Triazolam

If you have insomnia, a healthcare provider may recommend triazolam. The prescription medication is used for the short-term treatment of insomnia and works by enhancing the calming effects of a certain brain chemical. Triazolam, which comes in the form of a tablet, is usually taken once a day at bedtime. Drowsiness, dizziness, and headaches are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

 

What Is Triazolam?

Triazolam (Halcion®) is a prescription sleep medication approved for the short-term treatment of insomnia.
 

Side Effects of Triazolam

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with triazolam. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
 
Common side effects of triazolam include, but are not limited to:
 
(Click Side Effects of Triazolam to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
 

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking triazolam if you have:
 
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Precautions and Warnings With Triazolam to learn more, including information on who should not take the drug.)
 

How Does It Work?

Triazolam is part of a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines have several effects on the body, including:
 
  • Reducing anxiety
  • Causing sleepiness
  • Relaxing muscles
  • Stopping seizures
  • Impairing short-term memory.
     
All of the medicines in this category can have these effects to some degree, depending on the specific benzodiazepine that is being taken. They work in the brain by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a brain chemical that has a naturally calming effect. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain. This is why triazolam and other benzodiazepines are known as mild tranquilizers, sedatives, or central nervous system depressants (CNS depressants).
 

When and How to Take Triazolam

Some general considerations for when and how to take the medication include the following:
 
  • Triazolam comes in tablet form. It is usually taken by mouth at bedtime.
     
  • Take it just before you are ready to fall asleep; it works rather quickly.
     
  • Triazolam can be taken with or without food. If it bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Triazolam may cause serious problems if you take it at higher doses or for a longer period of time than your healthcare provider recommends (see Halcion Abuse).
     

Dosing Information

The dose of triazolam that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age and weight
  • Other medications you may be taking
  • Other medical conditions you may have.
     
As is the case with any medication, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Triazolam Dosing for more information.)
  

Drug Interactions

Triazolam can potentially interact with several other medicines (see Drug Interactions With Triazolam).
  

What If I Take an Overdose of Triazolam?

People who take too much triazolam may have overdose symptoms that could include:
 
  • Drowsiness
  • Confusion
  • Coordination problems
  • Slurred speech
  • Coma
  • Breathing problems
  • Seizures
  • Loss of life.
     
If you happen to overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
 
(Click Halcion Overdose for more information.)
 

What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?

If you forget to take your triazolam dose, skip the missed dose (unless it is still fairly early in the evening). Taking it in the middle of the night or during the day can lead to daytime drowsiness.
 

Who Makes It?

Triazolam is made by Pfizer, Inc. Generic triazolam is made by several different manufacturers.
 

Strengths

Triazolam tablets are available in the following strengths:
 
  • Triazolam 0.125 mg
  • Triazolam 0.25 mg.
     

Is There a Generic Version of Triazolam?

Currently, both brand-name and generic triazolam versions are licensed for sale (see Generic Halcion).
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;