Quazepam, Oral

Type of medicine: benzodiazepine; sedative

Generic and brand names: quazepam, oral; Doral

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat insomnia (trouble falling asleep, frequent awakening during the night, and early morning awakening). It can be used for recurring insomnia, poor sleeping habits, or medical conditions in which you need restful sleep. It is not usually taken for long periods of time.

It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

Before you take this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have:

• depression or thoughts of suicide
• glaucoma
• heart disease
• liver or kidney disease
• lung disease or breathing problems
• problems with alcohol or drug abuse
• seizures
• sleep apnea (stopping breathing during sleep and then gasping for air)
• trouble swallowing.

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Take this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes. It is usually taken as needed at bedtime. You may take it with or without food.

This medicine should be used for a short period such as a few weeks. Do not take more of it or take it longer than prescribed because it may be habit-forming. Do not increase the dosage on your own. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your health care provider.

If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses.

This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy the day after you take it. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine may make you excited rather than drowsy. If this happens, ask your health care provider what to do.

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your health care provider approves.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the health care provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

When you stop taking this medicine after you have taken it for a few weeks, you may have disturbed sleep for the first night or two. You may also have withdrawal symptoms. Reducing your dosage gradually may lessen these problems. Follow your health care provider's instructions exactly.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your health care provider about this.

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Trouble breathing, irregular or slow heartbeat, depression, thoughts of suicide, memory problems.

Other: Headache, nervousness, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, sweating, rash, blurred vision, unsteadiness.

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• amiodarone (Cordarone)
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin) and erythromycin (Erythrocin, EES, E-Mycin, EryPed), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), metronidazole (Flagyl), rifampin (Rifampin, Rimactane), and rifabutin (Mycobutin)
• anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene)
• antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), brompheniramine (Dimetane), clemastine (Tavist, Tavist-1), and dexchlorpheniramine (Polaramine)
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital, amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), secobarbital (Seconal), and pentobarbital (Nembutal)
• birth control pills
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem) and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• disulfiram (Antabuse)
• herbal remedies such as St. John's wort, kava, gotu kola, and valerian root
• isoniazid (Laniazid, Nydrazid)
• levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxazid (Marplan) (Do not take an MAO inhibitor and this medicine within 14 days of each other.)
• muscle relaxants such as carisoprodol (Soma), chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), metaxalone (Skelaxin), orphenadrine (Norflex), tizanidine (Zanaflex), and methocarbamol (Robaxin)
• narcotics such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvon-N, Darvocet, Wygesic), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and combination products such as Vicodin, Tylox, Percocet, Percodan, Tylenol #3
• nefazodone (Serzone)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), promazine (Sparine), thioridazine (Mellaril), and trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
• probenecid (Benemid)
• sedatives such as zolpidem (Ambien) and zaleplon (Sonata)
• theophylline
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil)

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Discuss this with your health care provider.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.