Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Halcion

Descriptions


Triazolam is used to treat insomnia (trouble in sleeping). This medicine is for short-term (usually 7 to 10 days) use only. Triazolam is a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines belong to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which are medicines that slow down the nervous system.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Tablet

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of triazolam in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of triazolam in the elderly. However, severe drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, clumsiness, or unsteadiness are more likely to occur in the elderly, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving triazolam.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using this medicine.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Amprenavir
  • Atazanavir
  • Boceprevir
  • Cobicistat
  • Darunavir
  • Delavirdine
  • Flumazenil
  • Fosamprenavir
  • Idelalisib
  • Indinavir
  • Itraconazole
  • Ketoconazole
  • Levoketoconazole
  • Lopinavir
  • Nefazodone
  • Nelfinavir
  • Nirmatrelvir
  • Ritonavir
  • Saquinavir
  • Telaprevir
  • Tipranavir

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Adagrasib
  • Alfentanil
  • Alprazolam
  • Amobarbital
  • Aprepitant
  • Aprobarbital
  • Aripiprazole
  • Barbital
  • Benzhydrocodone
  • Bromazepam
  • Bromopride
  • Buprenorphine
  • Butabarbital
  • Butalbital
  • Butorphanol
  • Calcium Oxybate
  • Cannabidiol
  • Cannabis
  • Carbamazepine
  • Carbinoxamine
  • Carisoprodol
  • Ceritinib
  • Cetirizine
  • Chloral Hydrate
  • Chlorzoxazone
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clobazam
  • Clonazepam
  • Codeine
  • Conivaptan
  • Dabrafenib
  • Dantrolene
  • Daridorexant
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Dihydrocodeine
  • Doxylamine
  • Duvelisib
  • Esketamine
  • Eterobarb
  • Ethchlorvynol
  • Fedratinib
  • Fentanyl
  • Flibanserin
  • Fluconazole
  • Fosaprepitant
  • Fosnetupitant
  • Fospropofol
  • Gabapentin
  • Gabapentin Enacarbil
  • Heptabarbital
  • Hexobarbital
  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydromorphone
  • Ivacaftor
  • Ivosidenib
  • Ketamine
  • Lacosamide
  • Larotrectinib
  • Lefamulin
  • Lemborexant
  • Lenacapavir
  • Levocetirizine
  • Levorphanol
  • Lofexidine
  • Lorlatinib
  • Loxapine
  • Lumacaftor
  • Magnesium Oxybate
  • Mavacamten
  • Meclizine
  • Meperidine
  • Mephenesin
  • Mephobarbital
  • Meprobamate
  • Metaxalone
  • Methadone
  • Methocarbamol
  • Methohexital
  • Metoclopramide
  • Mibefradil
  • Midazolam
  • Mirtazapine
  • Morphine
  • Morphine Sulfate Liposome
  • Nalbuphine
  • Netupitant
  • Olanzapine
  • Oliceridine
  • Olutasidenib
  • Omaveloxolone
  • Oxycodone
  • Oxymorphone
  • Pacritinib
  • Pentazocine
  • Pentobarbital
  • Periciazine
  • Phenobarbital
  • Pirtobrutinib
  • Potassium Oxybate
  • Pregabalin
  • Primidone
  • Propofol
  • Remifentanil
  • Remimazolam
  • Ritlecitinib
  • Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft
  • Scopolamine
  • Secobarbital
  • Simeprevir
  • Sodium Oxybate
  • Sufentanil
  • Tapentadol
  • Thiopental
  • Topiramate
  • Tramadol
  • Trazodone
  • Trofinetide
  • Voriconazole
  • Zolpidem
  • Zuranolone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Dehydroepiandrosterone
  • Desogestrel
  • Dienogest
  • Diltiazem
  • Drospirenone
  • Erythromycin
  • Estradiol
  • Ethinyl Estradiol
  • Ethynodiol
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Gestodene
  • Levonorgestrel
  • Mestranol
  • Modafinil
  • Nomegestrol
  • Norethindrone
  • Norgestimate
  • Norgestrel
  • Omeprazole
  • Ranitidine
  • Rifampin
  • Rifapentine
  • Roxithromycin
  • Rufinamide
  • St John's Wort
  • Theophylline
  • Troleandomycin

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Grapefruit Juice

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Ethanol

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Alcohol or drug abuse or dependence, or history of or
  • Breathing problems or lung disease, severe or
  • Depression, or history of or
  • Sleep apnea (temporary stopping of breathing during sleep)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Proper Use

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. If too much of this medicine is taken for a long time, it may become habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence).

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Take triazolam just before going to bed, when you are ready to go to sleep. This medicine works very quickly to put you to sleep.

Do not take this medicine when your schedule does not permit you to get a full night's sleep (7 to 8 hours). If you must wake up before this, you may continue to feel drowsy and may experience memory problems, because the effects of the medicine have not had time to wear off.

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage form (tablets):
    • For insomnia:
      • Adults—0.125 to 0.25 milligram (mg) at bedtime. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 0.5 mg per day.
      • Older adults—At first, 0.125 mg at bedtime. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 0.25 mg per day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Use this medicine only when you cannot sleep. You do not need to keep a schedule for taking it. Do not use two doses at the same time.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and to check for any unwanted effects.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Using this medicine during the later pregnancy may cause problems in your newborn baby (eg, sedation or withdrawal symptoms). Tell your doctor right away if your baby has an abnormal sleep pattern, diarrhea, feeding problems, a high-pitched cry, irritability, low muscle tone, restlessness, shakiness or tremors, sluggishness, trouble breathing, weight loss, vomiting, or fails to gain weight. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

If your condition does not improve within 7 to 10 days, or if it becomes worse, check with your doctor.

