Prescribers or other health professionals should inform patients, their families, and their caregivers about the benefits and risks associated with treatment with Doral (quazepam tablets) and should counsel them in its appropriate use. A patient Medication Guide is available for Doral (quazepam tablets) . The prescriber or health professional should instruct patients, their families, and their caregivers to read the Medication Guide and should assist them in understanding its contents. Patients should be given the opportunity to discuss the contents of the Medication Guide and to obtain answers to any questions they may have.

Patients should be advised of the following issues and asked to alert their prescriber if these occur while taking Doral (quazepam tablets) .

“Sleep-Driving“ and other complex behaviors

There have been reports of people getting out of bed after taking a sedative-hypnotic and driving their cars while not fully awake, often with no memory of the event. If a patient experiences such an episode, it should be reported to his or her doctor immediately, since “sleep-driving” can be dangerous. This behavior is more likely to occur when sedative-hypnotics are taken with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants (see WARNINGS). Other complex behaviors (e.g., preparing and eating food, making phone calls, or having sex) have been reported in patients who are not fully awake after taking a sedative-hypnotic. As with sleep-driving, patients usually do not remember these events.

It is also suggested that physicians discuss the following information with patients. This information is intended to aid in the safe and effective use of this medication. It is not a disclosure of all possible adverse or intended effects.

1. Inform your physician about any alcohol consumption and medicine you are taking now, including drugs you may buy without a prescription. Alcohol should generally not be used during treatment with hypnotics.
2. Inform your physician if you are planning to become pregnant, if you are pregnant, or if you become pregnant while you are taking this medicine.
3. Inform your physician if you are nursing.
4. Until you experience how this medicine affects you, do not drive a car or operate potentially dangerous machinery, etc.
5. Benzodiazepines may cause daytime sedation, which may persist for several days following drug discontinuation.
6. Patients should be told not to increase the dose on their own and should inform their physician if they believe the drug “does not work anymore”.
7. If benzodiazepines are taken on a prolonged and regular basis (even for periods as brief as 6 weeks), patients should be advised not to stop taking them abruptly or to decrease the dose without consulting their physician, because withdrawal symptoms may occur.

Last reviewed on RxList: 4/30/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.