Health Library

Triazolam (By mouth)

Triazolam (trye-AZ-oh-lam)

Treats insomnia (trouble sleeping).

Brand Name(s):

Halcion

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Tablet

• Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
• This medicine is not for long-term use.
• This medicine is usually taken just before bedtime, or when you are having trouble falling asleep. You should not take this medicine if you are not able to sleep or rest for 7 to 8 hours before you need to be active again.
• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.
• Use this medicine only when you cannot sleep. You do not need to keep a schedule for taking it.
• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Do not use this medicine if you are also using itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazodone, or medicine to treat HIV (including indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir).
• Some foods and medicines can affect how triazolam works. Tell your doctor if you are using the following:
  • Amiodarone, cimetidine, cyclosporine, diltiazem, ergotamine, fluvoxamine, isoniazid, nicardipine, nifedipine, paroxetine, ranitidine, sertraline, verapamil
  • Birth control pills
  • Medicine to treat depression, anxiety, or other mental health problems
  • Medicine to treat infections (including clarithromycin, erythromycin)
  • Other benzodiazepine medicine
  • Seizure medicine
• Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.
• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
• Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Using this medicine during the later part of a pregnancy may cause problems in your newborn baby (including sedation or withdrawal symptoms). Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. This medicine passes into your breast milk and may cause problems in your baby. You may pump and discard your breast milk during treatment and for 28 hours after using this medicine. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, breathing problems (including sleep apnea), or a history of seizures, depression, mental health problems, or drug or alcohol addiction.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Increased risk of overdose, which can be life-threatening
  • Respiratory depression (serious breathing problem that can be life-threatening), when used with narcotic pain medicines
  • Sleep-related behaviors (including sleep-driving, sleep-walking, or having sex, making phone calls, or preparing and eating food while you are asleep or not fully awake)
  • Unusual thoughts or behavior
• This medicine may cause dizziness, drowsiness, especially first thing the next morning. It may also cause decreased alertness or trouble with thinking or trouble with controlling body movements, which may lead to falls, fractures, or other injuries. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine can be habit-forming. Do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor if you think your medicine is not working.
• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.
• Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments. Call your doctor if you still have trouble sleeping after you take this medicine for 7 to 10 days.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Anxiety, depression, irritability, nervousness, unusual mood or behavior, thoughts of hurting yourself
• Blue lips, fingernails, or skin, trouble breathing, chest pain
• Change or loss of consciousness, confusion, problems with coordination or speech, unusual drowsiness
• Dizziness, lightheadedness
• Memory loss, including "traveler's amnesia"

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

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

Last Updated: 9/6/2024