ESTAZOLAM

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Prosom

GENERIC NAME(S): ESTAZOLAM

 

Description: Estazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine with general properties similar to diazepam. It works by depressing the central nervous system, causing drowsiness to aid in falling asleep.

Indications:

This medication is used to treat sleep problems (insomnia). It may help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and lessen how often you wake up during the night, so you can get a better night’s rest.

Use of this medication is usually limited to short treatment periods of 1 to 2 weeks or less.

Contraindications:

Should not be given to pregnant, as this may be dangerous to the fetus.

Should not be given with itraconazole and ketoconazole antifungals, because it is metabolised by CYP3A and can therefore, decrease the activity of estazolam.

How to use estazolam

Dosage: Take 1 to 2 mg of this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually just before you get into bed.

  • This drug can infrequently cause temporary short-term memory loss. To lessen the chance of this, make sure that the patient can complete the 7 to 8 hours of sleep.
  • Tell your doctor if your condition persists after 7 to 10 days, or if it worsens.
  • This medication may cause withdrawal reactions (such as nausea, vomiting, flushing, stomach cramps, nervousness, shakiness), especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually.
  • Along with its benefits, this medication may be addicting to the patient, more so, if the patient had a history of alcohol or drug abuse.
  • You may have trouble sleeping the first few nights after you stop taking this medication, called rebound insomnia and is normal. It will usually go away after 1 or 2 nights.

You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur when taking estazolam:

More common

  • Absence of or decrease in body movement
  • clumsiness or unsteadiness
  • dizziness
  • sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

Less common

  • Delusions
  • dementia
  • dry mouth
  • headache
  • mood or mental changes
  • nausea and vomiting
  • tiredness

Some of the side effects that can occur with estazolam may not need medical attention:

More common

  • Lack or loss of strength

Less common

  • Pain in the legs or feet

Precautions

General:

Since this drug makes you drowsy, do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially dizziness, confusion, unsteadiness, and excessive drowsiness. These side effects can increase the risk of falling.

  • Medical History: Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you had: kidney disease, liver disease, lung/breathing problems (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD, sleep apnea), mental/mood problems (such as depression, thoughts of suicide), personal or family history of regular use/abuse of drugs/alcohol/other substances, personal or family history of sleepwalking, a certain muscle disease (myasthenia gravis).
  • Impaired motor and/or cognitive performace: This manifests as decrease body movements or trouble thinking.  This may be due to accumulation of the metabolites of this drug in the brain.
  • Suicidal tendencies: This may occur in patients who has symptoms of depression.
  • Over dosage:  Intentional over dosage is common with this drug must be prescribed at the least amount.

Pregnancy Risk: Category X.  Estazolam must not be used during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby.

Breastfeeding: This medication may pass into breast milk and have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

 

Interactions 

  • A product that may interact with this drug is: sodium oxybate.
  • Other medications can affect the removal of estazolam from your body, which may affect how estazolam works. Examples include azole antifungals such as itraconazole/ketoconazole, among others.
  • The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication is used with other products that may also affect breathing or cause drowsiness. Therefore, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products such as alcohol, other medicine for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam), muscle relaxants, and narcotic pain relievers (such as codeine).

Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Symptoms of overdose may include slowed breathing or a deep sleep from which you cannot be awakened.

Notes

Do not share this medication with others. It is against the law.

As you get older, your sleep pattern may naturally change and your sleep may be interrupted several times during the night. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for ways to improve your sleep without medication, such as avoiding caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime, avoiding daytime naps, and going to bed at the same time each night.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, do not take it unless you have time to sleep for 7 to 8 hours afterward. (See also How to Use section.)

Storage

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

 

Brands

Also marketed as

Esilgan [ Takeda ]

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