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Triazolam

    DEA Class;  Rx

    Common Brand Names; Halcion

    • Sedative/Hypnotics

    Short acting benzodiazepine; no active metabolites; anterograde amnesia reported more frequently with triazolam than with other hypnotic benzodiazepines; used for insomnia.

    Indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia.

    Documented hypersensitivity

    Acute alcohol intoxication

    Myasthenia gravis (allowable in limited circumstances)

    Narrow angle glaucoma (questionable)

    Severe respiratory depression

    Depressed neuroses, psychotic reactions

    IV use in shock, coma, depressed respiration, patients who recently received other respiratory depressants

    Medications that significantly impair oxidative metabolism mediated by cytochrome P450 3A (CYP 3A) including ketoconazole, itraconazole, nefazodone, and several HIV protease inhibitors

    • Drowsiness (14%)
    • Headache (5-10%)
    • Dizziness (5-10%)
    • Nervousness (5-10%)
    • Ataxia (4-5%)
    • Lightheadedness (4-5%)
    • N/V (4-5%)
    • Anterogade amnesia
    • Paradoxical reactions
    • Travelers amnesia-especially if combined with EtOH
    • Confusion
    • Cramps
    • Fatigue
    • Memory impairment
    • Depression
    • Visual disturbance
    • Xerostomia
    • Anterograde amnesia
    • Dreaming/nightmares
    • Confusion

    Use caution in COPD, sleep apnea, renal/hepatic disease, open-angle glaucoma (questionable), impaired gag reflex, depression, suicide ideation

    Benzodiazepines may worsen depression; take appropriate precautions (e.g., limiting total prescription size and increased monitoring for suicidal ideation) in patients with depression

    Anterograde amnesia may occur

    Hypersensitivity reactions reported

    Sleep related activities (sleep driving, sleep-cooking, sleep-eating etc) may occur

    Hyperactive aggressive behavior may occur

    May impair ability to perform hazardous tasks

    Failure of insomnia to remit after 7 – 10 days of treatment may indicate presence of primary psychiatric and/or medical illness that should be evaluated

    Increase in daytime anxiety may occur; consider therapy discontinuation if this occurs

    Use caution and consider appropriate dose reduction when used concomitantly with weak or moderate CYP450 3A inhibitors

    Therapy can cause drowsiness and a decreased level of consciousness; patients, particularly the elderly, are at higher risk of falls

    There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to drug during pregnancy

    There are no data on presence of drug in human milk or effects on milk production

    Adults

    0.5 mg/day PO.

    Elderly

    0.25 mg/day PO.

    Adolescents

    Safety and efficacy have not been established.

    Children

    Safety and efficacy have not been established.

    Triazolam

    tablet: Schedule IV

    • 0.125mg
    • 0.25mg