TRIAZOLAM (Generic for HALCION)

Triazolam 0.25mg, Oral tablet

Caffeine-containing Foods/Beverages

· Severity: Mild

· Notes for Consumers: If you are taking medicine to help you sleep, avoid taking Caffeine and Caffeine-containing foods or beverages like colas, coffee, teas, or chocolates within several hours prior to bedtime.

· Notes for Professionals: Patients taking benzodiazepines for insomnia should not use caffeine-containing products prior to going to bed as these products may antagonize the sedative effects of the benzodiazepine.

Triazolam 0.25mg, Oral tablet

Cannabis

· Severity: Major

· Notes for Consumers: Discuss cannabis use with your care team. The effects of your medication may be altered if used with cannabis. Call emergency services right away if you experience slow or shallow breathing, shortness of breath, feeling faint, dizziness, confusion, or trouble staying awake.

· Notes for Professionals: Advise patients to avoid cannabis use while taking CNS depressants due to the risk for additive CNS depression and potential for other cognitive adverse reactions.

Triazolam 0.25mg, Oral tablet

Alcohol

· Severity: Major

· Notes for Consumers: Do not drink alcohol while taking this medication. Drinking alcohol while taking this medication can cause serious side effects, such as central nervous system (CNS) depression, and can increase the risk of falling. Call emergency services right away if you experience symptoms of CNS depression: slow or shallow breathing, shortness of breath, feeling faint, dizziness, confusion, trouble staying awake.

· Notes for Professionals: Advise patients to avoid alcohol consumption while taking CNS depressants. Alcohol consumption may result in additive CNS depression.

Triazolam 0.25mg, Oral tablet

Grapefruit juice

· Severity: Major

· Notes for Consumers: Use caution when taking grapefruit juice with Triazolam since side effects from Triazolam may get worse. You may feel drowsy or more tired. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how these drugs affect you. If you notice slurred speech, confusion, severe weakness, or difficulty breathing while taking Triazolam, contact your health care provider immediately.

· Notes for Professionals: Clinicians should be aware that food interactions with some benzodiazepines are possible. Grapefruit juice inhibits the cytochrome P-450 3A4 isozyme in the gut wall. Grapefruit juice contains furanocoumarins that are metabolized by CYP3A4 to reactive intermediates. These intermediates form a covalent bond to the active site of the CYP3A4 enzyme, causing irreversible inactivation (mechanism-based inhibition). Consequently, CYP3A4 activity in the gut wall is inhibited until de novo synthesis returns the enzyme to its previous level. Coadministration of grapefruit juice increased the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of triazolam by 25%, increased the AUC by 48%, and increased the half-life by 18%. Increased sedation may be possible. Elderly patients have the greatest possibility of ingesting grapefruit and interacting medications and are the most vulnerable to the adverse clinical consequences. The manufacturer of triazolam recommends caution during coadministration with grapefuit juice. Alprazolam and lorazepam may be alternatives in certain patients since it may not interact or may have a minor pharmacokinetic interaction with grapefuit juice.

<b>DISCLAIMER:</b><em> This drug information content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients should always consult their physician with any questions regarding a medical condition and to obtain medical advice and treatment. Drug information is sourced from GSDD (Gold Standard Drug Database ) provided by Elsevier.</em>