependence after continued use. Short courses carry less risk, but ask your prescriber before stopping.

Next steps

Talk to others going through it. Share your experience or ask questions on the Benzodiazepines board in our community forum. Planning to stop? See the Tapering & Talking to Your Doctor board, and talk to a doctor before you stop. Forum posts are personal experiences, not medical advice. Please read the community guidelines.

Sources

Last reviewed: October 25, 2026. Researched and written by Withdrawal Timelines from the cited sources. This article has not yet been reviewed by a medical professional. See How We Review and our Medical Disclaimer. This is general information, not medical advice.

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