Halcion Side Effects
Severe Side Effects of Halcion
- Extreme changes in behavior may occur while the patient is taking Halcion or other Benzodiazepines. These changes include self-destructive or risky behavior, increased agitation and anger fits, suicidal thoughts and behavior,and decreased awareness of self and environment.
- Halcion may cause amnesia or memory loss.
- Halcion may cause suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients with clinical depression.
- Halcion may cause respiratory failure in medically compromised patients.
Common Side Effects of Halcion
- Some of the more commonly reported side effects include dizzy spells, tiredness, headaches, upset stomach, nervousness and increased feelings of agitation.
Warnings & Recalls for Halcion
Warnings for Halcion
- This drug and other benzodiazepines may be dangerous to take while pregnant. They have been known to cause fetal malformations in animal studies. Halcion is a pregnancy category class X drug and may cause severe harm to the fetus. It is best to discontinue Halcion if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant.
- Halcion is Schedule IV controlled substance.
- Halcion may cause withdrawal symptoms for patients discontinuing the drug. Some patients have reported worse insomnia for a few days after stopping Halcion.
- If taken concurrently with other benzodiazepines, psychotropic medications, or anticonvulsants, Halcion may cause severe central nervous system depression.
- Do not take Halcion while taking ketoconazole or other anti-fungal medications.
- Do not take Halcion while taking Nefazodone.
- Do not take Halcion for more than 7-10 days unless your doctor has weighed the risks of long term use.
- Let your doctor know if you have been prescribed other benzodiazepines before taking Halcion.
- Halcion may cause abnormal behavior such as driving while asleep, cooking food or having sex while half asleep. Alcohol consumption may make these symptoms more likely to occur.
- Do not take Halcion while involved in hazardous tasks or while driving.
- Tell your doctor if you have kidney and/or liver problems before taking Halcion.
Halcion Treatment and Use
Halcion | Triazolam is a triazolobenzodiazepine hypnotic agent used to treat insomnia. Halcion was initially approved in 1982 by the FDA and is manufactured and marketed by Pfizer. Ex-President George H.W. Bush relied on Halcion in order to correct his sleep cycle due to jet lag. Halcion may be habit forming for some patients.
What does Halcion do?
Halcion works to sedate the central nervous system. This helps the patient relax and achieve sleep.
Dosage
The usual dosage for Halcion is 0.25 mg right before bed. Patients who have low body weight or compromised health and geriatric patients should start with 0.125 mg before bed. 0.5 mg is the maximum recommended dosage for patients who don’t respond to 0.25 mg. Halcion is available in tablet form as 0.25 mg tablets (blue) and 0.125 mg tablets (white).
Other Names for Halcion
Brand Name
Generic
Lawsuits & Legal Information for Halcion
Author:
Dru Watkins
Posted on May 2, 2013