quazepam
What is the most important information I should know about quazepam?
Quazepam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication or alcohol.
MISUSE OF THIS MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.
Do not stop using quazepam without asking your doctor. You may have life-threatening withdrawal symptoms if you stop using the medicine suddenly after long-term use. Some withdrawal symptoms may last up to 12 months or longer.
Get medical help right away if you stop using quazepam and have symptoms such as: unusual muscle movements, being more active or talkative, sudden and severe changes in mood or behavior, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, or thoughts about suicide.
Do not use if you are pregnant.
What is quazepam?
Quazepam is a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peen) that is used to treat insomnia (trouble falling or staying asleep).
Quazepam may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking quazepam?
You should not use quazepam if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- a chronic breathing disorder;
- sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep); or
- an allergy to sleep medicine or to other benzodiazepines (such as alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, Ativan, Valium, Tranxene, Versed, Xanax, and others).
May cause birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant. If you use quazepam during pregnancy, your baby could be born with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, and may need medical treatment for several weeks. Use effective birth control while using quazepam. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- breathing problems;
- drug or alcohol addiction;
- suicidal thoughts or actions;
- depression or mental illness; or
- liver or kidney disease.
Do not breastfeed.
Not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I take quazepam?
Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Never use quazepam in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to use more of this medicine.
Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug addiction. MISUSE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medicine where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.
When you first start taking quazepam, you may need to cut the tablet in half to get the correct dose. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions carefully.
Take this medicine only when you are getting ready for several hours of sleep. You may fall asleep very quickly after taking the medicine.
Call your doctor if your insomnia does not improve after taking quazepam for 7 to 10 nights, or if you have any mood or behavior changes. Insomnia can be a symptom of depression, mental illness, or certain medical conditions. Do not take quazepam for longer than 10 nights in a row, unless your doctor has told you to.
Do not stop using quazepam without asking your doctor. You may have life-threatening withdrawal symptoms if you stop using the medicine suddenly after long-term use.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep your medicine in a place where no one can use it improperly.
- Your insomnia symptoms may return when you stop using quazepam after using it over a long period of time.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Quazepam is used when needed. If you are on a dosing schedule, skip any missed dose. Do not use two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of quazepam can be fatal if you take it with alcohol, opioid medicine, or other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.
- Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, or coma.
Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, weak or shallow breathing, or coma.
What should I avoid while taking quazepam?
Do not drink alcohol while taking quazepam or for several days after you stop taking this medicine.
You may still feel sleepy the morning after taking this medicine. Wait until you are fully awake before you drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Your reactions may be impaired.
What are the possible side effects of quazepam?
Quazepam may cause a severe allergic reaction. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; nausea, vomiting; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Quazepam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication or alcohol. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- confusion, agitation, hallucinations;
- unusual thoughts or behavior;
- suicidal thoughts; or
- worsening depression.
Some people using quazepam have engaged in activity such as driving, eating, walking, making phone calls, or having sex and later having no memory of the activity. Tell your doctor if this happens to you.
Drowsiness or dizziness may last longer in older adults. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury.
Common side effects may include:
- drowsiness, dizziness;
- headache;
- feeling tired;
- dry mouth; or
- upset stomach.
After you stop using quazepam, get medical help right away if you have symptoms such as: unusual muscle movements, being more active or talkative, sudden and severe changes in mood or behavior, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, suicidal thoughts or actions.
Some withdrawal symptoms may last up to 12 months or longer after stopping this medicine suddenly. Tell your doctor if you have ongoing anxiety, depression, problems with memory or thinking, trouble sleeping, ringing in your ears, a burning or prickly feeling, or a crawling sensation under your skin.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect quazepam?
Using quazepam with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.
Other drugs may affect quazepam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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