Prescription medication · Benzodiazepine (Hypnotic)
triazolam
Also sold as Halcion. Triazolam is used to treat insomnia in adults.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 8,521
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 10
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
triazolam (Halcion) is a prescription Benzodiazepine (Hypnotic), reported less often than most tracked drugs (8,521 FDA reports), with 10 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
triazolam (Halcion) is a prescription Benzodiazepine (Hypnotic). Triazolam is used to treat insomnia in adults.
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.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
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.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from triazolam's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of triazolam's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of triazolam's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of triazolam's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store triazolam at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 8,521 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for triazolam, by number of reports
- Misuse of the drug
Misuse of the drug
519 reports
- Excessive sleepiness
Excessive sleepiness
402 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
351 reports
- Taking too much of the drug
Taking too much of the drug
350 reports
- Accidental fall
Accidental fall
315 reports
- Trouble sleeping
Trouble sleeping
303 reports
- Fever
Fever
302 reports
- Trying to harm yourself
Trying to harm yourself
302 reports
- Loose stools
Loose stools
290 reports
- Feeling unsteady
Feeling unsteady
282 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for triazolam each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where triazolam sits
triazolam has more FDA adverse-event reports than 36% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is triazolam; the line is the median (50th percentile).
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
Reports Mentioning Death
1,218
14.3% of reports — not proof of cause
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 |
| 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 |
| 16 | INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE | 255 |
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.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
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?
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?
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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 8,521 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.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
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