Triazolam

Registered South African indications: 

• Insomnia

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients
• Hypersensitivity to other benzodiazepines
• Mental depression (unless there is a marked component of anxiety in their illness)
• Pre-existing central nervous system depression or coma
• Psychiatric patients with suicidal tendencies
• Long-term treatment of insomnia
• Co-administration with ketoconazole, itraconazole, nefazodone, and ritonavir
• Pregnant women, women at risk of pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Should not be given during labour as it crosses the placenta and may cause the floppy-infant syndrome, characterised by central respiratory depression, hypothermia, and poor sucking
• Safety and efficacy in patients under the age of 18 years have not been established

Cautions

• Renal impairment
• Hepatic impairment
• Elderly
• Depression
• High doses
• Prolonged use
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Sleep apnoea
• Respiratory compromise
• Acute alcoholism or drug abuse or history thereof
• May impair ability to drive and operate machinery

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: tab

Insomnia - severe, disabling or subjecting patient to extreme stress

• Oral (tab): 0.25-0.5mg, dly before bedtime; Max treatment duration: 4 weeks

Keep treatment as short as possible

Gradually discontinue

Not established for use in children

Pregnancy

• Contraindicated

Breastfeeding

• Contraindicated

Renal Impairment

• Caution; no dose adjustment recommended

Hepatic Impairment

• Caution; no dose adjustment recommended

Elderly

• Caution; dose adjustment recommended

Porphyria Information

• Probably not porphyrinogenic (PNP)

Drugs in Sport

• Permitted - No warning

Central Nervous System Disorders

• Depression
• Confusional states
• Memory impairment
• Aggressiveness
• Hallucinations
• Somnambulism
• Euphoria
• Agitation
• Drowsiness
• Grogginess
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Impaired coordination
• Light-headedness
• Syncope
• Taste alteration
• Slurred speech
• Dysarthria
• Transient insomnia 
• Amnesia
• Ataxia
• Tremor

Cardiovascular Disorders

• Palpitations
• Hypotension

Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Epigastric discomfort
• Excessive salivation
• Diarrhoea

Hepatobiliary Disorders

• Jaundice

Genitourinary Disorders

• Incontinence
• Urinary retention
• Changes in libido 

Musculoskeletal Disorders

• Paresis

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

• Hypersensitivity reactions

Immune, Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders

• Blood disorders

Sensory Disorders

• Visual disturbances
• Blurred vision

Others

• Falling

• Central nervous system depressants
• Hypnotics
• Azole antifungals
• Isoniazid
• Fluvoxamine
• Paroxetine
• Diltiazem
• Verapamil
• Sertraline
• Nefazodone
• Ritonavir
• Erythromycin
• Troleandomycin
• Antibacterial agents
• Antimycobacterial agents
• Gastro-intestinal agents 
• Oral contraceptives
• CYP450 inhibitors

None routine

Triazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine type hypnotic agent which significantly affects REM or stage III and IV sleep. Latency to stage REM I increases significantly.

Tablet 0.125mg

• Halcion (Pfizer) originator

Tablet 0.25mg

• Halcion (Pfizer) originator