Estazolam: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What Drug Estazolam?

What is Estazolam for?

Estazolam is a useful drug to help with your sleep problems. This medicine is able to make you fall asleep quickly, sleep well and not wake up at night, so you can rest well. Estazolam is classified as a sedative hypnotic drug (sedative-hypnotics) which reacts to your brain, exerts a sedative effect.
Use of this medication is usually limited to short-term treatment over a period of 1 or 2 weeks and even less. If your insomnia persists for a relatively long time, you should consult your doctor for other treatment.

How to use Estazolam?

Take this medication with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually taken before you go to bed. The dosage depends on your health condition, age, and your body's response to treatment.

Although unlikely, this drug can cause temporary short-term memory loss. To reduce that risk, do not take this medication unless you have time for at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. If you have to wake up before then, chances are you will lose some memory. This drug can cause withdrawal reaction (withdrawal reaction), especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In this case, withdrawal reactions (such as nausea, vomiting, flushing, stomach cramps, nervousness, and shaking) may occur if you suddenly stop taking them. To prevent this reaction from occurring, your doctor will usually reduce the dose of the drug gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information, and report any reactions that occur immediately.

If this medicine has been used for a long time and may not work well, consult your doctor.

Although this drug is very useful, Estazolam can also cause abnormal behavior (addiction). This risk will increase if you used to drink alcohol and other drugs. Take this drug according to the directions for use to reduce the risk of addiction.

Tell your doctor if after 7 to 10 days you still have the same condition, or if it gets worse. You may find it difficult to sleep a few nights after you stop taking this drug. This state is called "rebound insomnia " and this is normal. This difficulty sleeping usually goes away after 1 or 2 nights. However, if this situation persists, contact your doctor immediately.

How to store Estazolam?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product. 3

Estazolam dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage of Estazolam for adults?

Adults with insomnia:

Initial dose: 1 mg orally at bedtime.

Maximum dose: 2 mg orally at bedtime

Geriatric patient suffering from insomnia

Initial dose: 1 mg (for general geriatrics).

Initial dose: 0.5 mg orally at bedtime (in small or debilitated geriatric patients).

Maximum dose: Dosage can be titrated slowly up to 2 mg every night (if necessary)

What is the dosage of Estazolam for children?

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients under 18 have not been determined. Consult your doctor for more information.

In what dosage is Estazolam available?

Tablet, Oral: 1 mg, 2 mg

Estazolam side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to Estazolam?

Common side effects include dizziness, loss of coordination, or blurred vision.

Estazolam can cause a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking this drug and seek emergency medical help if you develop any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; hard to breath; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking Estazolam and call your doctor right away if any of the serious side effects occur, such as:

• hard to breathe;
• your heart is beating and beating fast;
• confusion, slurred speech, unusual thinking or behavior;
• likes hallucinations, agitation, aggression;
• there is a desire to commit suicide or self-harm;
• tension in the eye, tongue, jaw, or neck muscles (cramps);
• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, and weakness;
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
• problematic urination; or
• nausea, stomach pain, fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-like stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects include:

frequent drowsiness during the day (or hours when you don't normally sleep);

• amnesia or forgetfulness;
• weakened muscles, lack of balance or coordination;
• numbness, burning, pain, or tingling;
• headache, blurred vision, feeling depressed;
• feeling nervous, excessively excited, or irritable;
• nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort; or
• dry mouth and increased thirst.

Not everyone experiences these side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have any concerns about any side effects, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug Precautions and Cautions Estazolam

What should be known before using Estazolam?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to Estazolam, any other drugs, or any of the ingredients in Estazolam. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the ingredients in this drug.

- Tell your doctor if you are taking ketoconzole (Nizoral) or itraconazole (Sporanox). Your doctor may recommend that you do not take Estazolam if you are taking one of these medications.

- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the types of drugs (medicines that are prescribed or not), vitamins, supplements, and herbal medicines that you are taking or will be taking. Make sure you mention it in detail, for example a type of antibiotic such as erythromycin (E.E.S., Erythrocin, E-Mycin); antidepressants; antihistamines; barbiturates such as phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton) or pentobarbital; cimetidine (Tagamet); digoxin (Lanoxin); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac); disulfiram (Antabuse); fluvoxamine (Luvox); isoniazid (in Rifamate, in Rifater); medicine for mental illness or nausea; drugs for seizures such as carbamazepine (Equetro, Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate); narcotic drugs for pain; nefazodone; rifampin (Rifadin); sedative; sleeping pills; and sedatives. Many other medicines can also interact with Estazolam, so be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking, even those not on this list. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medication or monitor you carefully to prevent side effects.

- Tell your doctor if you like to drink small or large amounts of alcoholic beverages, have used illegal drugs, or if you take your doctor's prescription too often. You should also tell your doctor if you have ever planned or contemplated suicide or you have had depression, mental illness, seizures, breathing problems or lung disease, or kidney or liver disease.

- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking Estazolam, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

- Tell your doctor about the benefits or risks that occur after you take Estazolam if you are 65 years or older. Elderly people should not take this drug because it is not as safe as other drugs that can be used for the treatment of the same condition.

- If you have had surgery, including surgery on the mouth, tell your doctor or dentist if you are taking Estazolam.

- You should know that this drug can cause daytime drowsiness. Therefore, do not ride anything until you know the effects of this drug.

- Talk to your doctor about how to safely consume alcohol while treating with Estazolam. Keep in mind that alcohol can trigger the excessive sleepiness caused by this drug.

- Tell your doctor if you consume products derived from tobacco. Smoking can reduce the effectiveness of this drug.

- You should know that someone taking this medicine may wake up, drive a car, prepare food and eat it, have sex, make phone calls, or do other activities while sleeping. Usually they will not remember what they have done after they wake up. Call your doctor if you notice that you have been driving a vehicle or engaging in other activities during your sleep.

Is Estazolam safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or nursing women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category X according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = No risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

There are no studies that prove if the mother appears at risk to the baby when the mother takes Estazolam while breastfeeding. However, you should still consider the benefits and potential risks that arise before taking this drug.

Estazolam Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Estazolam?

Although some drugs should not be taken at the same time, in other cases some drugs can also be used together even though interactions may occur. In such cases, the doctor may change the dose, or take other preventive measures as needed. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

When you are taking this medicine your doctor should know if you are currently taking any of the medicines that are listed below. The following is a list of drugs selected based on potential interactions that often occur and does not mean that other drugs will not react with Estazolam.

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be needed occasionally. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dosage or adjust how often you use one or both drugs.

• Alfentanil
• Amobarbital
• Anileridine
• Aprobarbital
• Buprenorphine
• Butabarbital
• Butalbital
• Carbinoxamine
• Carisoprodol
• Chloral Hydrate
• Chlorzoxazone
• Clarithromycin
• Codeine
• Dantrolene
• Ethchlorvynol
• Fentanyl
• Phospropofol
• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Levorphanol
• Meclizine
• Meperidine
• Mephenesin
• Mephobarbital
• Meprobamate
• Metaxalone
• Methadone
• Methocarbamol
• Methohexital
• Mirtazapine
• Morphine
• Morphine Sulfate Liposome
• Oxycodone
• Oxymorphone
• Pentobarbital
• Phenobarbital
• Primidone
• Propoxyphene
• Remifentanil
• Secobarbital
• Sodium Oxybate
• Sufentanil
• Suvorexant
• Tapentadol
• Thiopental
• Zolpidem

Taking this drug with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor will change the dose you take for the drug or adjust how often you use one or both drugs.

• Perampanel
• Theophylline

Can food or alcohol interact with Estazolam?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions may interact with Estazolam?

Any other health conditions you have can affect the use of this drug. Always tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

• Alcohol abuse, or
• Drug abuse or dependence - Risk of dependence on Estazolam.
• Respiratory or lung disease, or
• Depression - Take with care. It might make things worse.
• Kidney illness; or
• Liver disease - Take with caution. The side effects can be made worse by the slow absorption of the drug.

Estazolam overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose signs that may appear are:

• Sleepy
• Respiratory disorders
• Confusion
• Loss of balance
• Talking rambling
• Coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time)

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.