Quazepam

Pronunciation: KWAZ-e-pam
Generic Name: Quazepam
Brand Name: Doral

Quazepam is used for:

Treating insomnia (trouble sleeping). It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Quazepam is a benzodiazepine. It works in the brain to cause drowsiness.

Do NOT use Quazepam if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Quazepam or to another benzodiazepine (eg, lorazepam)


• you are pregnant


• you have known or suspected sleep apnea (trouble breathing while asleep)


• you are taking sodium oxybate (GHB)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Quazepam:

Some medical conditions may interact with Quazepam. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have or have ever had alcoholism or substance abuse or dependence, or if you consume more than 3 alcohol-containing drinks per day


• if you have a history of mental or mood problems (eg, depression) or suicidal thoughts or behaviors


• if you have a history of liver problems, the blood disease porphyria, kidney problems, glaucoma, or increased eye pressure, or if you have risk factors for glaucoma


• if you have lung or breathing problems (eg, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], emphysema), myasthenia gravis, or very poor health

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Quazepam. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Methadone because the risk of severe breathing problems may be increased


• Clozapine because dangerous side effects, such as confusion; sedation; excess salivation; unsteady movements; lightheadedness, especially when standing; difficult or slow breathing; or drowsiness leading to unresponsiveness or coma, may occur


• Anticonvulsants (eg, phenobarbital), antihistamines (eg, diphenhydramine), disulfiram, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), medicines for mental or mood problems, nefazodone, or omeprazole because they may increase the risk of Quazepam's side effects


• Rifampin because it may decrease Quazepam's effectiveness


• Bupropion, efavirenz, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), or sodium oxybate (GHB ) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Quazepam

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Quazepam may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Quazepam:

Use Quazepam as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Quazepam comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Quazepam refilled.


• Take Quazepam by mouth. Do not take it with or right after a meal.


• Take Quazepam 15 to 30 minutes before bedtime.


• If you miss a dose of Quazepam, take it as soon as possible. If you no longer have time for a full night's sleep or you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Quazepam.

Important safety information:

• Quazepam may cause drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, or difficulty with coordination. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Quazepam with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Quazepam; it may add to their effects. This may also occur for several days after you stop Quazepam. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.


• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose or use for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.


• If your symptoms do not get better within 7 to 10 days or if they get worse, check with your doctor.


• When you first start taking Quazepam, you may have a "carryover" effect on you the next day. Use extreme care while doing anything that requires complete alertness (eg, driving a car).


• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Quazepam before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.


• Sleep medicines may cause a special type of memory loss or "amnesia." To prevent memory problems, be sure to use Quazepam only when you are able to get a full night's sleep (7 to 8 hours) before you need to be active again. Be sure to talk to your health care provider if you think you are having memory problems.


• Some patients taking Quazepam have performed certain activities while they were not fully awake. These have included sleep driving, making and eating food, making phone calls, and having sex. Patients often do not remember these events after they happen. Such an event may be more likely to occur if you use a high dose of Quazepam. It may also be more likely if you drink alcohol or take other medicines that may cause drowsiness while you take Quazepam. Tell your doctor right away if such an event happens to you.


• Use Quazepam with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially oversedation, dizziness, or confusion.


• Quazepam should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Quazepam if you are pregnant. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Quazepam while you are pregnant. Quazepam is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Quazepam.

When sleep medicines are used every night for more than a few weeks, they may lose their effectiveness to help you sleep. This is known as TOLERANCE. Sleep medicines should usually be used only for short periods of time, such as a few days, and generally no longer than 1 or 2 weeks. If your sleep problems continue, contact your doctor.

Sleep medicines can cause dependence, especially when used regularly, for longer than a few weeks, or at high doses. Some people develop a need to continue taking Quazepam. This is known as DEPENDENCE or addiction.

If you stop taking Quazepam suddenly, you may have WITHDRAWAL symptoms. This may include unpleasant feelings. In more severe cases, you may have stomach and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, and shakiness. Seizures may rarely occur. Another problem that may occur is "rebound insomnia," which is more trouble sleeping the first few nights after the medicine is stopped than before starting the medicine. This usually goes away on its own after 1 or 2 nights. If you take Quazepam for more than 1 to 2 weeks, do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor. Your doctor may give you special directions on how to gradually decrease your dose before stopping the medicine. Always follow your doctor's directions.

Possible side effects of Quazepam:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Clumsiness or unsteadiness; daytime drowsiness; dizziness; dry mouth; fatigue; headache; lightheadedness; sluggishness; stomach upset.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); abnormal thinking; anxiety; behavior changes; confusion; decreased coordination; decreased urination; hallucinations; irregular heartbeat; loss of bladder control; memory problems (eg, memory loss); menstrual changes; mental or mood changes (eg, aggression, agitation, depression); muscle spasms or weakness; new or worsening trouble sleeping; slurred speech or other speech changes; suicidal thoughts or actions; vision changes; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Quazepam side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include clumsiness; coma; confusion; difficult or slow breathing; dizziness; drowsiness leading to unresponsiveness or coma; lightheadedness, especially when standing; loss of consciousness.

Proper storage of Quazepam:

Store Quazepam at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Quazepam out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Quazepam, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Quazepam is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Quazepam. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Quazepam resources

• Quazepam Side Effects (in more detail)
• Quazepam Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Quazepam Drug Interactions
• Quazepam Support Group
• 1 Review for Quazepam - Add your own review/rating

• Quazepam Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• quazepam Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)


• quazepam Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

Compare Quazepam with other medications

• Insomnia