Estazolam Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 6, 2024.

Applies to estazolam: oral tablet.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (tablet)

Warning: Risks From Concomitant Use With Opioids; Abuse, Misuse, and Addiction; and Dependence and Withdrawal Reactions. Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate.

Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required.

Follow patients for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation.The use of benzodiazepines, including estazolam, exposes users to risks of abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can lead to overdose or death.

Abuse and misuse of benzodiazepines commonly involve concomitant use of other medications, alcohol, and/or illicit substances, which is associated with an increased frequency of serious adverse outcomes.

Before prescribing estazolam and throughout treatment, assess each patient's risk for abuse, misuse, and addiction.The continued use of benzodiazepines, including estazolam, may lead to clinically significant physical dependence.

The risks of dependence and withdrawal increase with longer treatment duration and higher daily dose.

Abrupt discontinuation or rapid dosage reduction of estazolam after continued use may precipitate acute withdrawal reactions, which can be life-threatening.

To reduce the risk of withdrawal reactions, use a gradual taper to discontinue estazolam or reduce the dosage.

Serious side effects of estazolam

Along with its needed effects, estazolam may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking estazolam:

More common side effects

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

Less common side effects

• dry mouth
• false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
• headache
• mood or mental changes
• nausea and vomiting
• poor insight and judgment
• problems with memory or speech
• tiredness
• trouble thinking and planning
• trouble walking

Rare side effects

• aggressive or angry
• blood in the urine
• bloody nose
• bloody, black, or tarry stools
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• chest pain or tightness
• chills
• cough
• crying
• decrease in the amount of urine
• decreased awareness or responsiveness
• decreased reflexes
• deep or fast breathing with dizziness
• difficult urination
• dryness or soreness of throat
• dysphoria
• fainting
• false or unusual sense of well-being
• fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
• fear or nervousness
• feeling of unreality
• feeling of warmth
• fever
• frequent strong or increased urge to urinate
• hoarseness
• increased urge to urinate during the night
• irritability
• lack of feeling or emotion
• loss of bladder control
• loss of memory
• mouth sores or ulcers
• muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities
• noisy breathing
• numbness of the feet, hands, and around mouth
• paranoia
• problems with memory
• quick to react or overreact emotionally
• rapidly changing moods
• redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• restlessness
• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• seizures
• sense of detachment from self or body
• severe sleepiness
• severe stomach pain
• shakiness and unsteady walk
• shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
• skin rash
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• sudden loss of consciousness
• swelling
• swollen glands
• swollen lymph nodes
• trouble breathing
• trouble in swallowing
• trouble sleeping
• uncaring
• uncontrolled eye movements
• unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• voice changes
• waking to urinate at night

Incidence not known

• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• diarrhea
• fever with or without chills
• general feeling of tiredness or weakness
• itching
• joint or muscle pain
• lower back or side pain
• muscle cramps
• red, irritated eyes
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• sleeplessness
• sweating
• unable to sleep

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking estazolam:

Symptoms of overdose

• change in consciousness
• irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• slurred speech

Other side effects of estazolam

Some side effects of estazolam may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common side effects

• lack or loss of strength

Less common side effects

• pain in the legs or feet

Rare side effects

• blemishes on the skin
• bloated
• blurred vision
• burning feeling in the chest or stomach
• change in color vision
• change in taste bad unusual or unpleasant (after) taste
• changes in vision, especially night blindness
• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
• cramping in the lower stomach, back, or legs
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
• difficulty in moving
• difficulty seeing at night
• double vision
• ear or eye pain
• excess air or gas in stomach or intestines
• full feeling
• glare or snowy image caused by bright light
• hearing loss
• hives or welts
• inability to have or keep an erection
• increased or decreased appetite
• increased sensitivity of eyes to sunlight
• indigestion
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• muscle pains or stiffness
• pain in the arms, jaw, or neck
• pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
• pain, swelling, or redness in joints
• passing gas
• pimples
• red, sore eyes
• redness of the skin
• seeing double
• sneezing
• stomach upset or tenderness
• stuffy or runny nose
• swelling of the breasts
• weight gain or loss
• white or brownish vaginal discharge

Incidence not known

• increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight
• redness or other discoloration of skin
• severe sunburn

For healthcare professionals

Applies to estazolam: oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported side effects were somnolence, hypokinesia, dizziness, and abnormal coordination.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Allergic reaction^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Very common (10% or more): Somnolence (42%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Anxiety, depression, abnormal dream, abnormal thinking
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Agitation, apathy, emotional lability, euphoria, hostility, sleep disorder
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Hallucinations^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (16%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Hypokinesia, nervousness, dizziness, abnormal coordination, hangover, confusion
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Amnesia, paresthesia, seizure, stupor, twitch
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Ataxia, circumoral paresthesia, decreased reflexes, neuritis, nystagmus, tremor
• Frequency not reported: Minor changes in EEG patterns^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Increased SGOT^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Asthenia (11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Malaise, body pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chills, fever, ear pain, perverse taste, tinnitus
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Edema, decreased hearing^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Cold symptoms, pharyngitis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Asthma, cough, dyspnea, rhinitis, sinusitis
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Epistaxis, hyperventilation, laryngitis^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, dry mouth, nausea, dyspepsia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Decreased appetite, flatulence, gastritis, increased appetite, vomiting
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Enterocolitis, melena, ulceration of the mouth^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Flushing, palpitation
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Arrhythmia, syncope^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash, sweating, urticaria
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Acne, dry skin
• Postmarketing reports: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, photosensitivity^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Thyroid nodule^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Frequent urination, menstrual cramps, urinary hesitancy, urinary urgency, vaginal discharge/itching
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Swollen breast, decreased libido, hematuria, nocturia, oliguria, penile discharge, urinary incontinence^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Leukopenia, purpura, swollen lymph nodes
• Postmarketing reports: Agranulocytosis^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Thirst
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Weight gain, weight loss^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Lower extremity pain, back pain, stiffness
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Neck pain, upper extremity pain, arthritis, muscle spasm, myalgia
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Jaw pain, arthralgia^[Ref]

Ocular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal vision, eye irritation, eye pain, eye swelling, photophobia
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Diplopia, scotomata^[Ref]

Further information

Estazolam side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer