Brand Names: Halcion

Generic Name: triazolam

What is triazolam (Halcion)?
What are the possible side effects of triazolam (Halcion)?
What is the most important information I should know about triazolam (Halcion)?
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking triazolam (Halcion)?
How should I take triazolam (Halcion)?
What happens if I miss a dose (Halcion)?
What happens if I overdose (Halcion)?
What should I avoid while taking triazolam (Halcion)?
What other drugs will affect triazolam (Halcion)?
Where can I get more information (Halcion)?

What is triazolam (Halcion)?

Triazolam is a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peen) that is used to treat insomnia (trouble falling or staying asleep).

Triazolam may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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Triazolam 0.125 mg-PAR

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Triazolam 0.125 mg-ROX

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Triazolam 0.25 mg-ROX

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What are the possible side effects of triazolam (Halcion)?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Triazolam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication, alcohol, or other drugs that can slow your breathing. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have weak or shallow breathing, if you are hard to wake up, or if you stop breathing.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

daytime anxiety;
unusual changes in mood or behavior;
confusion, memory loss, agitation, hallucinations; or
depression, suicidal thoughts.

Some people using triazolam have engaged in activity such as driving, eating, making phone calls, or having sex and later having no memory of the activity. Tell your doctor if this happens to you.

The sedative effects of triazolam may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while you are taking triazolam.

Common side effects may include:

daytime drowsiness (or during hours when you are not normally sleeping);
loss of coordination;
dizziness; or
feeling light-headed.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about triazolam (Halcion)?

Triazolam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication, alcohol, or other drugs that can slow your breathing.

MISUSE OF THIS MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking triazolam (Halcion)?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to triazolam or similar medicines (such as alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam, Ativan, Klonopin, Restoril, Tranxene, Valium, Versed, Xanax, and others).

Many drugs can interact and cause dangerous effects. Some drugs should not be used together with triazolam. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:

nefazodone;
an antibiotic--clarithromycin, telithromycin;
antifungal medicine--itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole; or
antiviral medicine to treat HIV or hepatitis C--boceprevir, cobicistat, dasabuvir, elvitegravir, indinavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, nelfinavir, ombitasvir, paritaprevir saquinavir, telaprevir, tipranavir.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

depression, mental illness, suicidal thoughts or actions;
lung disease, breathing problems, sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep); or
alcoholism or drug addiction.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you use triazolam while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks.

If you are breastfeeding, tell your doctor if you notice drowsiness, breathing problems, or feeding problems in the nursing baby.

Triazolam is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I take triazolam (Halcion)?

Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Never use triazolam in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to use more of this medicine.

Never share triazolam with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Take this medicine only when you are getting ready for several hours of sleep. You may fall asleep very quickly after taking the medicine.

Avoid using triazolam to prevent jet lag while traveling by airplane.

Call your doctor if your insomnia does not improve after taking triazolam for 7 to 10 nights, or if you have any mood or behavior changes. Insomnia can be a symptom of depression, mental illness, or certain medical conditions.

Do not take triazolam for longer than 10 nights in a row, unless your doctor has told you to. The first few nights after you stop taking triazolam, your insomnia symptoms may return and could be worse than before. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep track of your medicine. You should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription.

SLIDESHOW

Sleep Disorders: Foods That Help Sleep or Keep You Awake See Slideshow

What happens if I miss a dose (Halcion)?

Since triazolam is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. Take triazolam only when you have time for several hours of sleep. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose (Halcion)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of triazolam can be fatal, especially if taken with alcohol.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, loss of coordination, weak or shallow breathing, fainting, or coma.

What should I avoid while taking triazolam (Halcion)?

Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death could occur.

You may still feel sleepy the morning after taking this medicine. Wait until you are fully awake before you drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Your reactions may be impaired.

Grapefruit may interact with triazolam and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

What other drugs will affect triazolam (Halcion)?

Taking triazolam with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Many drugs can affect triazolam, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information (Halcion)?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about triazolam.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.