Halcion

Halcion belongs to a group of drugs called Benzodiazepines, which are CNS depressants (they slow down the nervous system). It is used for the treatment of insomnia.

This medication should only be taken in the short term. This medicine is available only through your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Tablet

Before using Halcion, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it. Your doctor will consider these risks before prescribing the drug and will inform you about them.

Following factors should be considered before taking this drug:

Allergies

If you have had an allergic reaction to this drug in the past, inform your doctor. You should also tell your healthcare provider if you are allergic to any other drugs or food products.

Age-specific problems

The data regarding the effects of this medicine specific to the pediatric age group is not yet available. Its safety and efficacy have not been established in children.

The studies specific to the geriatric age group have not been carried out, therefore its safety and efficacy have not been established in older age group. However, geriatric population is more prone to having kidney, liver and heart problems.

Pregnancy

Regarding the safety of usage of this drug during pregnancy, it comes under “X” category, which means that clinical trials on pregnant women have revealed definite harmful effects to the developing fetus and this drug should not be used in women who are pregnant or likely to get pregnant.

Drug Interactions

Certain drugs should not be used together because they can interact inside the body which can have a harmful effect. On the other hand, certain drugs are allowed to be used together.

So, you should tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking. If there is a chance of interaction between those two drugs, the doctor may change the dose or may prescribe an alternative drug.

This medication should be used cautiously with following drugs:

• Atazanavir
• Amprenavir
• Cobicistat
• Boceprevir
• Delavirdine
• Darunavir
• Fosamprenavir
• Flumazenil
• Indinavir
• Idelalisib
• Itraconazole
• Ketoconazole
• Lopinavir
• Ritonavir
• Nefazodone
• Nelfinavir
• Telaprevir
• Saquinavir
• Dehydroepiandrosterone
• Tipranavir
• Erythromycin
• Diltiazem
• Modafinil
• Fluvoxamine
• Ranitidine
• Omeprazole
• Rifampin
• Roxithromycin
• Rifapentine
• St John's Wort
• Rufinamide
• Troleandomycin
• Theophylline

Furthermore, certain medications should not be taken with alcohol or tobacco, which may also result in harmful interactions. Ask your doctor about the concurrent use of this drug along with alcohol or tobacco.

You should also inform your doctor about any other medical condition you may be suffering from, especially:

• Alcohol abuse
• Drug abuse or dependence
• Breathing problems or lung disease
• Depression
• Sleep apnea (temporary stopping of breathing during sleep
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease—Use with caution

To use Halcion properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor. Avoid taking this drug during or right after a meal. Take this medicine just before going to bed. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

To avoid adverse effects, this drug should be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not overuse or misuse this drug and do not use it longer than the recommended time. Read all the instructions mentioned in the medication guide.

Missed dose

Do not miss any dose. The dose of this drug varies according to the condition of each person. The number of doses per day, the time interval between the doses and the length of time you have to take the medicine depends on your condition individually and all these factors should only be determined by your healthcare provider. Follow each and every instruction of your doctor and also read the label carefully.

In case you miss one dose of this drug, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your subsequent dose, you can then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take two doses at once.

Storage

This medicine should be stored at room temperature within a closed container, away from heat, direct light, and moisture. Keep this drug out of the reach of children. Do not store expired or outdated medicines or the medicine no longer needed.

In using Halcion, you must be careful and take some precautions as advised by your doctor. Do not use this drug while you are pregnant. Triazolam can also cause severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis.

It can also lead to behavioral changes including mood changes and depression. Avoid taking other CNS depressants while you are on triazolam.

It is important for your doctor to monitor the response to the medicine and look for any side effects. Therefore, regular follow-up is necessary during and after the treatment. Contact your doctor if your symptoms have not improved even after taking the full course of treatment.

Avoid taking any other medicine unless thoroughly discussed with your doctor. Always ask your doctor before using any prescription, non-prescription or herbal medicine.

As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Halcion. Although these side effects may occur only in a handful of patients but if they do occur, contact your physician immediately.

This medication is associated with following side effects:

• Unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
• Shakiness and unsteady walk
• Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• Being forgetful
• Discouragement
• Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
• Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• False or unusual sense of well-being
• Feeling sad or empty
• Irritability
• Hearing loss
• Lack of appetite
• Nightmares
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Tiredness
• Trouble concentrating
• Abdominal or stomach pain
• Trouble sleeping
• Aggressiveness
• Actions that are out of control
• Anxiety
• Chest pain
• Changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
• Chills
• Confusion about identity, place, and time
• Clay-colored stools
• Dark urine
• Decrease in urine volume
• Decrease in frequency of urination
• Difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Fainting
• Environment seems unreal
• Falling
• Feeling of unreality
• False beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
• Fever
• Headache
• Hyperventilation
• Inability to move the eyes
• Increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid
• Irregular heartbeats
• Increased muscle spasm
• Loss of memory
• Loss of bladder control
• Nausea
• Painful urination
• Nervousness
• Nightmares
• Relaxed and calm
• Problems with memory
• Rash
• Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• Restlessness
• Sleep walking
• Sense of detachment from self or body
• Slurred speech
• Sleepiness
• Talking, feeling, and acting with excitement
• Sticking out of tongue
• Uncontrolled twisting movements of the neck, trunk, arms, or legs
• Trouble breathing, speaking, or swallowing
• Unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability
• Unpleasant breath odor
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Unusual facial expressions
• Yellow eyes or skin
• Vomiting of blood

Seek medical help instantly, if you experience any of these symptoms. Also contact your health care professional immediately, if you have overdosed on this drug. If any of these side effects becomes more bothersome or does not go away, contact your doctor.