How annoying is it to toss and turn when you go to bed at night without falling asleep? Sometimes, even if you fall asleep, you wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep. One of the medications that doctors recommend for insomnia is Quazepam. Today, we will talk very simply about this medication, its effectiveness, risks, and things to be aware of.
What kind of medicine is Quazepam?
Simply put, Quazepam is a drug that helps you fall asleep quickly and stay asleep throughout the night. It belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines . This class of drugs helps us sleep by calming down our brain activity and helping us fall asleep.
The important thing is that this is usually only recommended by a doctor for short-term use . It is not a medication that can be used continuously.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking medicine
Before giving you this medicine, your doctor will need to know a complete history of your health. This is because using this medicine with certain medical conditions can be risky. Therefore, if you have any of the conditions listed below, be sure to tell your doctor about it.
| Do you have these conditions? |
|---|
| Kidney or liver disease |
| Lung or respiratory disease (such as asthma) |
| Mental health problems (such as depression) |
| Neurological diseases such as myasthenia gravis |
| Parkinson's disease |
| A history of drug or alcohol addiction |
| If you or someone in your family has had suicidal thoughts |
| If you are trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, or are a breastfeeding mother |
| If you have allergies to other medications, foods, or substances |
How should I use this medicine?
The way to use this is very simple.
- Swallow the pill with a glass of water.
- Take only the prescribed dose, at the time prescribed by your doctor. Never take more than the prescribed amount.
- Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without your doctor's advice. Doing so may cause adverse effects.
- Most importantly: This medicine is for you only. Never share your medicine with anyone else.
What to do if you take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, contact the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital immediately. Or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital. This is something that should not be delayed.
What if I miss a dose of medication?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
Other medications, foods, and drinks you take can sometimes affect the way Quazepam works, so it's important to be aware of this.
| Do not take Quazepam with these at all. | |
|---|---|
| Some opioid medications for cough | Sodium oxybate |
| These may cause problems when taken with Quazepam. |
|---|
| Alcohol |
| Some medicines used for allergies, coughs, and colds (Antihistamines) |
| Medications for anxiety or other sleep problems |
| Some medications for depression (e.g. amitriptyline, fluoxetine) |
| Some medications for seizures (e.g. phenobarbital) |
| Muscle relaxants for surgery |
| Opioid medications for pain |
This list is not complete. Therefore, tell your doctor about all medications you are taking (including vitamins and herbal remedies) .
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
Risk of addiction
When you use this medicine for a long time, your body and brain can start to depend on it . This means that you can't live without it. This risk exists even if you take it as prescribed by your doctor. That's why it is only given for a short period of time.
Drowsiness and driving
After taking this medicine, you should definitely plan to get 7-8 hours of full sleep . Even if you do, you may still feel sleepy the next morning . Therefore, do not drive or operate machinery until you know exactly how this medicine affects you.
Taking this medication with alcohol can greatly increase side effects such as drowsiness and dizziness. Therefore, avoid drinking alcohol completely while taking this medication.
Abnormal sleep behaviors
This is very important. Some people, after taking this medicine, may be tempted to do things in their sleep that they don't remember. For example:
- Getting up, cooking, and eating
- Sleepwalking
- Talking to someone on the phone
- Driving while asleep
Imagine, you take this medicine at night and go to sleep. But when you wake up the next morning, you don't remember, but your family says you did something like this all night. If that happens, stop taking the medicine immediately and talk to your doctor.
Mental changes
If you or your family notice any changes in your behavior or mood (e.g., increased depression, anxiety, anger, suicidal thoughts) while using this medication, tell your doctor immediately.
Possible side effects of the medicine
| Side effect | What to do? |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that require immediate medical attention | |
| Allergic reactions (skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue) | Inform your doctor immediately. |
| Central nervous system depression (CNS depression) - ( slow breathing, difficulty breathing, severe drowsiness, loss of consciousness) | Inform your doctor immediately. |
| Mental and behavioral changes (severe anxiety, agitation, suicidal thoughts) | Inform your doctor immediately. |
| Unusual, unmemorable activities in sleep | Inform your doctor immediately. |
| Side effects that are common but should be reported to the doctor if they are bothersome | |
| Dizziness | Tell your doctor if it persists or is bothersome. |
| Feeling sleepy the next day | Tell your doctor if it persists or is bothersome. |
| Dry mouth | Tell your doctor if it persists or is bothersome. |
| Headache | Tell your doctor if it persists or is bothersome. |
How do you store and dispose of the medicine?
This is a potentially addictive drug, so keep it locked up in a safe place out of the reach of children and pets . Never share this medication with anyone else. It is against the law and very dangerous.
When disposing of leftover or expired pills, crush them, mix them with something like cat litter or ground coffee grounds, put them in a tightly sealed container, and throw them in the trash.
Take-Home Message
- Quazepam is a short-term medication used to treat insomnia.
- Avoid drinking alcohol completely while taking this medicine.
- After taking the medicine, make sure to get a full night's sleep (7-8 hours). Avoid driving until you feel drowsy the next day.
- If you experience any unusual behavior (sleepwalking, eating) or mental changes that you cannot remember, stop taking the medication immediately and inform your doctor.
- Inform your doctor about all medications you are taking.
- Never start, stop, or change the dosage of medication without your doctor's advice.
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