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.
 

Who Makes Triazolam?

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

How Does Triazolam 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 triazolam include the following:
 
  • Triazolam comes in tablet form. It is usually taken by mouth at bedtime.
     
  • Take triazolam just before you are ready to fall asleep; it works rather quickly.
     
  • Triazolam can be taken with or without food. If triazolam 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).
     
(Triazolam Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;