Halcion (Triazolam) at a glance: schedule, half-life, and class
- Generic name
- Triazolam
- Brand names
- Halcion
- Drug class
- Short-acting triazolobenzodiazepine
- US legal status
- Schedule IV, prescription only
- Approved uses
- Short-term treatment of insomnia, generally 7 to 10 days
- Forms
- Tablets (0.125 mg, 0.25 mg)
- Onset
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Half-life
- 1.5 to 5.5 hours
- Broken down by
- CYP3A4
Halcion uses: what triazolam is prescribed for
Triazolam is approved for short-term treatment of insomnia, generally 7 to 10 days. Use beyond 2 to 3 weeks needs a full reassessment.[1]
Dentists sometimes prescribe a single dose to reduce anxiety before procedures, an off-label use.
Halcion dosage: how triazolam is usually prescribed
The figures below come from the FDA-approved label and describe how prescribers typically use triazolam. They are not personal dosing advice. A prescriber sets the dose for each person and adjusts it over time.[1]
| Product | Typical adult dose | Notes from the label |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | 0.25 mg at bedtime | 0.125 mg may be enough for some; maximum 0.5 mg |
| Older or debilitated adults | 0.125 mg at bedtime | Maximum 0.25 mg |
| Timing | Only when able to stay in bed 7 to 8 hours | Do not take with alcohol |
Halcion (triazolam) side effects and risks
FDA boxed warnings
- Use with opioids can cause profound sedation, slowed breathing, coma, and death.[2]
- Abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can lead to overdose and death, especially with alcohol, opioids, or other drugs.[3]
- Physical dependence: stopping suddenly or reducing the dose quickly can cause life-threatening withdrawal reactions, including seizures.
Memory and behavior: triazolam can cause anterograde amnesia, confusion, and complex sleep behaviors such as sleep-driving, cooking, or making phone calls with no memory of them.[1]
Rebound insomnia and daytime anxiety: because it wears off quickly, some people sleep worse after stopping or feel anxious the next day.[1]
History: Halcion's licence was suspended in the United Kingdom in 1991 over concerns about psychiatric side effects. It remains approved in the US.
Halcion interactions: what not to mix with triazolam
Choose what it would be combined with:
| Combined with | What happens | Label guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Opioids (oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, heroin) | Profound sedation, slowed breathing, coma, death | Boxed warning; avoid unless no alternative |
| Alcohol | Deeper sedation, blackouts, slowed breathing | Avoid |
| Other sedatives (sleep medicines, gabapentinoids, muscle relaxants, antihistamines) | Additive drowsiness and impaired coordination | Use caution |
| Ketoconazole, itraconazole, nefazodone, HIV protease inhibitors | Large increase in triazolam levels | Contraindicated |
| Clarithromycin, erythromycin, diltiazem, verapamil | Higher levels and prolonged sedation | Avoid or lower dose |
| Grapefruit juice | Higher levels | Avoid |
This is not a full list. A pharmacist can check a complete medication list, including supplements and over-the-counter products.[1]
Halcion overdose: signs of triazolam overdose and what to do
Triazolam overdose causes deep drowsiness, confusion, poor coordination, slowed reflexes, and coma. With opioids or alcohol, breathing can stop.[1]
If someone may have overdosed
- Call 911 if the person is unresponsive, hard to wake, or breathing slowly.
- For advice when the person is awake and stable, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US, free, 24 hours).
- If opioids could be involved, including pills not from a pharmacy, give naloxone if you have it. Naloxone does not reverse triazolam, but it will not harm the person.
- Stay with the person and place them on their side if they are drowsy or vomiting.
Halcion withdrawal timeline: how long triazolam withdrawal lasts
People who take triazolam regularly, even as prescribed, can become physically dependent within weeks. Its short half-life means withdrawal and rebound insomnia can start within a day.[3]
- Hours to day 1Symptoms beginRebound anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, sweating, and tremor.
- Weeks 1 to 4Acute withdrawalPanic, irritability, muscle pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and in severe cases seizures or delirium.
- MonthsProtracted symptoms in some peopleA minority have lingering anxiety, poor sleep, low mood, or tingling that can last weeks to more than 12 months.
Warning: Stopping triazolam abruptly after regular use can cause seizures. The dose should be reduced gradually under the care of a prescriber.
A 2025 joint guideline led by the American Society of Addiction Medicine advises tapering gradually, usually by 5% to 10% every 2 to 4 weeks and rarely faster than 25% every 2 weeks, adjusted to how the person feels.[4]
How to get prescribed Halcion (triazolam) legally in the US
In the United States, triazolam is a Schedule IV controlled substance. The only legal way to get it is with a prescription from a clinician registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), filled by a licensed pharmacy. Depending on state law, that can be a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.[5]
- Refills: a Schedule IV prescription can be refilled up to five times within six months of the date it was written. After that, a new prescription is needed.[6]
- Telehealth: federal flexibilities let DEA-registered clinicians prescribe Schedule II to V medicines after a telemedicine visit, without a prior in-person exam, through December 31, 2026. A permanent DEA rule was under final review in late 2026. State rules can be stricter.[7]
- Monitoring: prescribers and pharmacists in most states check a prescription drug monitoring program, a database of controlled-substance prescriptions, before prescribing or dispensing.