Do not take itraconazole (Sporanox®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®), nefazodone (Serzone®), or certain HIV medicines (eg, indinavir, nelfinavir, lopinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, Kaletra®, Norvir®) while you are using this medicine. Using these medicines together with triazolam may increase the chance of serious side effects.

Triazolam may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have itching, hives, hoarseness, nausea or vomiting, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, mouth or throat while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may be habit-forming. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor for instructions.

This medicine may cause you to do things while you are still asleep that you may not remember the next morning. It is possible you could drive a car, sleepwalk, have sex, make phone calls, or prepare and eat food while you are asleep or not fully awake. Tell your doctor right away if you learn that any of these has happened.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants. CNS depressants are medicines that slow down the nervous system, which may cause drowsiness or make you less alert. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, allergies, or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, barbiturates (used for seizures), muscle relaxants, or anesthetics (numbing medicines), including some dental anesthetics. This effect may last for a few days after you stop taking this medicine. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause some people, especially older persons, to become drowsy, dizzy, or less alert than they are normally, which may lead to falls. Even though triazolam is taken at bedtime, it may cause some people to feel drowsy or less alert the next morning. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

Do not stop using this medicine without checking first with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping it completely. This may help prevent a worsening of your condition and reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms, including seizures, stomach or muscle cramps, sweating, tremors, vomiting, or unusual behavior.

If you develop any unusual and strange thoughts or behavior while you are using triazolam, be sure to discuss it with your doctor. Some changes that have occurred in people using this medicine are like those seen in people who drink alcohol and then act in a manner that is not normal. Other changes may be more unusual and extreme, such as confusion, worsening of depression, hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there), suicidal thoughts, and unusual excitement, nervousness, or irritability.

Symptoms of an overdose include: change in consciousness, changes in patterns and rhythms of speech, difficult or trouble breathing, difficulty with coordination, hallucinations, irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing, loss of consciousness, loss of strength or energy, mood or mental changes, muscle pain or weakness, nightmares, pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin, sleepiness or unusual drowsiness, shakiness and unsteady walk, slurred speech, trouble in speaking, trouble sleeping, unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination, unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness or feeling of sluggishness, unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability, or unusual weak feeling. Call your doctor right away if you notice these symptoms.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine 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:

Less common

  1. Shakiness and unsteady walk
  2. unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination

Rare

  1. Being forgetful
  2. burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
  3. continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
  4. discouragement
  5. false or unusual sense of well-being
  6. fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
  7. feeling sad or empty
  8. hearing loss
  9. irritability
  10. lack of appetite
  11. loss of interest or pleasure
  12. nightmares
  13. tiredness
  14. trouble concentrating
  15. trouble sleeping

Incidence not known

  1. Actions that are out of control
  2. aggressiveness
  3. anxiety
  4. changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
  5. chest pain
  6. chills
  7. clay-colored stools
  8. confusion about identity, place, and time
  9. dark urine
  10. decrease in frequency of urination
  11. decrease in urine volume
  12. difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
  13. dizziness
  14. drowsiness
  15. dry mouth
  16. environment seems unreal
  17. fainting
  18. falling
  19. false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
  20. feeling of unreality
  21. fever
  22. headache
  23. hyperventilation
  24. inability to move the eyes
  25. increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid
  26. increased muscle spasm
  27. irregular heartbeat
  28. loss of bladder control
  29. loss of memory
  30. nausea
  31. nervousness
  32. painful urination
  33. problems with memory
  34. rash
  35. relaxed and calm feeling
  36. restlessness
  37. seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
  38. sense of detachment from self or body
  39. sleep walking
  40. sleepiness
  41. slurred speech
  42. sticking out of tongue
  43. stomach pain
  44. talking, feeling, and acting with excitement
  45. trouble breathing, speaking, or swallowing
  46. uncontrolled twisting movements of the neck, trunk, arms, or legs
  47. unpleasant breath odor
  48. unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability
  49. unusual facial expressions
  50. unusual tiredness or weakness
  51. vomiting of blood
  52. yellow eyes or skin

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

Symptoms of overdose

  1. Agitation
  2. change in consciousness
  3. changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
  4. confusion
  5. irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
  6. loss of consciousness
  7. loss of strength or energy
  8. nightmares
  9. mood or mental changes
  10. pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
  11. shakiness and unsteady walk
  12. slurred speech
  13. talkativeness
  14. trouble speaking
  15. unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
  16. unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
  17. unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability

Some side effects 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

  1. Lightheadedness

Rare

  1. Blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
  2. change in taste, or bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
  3. change in vision
  4. cracked, dry, or scaly skin
  5. cramps
  6. diarrhea
  7. difficulty having a bowel movement
  8. dry mouth
  9. swelling
  10. weakness

Incidence not known

  1. Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
  2. inability to have or keep an erection
  3. increase in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
  4. increase interest in sexual intercourse
  5. itching skin
  6. loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
  7. menstrual changes
  8. redness, swelling, or soreness of the tongue
  9. swelling or inflammation of the mouth
  10. weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/triazolam-oral-route/description/drg-20072203