triazolam
Brand names: Halcion
Triazolam (Halcion) is a medication used for the short-term treatment of insomnia. It belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which help you fall asleep.
Drug Shortage Alert
triazolam is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Pfizer Inc..
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.25/unit
Generic Available
Yes (2 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Triazolam is used to treat insomnia in adults.
Common side effects
Drowsiness, Headache, Dizziness
Key warnings
Taking triazolam with opioid pain medicines can cause very serious problems, including slowed or stopped breathing, coma, and death.
How It Works
Triazolam works by slowing down activity in the brain. This helps you to relax and fall asleep. It affects certain chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters.
How to Take It
Take triazolam once a day, right before bedtime. The usual dose for adults is 0.25 mg. Some people may only need 0.125 mg. Your doctor may increase your dose to 0.5 mg if the lower dose doesn't work, but do not exceed this amount.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Taking triazolam late in pregnancy may cause sedation or withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking triazolam. A registry exists to track outcomes in women who take psychiatric medications, including triazolam, during pregnancy.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose at your regular time. Do not take two doses at once.
Storage
Store triazolam at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 3,584 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 8,521 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
8,521
Death-Related Reports
1,218
Hospitalization Reports
3,668
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG ABUSE | 519 |
| 2 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 450 |
| 3 | SOPOR | 402 |
| 4 | NAUSEA | 352 |
| 5 | OVERDOSE | 350 |
| 6 | FALL | 315 |
| 7 | INSOMNIA | 303 |
| 8 | PYREXIA | 302 |
| 9 | SUICIDE ATTEMPT | 302 |
| 10 | DIARRHOEA | 290 |
| 11 | DIZZINESS | 282 |
| 12 | SOMNOLENCE | 280 |
| 13 | MALAISE | 267 |
| 14 | HEADACHE | 262 |
| 15 | LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS | 260 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Taking triazolam with opioid pain medicines can cause very serious problems, including slowed or stopped breathing, coma, and death. Because of these risks, doctors will only prescribe opioid pain medicines with triazolam when other treatment options are not sufficient. Do not misuse this medicine. Misuse can lead to addiction, overdose, or death. Stopping triazolam suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medicine.
Known Drug Interactions
Sedatives/hypnotics: orally administered midazolam, triazolam ↑ midazolam ↑ triazolam Co-administration is contraindicated due to potential for serious and/or life-threatening reactions such as prolonged or increased sedation or respiratory depression. Triazolam and orally administered midazolam are extensively metabolized by CYP3A. Co-administration of triazolam or orally administered midazolam with darunavir may cause large increases in the concentrations of these benzodiazepines.
Mechanism: Darunavir blocks the body from breaking down triazolam, which can cause the sedative to build up to dangerous levels. This can lead to extreme sleepiness or trouble breathing.
What to do: Do not take these two medications together because the combination can be life-threatening.
Lurasidone Midazolam (oral) a Pimozide Triazolam a Contraindicated during and 2 weeks after itraconazole treatment.
Mechanism: Itraconazole prevents your body from clearing triazolam, which can make the sleep medicine much more powerful and potentially dangerous.
What to do: Do not use these drugs together and wait at least two weeks after your last dose of itraconazole before taking triazolam.
Sedative/hypnotics triazolam, oral midazolam ↑ triazolam ↑ midazolam Co-administration contraindicated due to potential for extreme sedation and respiratory depression [see Contraindications (4) ] .
Mechanism: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir prevents your body from breaking down triazolam, leading to much higher levels of the sedative in your blood. This can cause you to become dangerously sleepy or have trouble breathing.
What to do: Do not use these medicines together. Your doctor must find a safer alternative to avoid serious side effects.
Benzodiazepines Clinical Impact Increased exposure to midazolam or other benzodiazepines metabolized via CYP3A4 (alprazolam, triazolam) may increase the risk of adverse reactions [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. Benzodiazepines Clinical Impact Increased exposure to midazolam or other benzodiazepines metabolized via CYP3A4 (alprazolam, triazolam) may increase the risk of adverse reactions [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )].
Mechanism: Aprepitant slows down the process of clearing triazolam from your body, which can lead to higher levels of the drug in your blood. This makes side effects more likely to happen.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for increased side effects while taking these drugs. They may need to adjust your dose of triazolam.
Alprazolam Triazolam Triazolam, Alprazolam: Caution and appropriate dose adjustments should be considered when triazolam or alprazolam is co-administered with clarithromycin. There have been postmarketing reports of drug interactions and central nervous system (CNS) effects (e.g., somnolence and confusion) with the concomitant use of clarithromycin and triazolam. In postmarketing experience, erythromycin has been reported to decrease the clearance of triazolam and midazolam, and thus, may increase the pharmacologic effect of these benzodiazepines.
Mechanism: Clarithromycin prevents your body from clearing triazolam quickly, which can make you feel much more sleepy or confused than usual.
What to do: Your doctor may need to lower your dose of triazolam while you are taking clarithromycin.
Common Questions
Can I take triazolam with my pain medicine?
How long can I take triazolam?
What should I do if I feel more anxious during the day?
Can I drive after taking triazolam?
What if triazolam stops working after a few days?
Can I drink alcohol while taking triazolam?
What happens if I suddenly stop taking triazolam?
Is it okay to share my triazolam with someone else?
What should I do if I think I took too much triazolam?
Are there any foods I should avoid while taking triazolam?
What are the common side effects of triazolam?
Does triazolam interact with other medications?
What drug class is triazolam?
Is triazolam safe during pregnancy?
Is triazolam currently in shortage?
Related Medications in Benzodiazepine (Hypnotic)
Other drugs grouped near triazolam — same-class peers and common alternatives.
eszopiclone
Lunesta
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) is a medicine that helps you fall asleep and stay asleep.
Compare with triazolam →
lemborexant
Dayvigo
Dayvigo is a medicine that can help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
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melatonin
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone supplement that can help with sleep.
Compare with triazolam →
ramelteon
Rozerem
Ramelteon (Rozerem) is a prescription medicine that can help you fall asleep faster.
Compare with triazolam →
suvorexant
Belsomra
Belsomra is a prescription medicine used to treat insomnia.
Compare with triazolam →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for triazolam
The FDA label for triazolam (sold under brand names such as Halcion) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Benzodiazepine (Hypnotic) class. Triazolam is used to treat insomnia in adults. Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Drowsiness, Headache, Dizziness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 3,584 voluntary reports. The database also lists 10 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.25.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: November 26, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages