Halcion, an Overview
Sleepers, A-, Up Johns, heavenly blues, zombie pills – different names yet may all pertain to the same white, sometimes pale yellow prescription drug, Halcion. As some of these monikers may suggest, Halcion assists in inducing or otherwise improving the probability and even the quality of sleep, hence it is used as a short-term treatment for insomnia. It is prescribed for 7 to 10 days for such condition and often takes effect 10 to 15 minutes after ingestion through the optimal impact can be expected on the 1.3-hour mark.
Its active ingredient triazolam works by slowing down activity in the brain, thereby counteracting the effects of insomnia. Triazolam is one of the several tranquilizer drugs under the benzodiazepine class, known for their sedative-hypnotic effects and use in anxiety medications.
Halcion has a molecular weight of 343.21 and is an alcohol-soluble crystalline powder, only less soluble in water. It is known by several other terms as well, including but not limited to Apo Triazo, Trilam, and Alti-triazolam. Such as the case with the last example, the active ingredient triazolam often appears on these names.
While the white or yellow color holds true at its purest form, Halcion is often sold in blue tablets, elliptical in shape, with 0.25 mg of its active ingredient, hence the imprint “HALCION 0.25” on the tablet itself. The amount is the recommended dose for adults.
The blue color is due to food grade coloring (No. 2 Blue). The food dye is only one of its many inactive ingredients, as lactose and cornstarch also make that list. Halcion likewise contains magnesium stearate, a flow agent used in preventing capsules from sticking to machinery and storage units during the drug manufacturing process. Silicon dioxide and sodium benzoate help ensure freshness and prolong shelf life respectively.
How It Works
Benzodiazepines or “benzos” such as the active ingredient in Halcion, target the GABA-A-chloride-ionophore receptor site, binding in which causes the stimulation of gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), a chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human nervous system. This chemical reaction opens the chloride channels, thus allowing interaction between chloride ions and neurons. This, in turn, results in a decrease in cerebral activity and relaxation of the muscles, encouraging resistance to an excitation state.
This mechanism makes Halcion a viable sleep aid, as well as pre-medication for medical procedures.
Strength and Side Effects
Although 0.25 mg is the recommended dose for adults, half of such or a 0.125-mg dose has been reported to be effective for some individuals. In fact, intake of more than the latter amount, without prescription, may already leave the consumer highly susceptible to tolerance and even dependence.
Despite a short half-life of somewhere between an hour and a half and five hours, Halcion can still be detected in drug tests up to 90 days after consumption. Specifically, blood tests can identify consumption of the Halcion even after two or three days thereof, urine tests after as long as three to six weeks, and the aforementioned three-month mark holding true for hair tests. It is worth noting that saliva samples are not recommended for the detection of Halcion in the system.
Halcion’s role in the stimulation of the secretion of GABA neurotransmitters and therefore the sedative-hypnotic effect on the mind and body make drowsiness, confusion, and hypotension reasonable short-term side effects of the drug. Brief bleariness of the eyesight may also be expected, along with mood shifts and tremors.
On the longer term, those interested in turning to Halcion for their sleep troubles may also be concerned about brain dysfunction, including gradual memory loss, as a result of the drug’s effect on brain activity. Understandably, muscle relaxation may lead to the eventual loss of control in muscle movements, while paradoxically; the long-term use of the sleeping aid is associated with manifestations of parasomnia. Drug tolerance and dependence are also causes for concern, with addiction also in the cards when the drug is ingested in excess of prescribed dosages.
As for reactivity of Halcion to other substances, those undergoing TB treatment may want to be wary of high levels of reactivity detected between Halcion and the related antibiotic, isoniazid. The medicine is also highly reactive with oral contraceptives and the prescription drug ranitidine, a known inhibitor of stomach acid production.
Addiction and Overdose
Due to its alleged role in enhancing the euphoric effects of alcohol and illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin, Halcion has been misused for recreational purposes, ingested together with the aforementioned substances.
Classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule IV controlled substance, it has a relatively low abuse potential by itself, though a 2 mg dose taken four times daily without prescription can already subject an individual to high risk of addiction. Overdose can likewise lead to respiratory failure and in extreme cases, coma.
It’s best to be aware of the symptoms of an overdose of Halcion, though additional vigilance may be required due to some of these symptoms, such as sleepiness, being identical to the effect typically desired from ingesting the psychoactive drug. Confusion, poor muscle coordination, and difficulty in speech are already warning signs of a possible overdose.
Treating Halcion Overdose
The availability of Halcion in the market increases the risk of abuse and therefore overdoses, particularly when it is ingested with illicit addictive substances. Nonetheless, depending on the severity and duration of the overdose, the same can be treated.
For example, patients may ingest activated charcoal to absorb some of the substances inside the body, a method particularly helpful when a substance has been taken in excess of what is prescribed. Counteracting the effect of Halcion with flumazenil or romazicon is also recommended, though unlike with activated charcoal it does not necessarily act on the physical substance itself.
Dialysis and IV Therapy are also resolutions worth considering in case of an overdose.
Treating Halcion Addiction
Once a patient has developed a physiological dependence to Halcion, he will find it difficult to control the use of the drug and will likewise experience withdrawal symptoms 1 to 2 days after abstinence has started.
Since the drug is primarily taken to assist the induction of sleep, patients may experience difficulty in the initiation of sleep once the medication has stopped, a phenomenon known as rebound insomnia. Cramps, nausea, and excess sweating may also ensue. Being a psychoactive drug that to some extent affects muscle function, involuntary shaking and even convulsions are also expected symptoms of withdrawal.
Dependence to Halcion is treatable and due to the sensitive nature of the condition, consultation with medical personnel is highly recommended for the best, comprehensive process to recovery.
One’s doctor may prescribe medication including the aforementioned flumazenil and activated charcoal, but these aren’t the two exclusive pharmaceutical remedies. For one, the tricyclic antidepressant Tofranil (Imipramine) may be prescribed, as it is used to treat addiction-induced depression. The anticonvulsant Tegretol (Carbamazepine) is another plausible medication due to the anxiolytic effect.
The treatment process for Halcion addiction is not limited to medication. An action plan or two may be put into place to identify and address the root cause of the dependence and to otherwise control behavior related to such.
For instance, a system that rewards patients for having avoided the use of the substance over a set period can encourage recovery as patients begin to associate drug avoidance with something positive. On the other hand, a more community-based plan such as a recovery group allows patients to commune with individuals with similar experiences, thereby avoiding isolation, which may work to further the adverse effects of the dependence.
Recovery groups allow patients to share and learn from each other’s experience and recovery.
Dependence may also be treated through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a form of psychotherapy which aims to dive deep into factors contributing to drug abuse and developing healthy coping mechanisms that remove or otherwise minimize the desire to take potentially addictive psychoactive substances.
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Halcion’s dependence liability is only a testament to the necessity of utmost consumer vigilance when it comes to the use of prescription drugs. Truly, it can be effective in resolving the woes of those who have trouble getting sleep, but there are risks that need to be minimized, and this will require cooperation between patients and health professionals to ensure that such drugs are properly dispensed.
Awareness of possible side effects not only guides decision-making but opens the mind to further inquiry, something of which there can never be enough on the pursuit of health and wellness.
Finally, while treatment for overdose and addiction are available, the old adage with regards prevention holds true, and patient education is among the cheapest keys to prevention that we’ll ever have the privilege to possess.
Sleepers, A-, Up Johns, heavenly blues, zombie pills – different names yet may all pertain to the same white, sometimes pale yellow prescription drug, Halcion. As some of these monikers may suggest, Halcion assists in inducing or otherwise improving the probability and even the quality of sleep, hence it is used as a short-term treatment for insomnia. It is prescribed for 7 to 10 days for such condition and often takes effect 10 to 15 minutes after ingestion through the optimal impact can be expected on the 1.3-hour mark.
Its active ingredient triazolam works by slowing down activity in the brain, thereby counteracting the effects of insomnia. Triazolam is one of the several tranquilizer drugs under the benzodiazepine class, known for their sedative-hypnotic effects and use in anxiety medications.
Halcion has a molecular weight of 343.21 and is an alcohol-soluble crystalline powder, only less soluble in water. It is known by several other terms as well, including but not limited to Apo Triazo, Trilam, and Alti-triazolam. Such as the case with the last example, the active ingredient triazolam often appears on these names.
While the white or yellow color holds true at its purest form, Halcion is often sold in blue tablets, elliptical in shape, with 0.25 mg of its active ingredient, hence the imprint “HALCION 0.25” on the tablet itself. The amount is the recommended dose for adults.
The blue color is due to food grade coloring (No. 2 Blue). The food dye is only one of its many inactive ingredients, as lactose and cornstarch also make that list. Halcion likewise contains magnesium stearate, a flow agent used in preventing capsules from sticking to machinery and storage units during the drug manufacturing process. Silicon dioxide and sodium benzoate help ensure freshness and prolong shelf life respectively.
How It Works
Benzodiazepines or “benzos” such as the active ingredient in Halcion, target the GABA-A-chloride-ionophore receptor site, binding in which causes the stimulation of gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), a chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human nervous system. This chemical reaction opens the chloride channels, thus allowing interaction between chloride ions and neurons. This, in turn, results in a decrease in cerebral activity and relaxation of the muscles, encouraging resistance to an excitation state.
This mechanism makes Halcion a viable sleep aid, as well as pre-medication for medical procedures.
Strength and Side Effects
Although 0.25 mg is the recommended dose for adults, half of such or a 0.125-mg dose has been reported to be effective for some individuals. In fact, intake of more than the latter amount, without prescription, may already leave the consumer highly susceptible to tolerance and even dependence.
Despite a short half-life of somewhere between an hour and a half and five hours, Halcion can still be detected in drug tests up to 90 days after consumption. Specifically, blood tests can identify consumption of the Halcion even after two or three days thereof, urine tests after as long as three to six weeks, and the aforementioned three-month mark holding true for hair tests. It is worth noting that saliva samples are not recommended for the detection of Halcion in the system.
Halcion’s role in the stimulation of the secretion of GABA neurotransmitters and therefore the sedative-hypnotic effect on the mind and body make drowsiness, confusion, and hypotension reasonable short-term side effects of the drug. Brief bleariness of the eyesight may also be expected, along with mood shifts and tremors.
On the longer term, those interested in turning to Halcion for their sleep troubles may also be concerned about brain dysfunction, including gradual memory loss, as a result of the drug’s effect on brain activity. Understandably, muscle relaxation may lead to the eventual loss of control in muscle movements, while paradoxically; the long-term use of the sleeping aid is associated with manifestations of parasomnia. Drug tolerance and dependence are also causes for concern, with addiction also in the cards when the drug is ingested in excess of prescribed dosages.
As for reactivity of Halcion to other substances, those undergoing TB treatment may want to be wary of high levels of reactivity detected between Halcion and the related antibiotic, isoniazid. The medicine is also highly reactive with oral contraceptives and the prescription drug ranitidine, a known inhibitor of stomach acid production.
Addiction and Overdose
Due to its alleged role in enhancing the euphoric effects of alcohol and illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin, Halcion has been misused for recreational purposes, ingested together with the aforementioned substances.
Classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule IV controlled substance, it has a relatively low abuse potential by itself, though a 2 mg dose taken four times daily without prescription can already subject an individual to high risk of addiction. Overdose can likewise lead to respiratory failure and in extreme cases, coma.
It’s best to be aware of the symptoms of an overdose of Halcion, though additional vigilance may be required due to some of these symptoms, such as sleepiness, being identical to the effect typically desired from ingesting the psychoactive drug. Confusion, poor muscle coordination, and difficulty in speech are already warning signs of a possible overdose.
Treating Halcion Overdose
The availability of Halcion in the market increases the risk of abuse and therefore overdoses, particularly when it is ingested with illicit addictive substances. Nonetheless, depending on the severity and duration of the overdose, the same can be treated.
For example, patients may ingest activated charcoal to absorb some of the substances inside the body, a method particularly helpful when a substance has been taken in excess of what is prescribed. Counteracting the effect of Halcion with flumazenil or romazicon is also recommended, though unlike with activated charcoal it does not necessarily act on the physical substance itself.
Dialysis and IV Therapy are also resolutions worth considering in case of an overdose.
Treating Halcion Addiction
Once a patient has developed a physiological dependence to Halcion, he will find it difficult to control the use of the drug and will likewise experience withdrawal symptoms 1 to 2 days after abstinence has started.
Since the drug is primarily taken to assist the induction of sleep, patients may experience difficulty in the initiation of sleep once the medication has stopped, a phenomenon known as rebound insomnia. Cramps, nausea, and excess sweating may also ensue. Being a psychoactive drug that to some extent affects muscle function, involuntary shaking and even convulsions are also expected symptoms of withdrawal.
Dependence to Halcion is treatable and due to the sensitive nature of the condition, consultation with medical personnel is highly recommended for the best, comprehensive process to recovery.
One’s doctor may prescribe medication including the aforementioned flumazenil and activated charcoal, but these aren’t the two exclusive pharmaceutical remedies. For one, the tricyclic antidepressant Tofranil (Imipramine) may be prescribed, as it is used to treat addiction-induced depression. The anticonvulsant Tegretol (Carbamazepine) is another plausible medication due to the anxiolytic effect.
The treatment process for Halcion addiction is not limited to medication. An action plan or two may be put into place to identify and address the root cause of the dependence and to otherwise control behavior related to such.
For instance, a system that rewards patients for having avoided the use of the substance over a set period can encourage recovery as patients begin to associate drug avoidance with something positive. On the other hand, a more community-based plan such as a recovery group allows patients to commune with individuals with similar experiences, thereby avoiding isolation, which may work to further the adverse effects of the dependence.
Recovery groups allow patients to share and learn from each other’s experience and recovery.
Dependence may also be treated through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a form of psychotherapy which aims to dive deep into factors contributing to drug abuse and developing healthy coping mechanisms that remove or otherwise minimize the desire to take potentially addictive psychoactive substances.
=======================
Halcion’s dependence liability is only a testament to the necessity of utmost consumer vigilance when it comes to the use of prescription drugs. Truly, it can be effective in resolving the woes of those who have trouble getting sleep, but there are risks that need to be minimized, and this will require cooperation between patients and health professionals to ensure that such drugs are properly dispensed.
Awareness of possible side effects not only guides decision-making but opens the mind to further inquiry, something of which there can never be enough on the pursuit of health and wellness.
Finally, while treatment for overdose and addiction are available, the old adage with regards prevention holds true, and patient education is among the cheapest keys to prevention that we’ll ever have the privilege to possess.
