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Doral
Doral is a prescription medicine commonly used to treat insomnia. By enhancing the effects of a naturally calming brain chemical, the drug can help relax muscles and cause sleepiness. Doral comes in tablet form and is generally taken once a day at bedtime. Commonly reported side effects include headache, fatigue, dizziness, and daytime drowsiness.
Doral® (quazepam) is a prescription sleep medication approved for the treatment of insomnia. It is generally recommended for short-term use, although occasional long-term use may be appropriate.
(Click Doral Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
Doral is currently made by Questcor Pharmaceuticals.
Doral is part of a group of medications known as benzodiazepines (sometimes called "benzos" for short). Benzodiazepines have a variety of different effects on the body, including:
All benzodiazepines can have these effects to some degree, depending on the specific medication and the dose. They work in the brain by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical that is naturally calming. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain. This is why Doral and other benzodiazepines are known as mild tranquilizers, sedatives, or central nervous system depressants (CNS depressants).
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD