Temazepam - Legal Status

Legal Status

Temazepam is currently a Schedule IV drug under the international Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971.

In Austria, temazepam is listed in UN71 Schedule III under the Psychotropic Substances Decree of 1997. The drug is considered to have a high potential for abuse and addiction but has accepted medical use for the treatment of severe insomnia.

In Australia, prescription for the 10 mg capsules are restricted as a Schedule 4 controlled drug. The 20 mg capsules are restricted as a Schedule 8 controlled drug. As a Schedule 8 substance, it is illegal to have this drug in possession without an authority prescription from a registered doctor. It is used primarily for the treatment of severe insomnia that has not responded to other treatments and also as a preanesthetic medication.

In Canada, temazepam is a Schedule IV controlled substance requiring a registered doctors prescription.

In Denmark, temazepam is listed as a Class D substance under The Executive Order 698 of 1993 on Euphoric Substances which means it has a high potential for abuse but is used for medical and scientific purposes.

In France, temazepam is prescribed by physicians, it is listed under Medical Psychotropics UN71 Schedule III, being prescribed only when other drugs will not do, prescription nonrenewable (a new doctor visit every time), and being available only in 7-pill, in theory one-week, packaging.

In Hong Kong, temazepam is regulated under Schedule 1 of Hong Kong's Chapter 134 Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. Temazepam can only be used legally by health professionals and for university research purposes. The substance can be given by pharmacists under a prescription. Anyone who supplies the substance without prescription can be fined $10,000 (HKD). The penalty for trafficking or manufacturing the substance is a $5,000,000 (HKD) fine and life imprisonment. Possession of the substance for consumption without license from the Department of Health is illegal with a $1,000,000 (HKD) fine and/or 7 years of jail time.

In Ireland, temazepam is a Schedule 3 controlled substance with strict restrictions.

In the Netherlands, temazepam is available for prescription as 10–20 mg tablets and capsules. Formulations of temazepam containing less than 20 mg are included in List 2 of the Opium Law, while formulations containing 20 mg or more of the drug (along with the gel-capsules) are a List 1 substance of the Opium Law and thus subject to more stringent regulation. Besides being used for insomnia, it is also occasionally used as a preanesthetic medication.

In Norway, temazepam is not available as a prescription drug. It is regulated as a Class A substance under Norway's Narcotics Act.

In Portugal, temazepam is a Schedule IV controlled drug under Decree-Law 15/93.

In Singapore, temazepam is a Class A controlled drug (Schedule I), making it illegal to possess and requiring a private prescription from a licensed physician in order to be dispensed.

In Slovenia, it is regulated as a Group II (Schedule 2) controlled substance under The Production and Trade in Illicit Drugs Act.

In South Africa, temazepam is a Schedule 6 drug, requiring a special prescription, and is restricted to 10–20 mg doses.

In Sweden, temazepam is classed as a "narcotic" drug listed as both a List II (Schedule II) which denotes that it is a drug with limited medicinal use and a high risk of addiction, and it's also listed as a List V (Schedule V) substance which denotes that the drug is prohibited in Sweden under the Narcotics Drugs Act (1968). Temazepam is banned in Sweden and possession and distribution of even small amounts is punishable by a prison sentence and a fine.

In Switzerland, temazepam is a Class B controlled substance, like all other benzodiazepines. This means it is prescription only.

In Thailand, temazepam is a Schedule II controlled drug under the Psychotropic Substances Act. Possession and distribution of the drug is illegal.

In the United Kingdom, temazepam is a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Schedule 3 under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001). If prescribed privately (not on the NHS), temazepam is available only by a special controlled drug prescription form (FP10PCD) and pharmacies are obligated to follow special procedures for storage and dispensing. Additionally, all manufacturers in the UK have replaced the gel-capsules with solid tablets.

In the USA, temazepam is a Schedule IV drug and is only available by prescription. Specially coded prescriptions may be required in certain States.