- Pharmacies: a legitimate pharmacy always requires a valid prescription, has a licensed pharmacist available, and is licensed in the state it ships to. The FDA's BeSafeRx tool and the NABP's safe pharmacy list help confirm a pharmacy is real.[8][9]
- Cost: generic triazolam is inexpensive.
Traveling: keep the medicine in its original pharmacy container and carry a copy of the prescription. Check the rules of the destination country before travel, because many countries restrict controlled medicines or require a permit.
Can you order Halcion (triazolam) online legally?
Yes, but only with a valid prescription and only from a pharmacy licensed in your state. Many licensed pharmacies, including mail-order pharmacies run by insurers, fill triazolam prescriptions online and ship them. Buying triazolam from a website that does not require a prescription is illegal, and the product is often fake.[8][10]
- See a licensed clinicianA clinician evaluates you in person or by telemedicine and decides whether triazolam is appropriate.
- The prescription goes to a pharmacyPrescriptions are usually sent electronically, straight from the prescriber to the pharmacy you choose.
- The pharmacy checks and fills itA pharmacist verifies the prescription and your identity, then dispenses the medicine in person or by mail.
Signs that an online seller is illegal:
- It sells triazolam with no prescription, or after only a short online questionnaire.
- It takes orders through social media, messaging apps, or email.
- It asks for payment in cryptocurrency, gift cards, or money transfers.
- It has no US street address, no state pharmacy license, and no pharmacist to speak to.
- Its prices are far below those of ordinary pharmacies, or it ships from another country.
The FDA's BeSafeRx tool links to each state's license lookup, and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy lists verified online pharmacies.[8][9]
Halcion price: how much does Halcion (triazolam) cost without insurance?
Generic triazolam is inexpensive.
What you pay depends on the strength, the number of doses, your insurance plan, and the pharmacy. Cash prices for the same prescription can differ several times over between pharmacies in the same town, so check current prices before you fill it.
Ways to pay less, legally:
- Ask the prescriber whether a generic triazolam is available. FDA-approved generics work the same way as the brand and usually cost much less.
- Compare cash prices between pharmacies before you fill the prescription.
- Use a free prescription discount card, such as GoodRx or SingleCare, when you pay cash. These cards cannot be combined with insurance on the same fill.
- For brand-name medicines, check the manufacturer's savings program or patient assistance program.
- Ask about a 90-day supply or your insurer's mail-order pharmacy, which often lowers the cost per dose when your prescriber agrees it is appropriate.
Warning: A price far below what licensed pharmacies charge, especially with no prescription required, is a strong sign of an illegal seller and counterfeit medicine.[8]
Is Halcion legal? Triazolam legal status in other countries
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Class C; not licensed since 1991 |
| Canada | Schedule IV of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act |
| International | Schedule IV of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances |
Laws change and differ in detail. Check current rules before carrying any controlled medicine across a border.[11]
Common questions about Halcion (triazolam)
Is Halcion still prescribed?
Yes, in the US, for short-term insomnia, though Z-drugs and orexin antagonists are more often used.
Why can't you drink grapefruit juice with Halcion (triazolam)?
Grapefruit blocks the enzyme that breaks down triazolam, raising its levels.
Does Halcion (triazolam) cause memory loss?
It can cause gaps in memory for events after a dose, especially at higher doses or with alcohol.
How long does Halcion (triazolam) stay in your system?
Its half-life is 1.5 to 5.5 hours, so it is largely cleared within a day.
Is Halcion (triazolam) used at the dentist?
Some dentists prescribe a single dose to reduce anxiety before treatment.
Can you buy Halcion (triazolam) without a prescription?
No. Halcion (triazolam) is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the US, so it is illegal to buy or possess it without a valid prescription. Websites and social media sellers that offer it without one are not legal pharmacies, and the DEA warns that pills sold this way are often counterfeit and can contain fentanyl. The legal route is a visit with a licensed clinician, in person or by telehealth, and a prescription filled at a state-licensed pharmacy. The FDA's BeSafeRx tool and the NABP's safe pharmacy list help confirm an online pharmacy is real.
Sources
- Halcion (triazolam) prescription information. DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine.
- FDA warns about serious risks and death when combining opioid pain or cough medicines with benzodiazepines. US Food and Drug Administration, 2016.
- FDA requiring Boxed Warning updated to improve safe use of benzodiazepine drug class. US Food and Drug Administration, 2020.
- Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering. American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2025.
- Controlled Substance Schedules. DEA Diversion Control Division.
- 21 CFR 1306.22, Refilling of prescriptions (Schedules III and IV). Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
- Prescribing controlled substances via telehealth. US Department of Health and Human Services.
- BeSafeRx: Your Source for Online Pharmacy Information. US Food and Drug Administration.
- Safe Pharmacy. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
- One Pill Can Kill. US Drug Enforcement Administration.
- International drug control conventions. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
