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Is Restoril Cut With Other Drugs? (How to Know When It Is)
Restoril is the brand name for the benzodiazepine medication temazepam.
Temazepam is a medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that is used to help individuals who are having difficulty sleeping (to induce sleep) or experiencing mild levels of anxiety.
The medication is available in capsule form in the dosages of 7.5 mg (milligrams), 15 mg, 22.5 mg, and 30 mg.
The mechanism of action for benzodiazepines like temazepam is to increase the availability of inhibitory neurotransmitters, particularly gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA). This is how it exerts its medicinal effects.
However, benzodiazepine drugs also produce significant feelings of relaxation, euphoria, and well-being that are similar to the types of effects that alcohol produces. All benzodiazepines, including temazepam, are controlled substances and can be legally obtained only with a doctor’s prescription.
Are There Additives in Restoril?
Restoril and generic versions of temazepam contain other substances, but the versions of temazepam that are marketed by legitimate pharmaceutical companies do not contain any dangerous additives. The strength or potency of the drug is determined by the number of milligrams of temazepam in each capsule.
How Do I Know If My Restoril Is Legitimate?
When a person purchases a prescription medication from a legitimate source, such as a licensed pharmacy, they can rest assured that their medication is legitimate. Purchasing forms of temazepam from online pharmacies, overseas sources, and illicit sources on the street can be a risky endeavor.
Legitimate temazepam products are typically packaged as capsules, and you can view photos of these capsules online. Be aware that many counterfeit drugs look like the legitimate medication, so it’s hard to visually tell if Restoril bought on the street is fake.
The Importation of Counterfeit Drugs
It is no secret that prescription drugs are expensive in the U.S. As a result, many overseas operations produce counterfeit versions of drugs, including counterfeit versions of temazepam.
These drugs are often made without any standards or quality controls on their production, and many of them can be very dangerous.
There have been numerous instances where individuals have been charged with importing counterfeit drugs, including counterfeit temazepam. While counterfeit versions of temazepam are most likely not deluded or cut, they may contain potentially dangerous substances, the wrong medication, or no medication at all.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), several different types of potentially dangerous substances are found in counterfeit drugs.
Heavy Metals in Counterfeit Drugs
Heavy metals that have been found in counterfeit drugs include:
- Arsenic
- Aluminum
- Cadmium
- Lead
- Selenium
- Others
Heavy metals are toxic to organs, including the liver, kidneys, bones, and central nervous system.
WHO reports that slightly over a quarter of medications purchased from online pharmacies contain heavy metals. Ingesting these substances can be extremely dangerous, particularly if you chronically use the medication.
Poisons
There are numerous instances where boric acid, PCBs, antifreeze, and rat poison have been found in counterfeit medications. These substances are toxic. Ingesting them in nearly any amount is dangerous and potentially fatal.
The long-term impact of taking tiny amounts of these substances over time includes potential kidney damage, liver damage, and cancer. Children who have been exposed to these toxic substances, either in the womb or in infancy or childhood, may experience developmental issues.
Household Items or Inert Substances
Counterfeit drugs are also notorious for containing substances that individuals should never ingest, including paint, floor wax, brick dust, and other substances. These substances are often included to make the counterfeit drug similar in appearance to the real thing.
There is a litany of potentially dangerous effects that can occur from ingesting these substances over time.
The Wrong Drug or No Drug at All
Counterfeit drugs often contain other drugs than what is advertised. Someone may purchase what they believe is Restoril, but it actually contains fentanyl.
When drugs are substituted like this, they are designed to mimic the initial effects of the medication the person intends to buy. Sometimes, the counterfeit drug may contain substances that are not safe for human consumption and that have potentially dangerous side effects associated with their use.
Counterfeit drugs are also notorious for not containing any medication at all. They may contain inert ingredients, such as dextrose, lactose, or starch.
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Avoid Fillers and Other Substances in Restoril
The only way you can determine the contents of knockoff or counterfeit drugs is to have them tested in a laboratory. Some at-home laboratory tests can be purchased online to check for specific drugs like ecstasy, but for the most part, users do not have the equipment to test the substances they buy from potentially illegitimate sources.
Merely looking at a Restoril capsule and comparing it with a picture online is not a reliable method to determine if the product is legitimate or free from adulterants.
According to WHO, follow these guidelines to stay safe:
- Only buy prescription medications from licensed pharmacists and pharmacies.
- Never buy a prescription online if the drug is produced outside the U.S.
- Confirm that the online pharmaceutical company is licensed and registered.
- Look for medications that are misspelled (e.g., Restoril spelled as Restorel) or have obvious mistakes in their printing. They are illegitimate and potentially dangerous.
- Never buy substances sold as Restoril that are not in capsule or pill form, such as powders or liquids.
- Know that substances purchased on the street are potentially dangerous.
- Avoid online pharmacies that advertise the use of online doctors to make a diagnosis or prescribe a medication after you complete a questionnaire. They are most likely illegitimate.
Conclusions
Restoril is a controlled substance. No one should take this medication unless they have a written prescription from a physician to use it. They should then only take it according to its prescribed instructions.
Restoril or generic forms of temazepam that are purchased from legitimate sources do not have significant fillers or cutting agents in them. Any prescription medication from an illegitimate source can be potentially dangerous.
Counterfeit drugs can contain many potentially dangerous substances or no medication at all. To stay safe, avoid them altogether.
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Sources
(September 2016). Restoril. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved January 2019 from from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/018163s064lbl.pdf
(N.D.) Drug Scheduling. Drug Enforcement Administration. Retrieved January 2019 from https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling
(20199). Restoril Images. Drugs.com. Retrieved January 2019 from https://www.drugs.com/restoril-images.html
(March 2018). Man Gets Two Years For Importing And Distributing Fake Drugs From Pakistan. The Partnership for Safe Medicines. Retrieved January 2019 from https://www.safemedicines.org/2018/03/man-gets-two-years-for-importing-and-distributing-fake-drugs-from-pakistan.html
(January 2018). Substandard, Spurious, Falsely Labeled, Falsified and Counterfeit (SSFFC) Medical Products. World Health Organization. Retrieved January 2019 from https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/substandard-and-falsified-medical-products