Halcion Addiction | Abuse, Warning Signs, & Treatment

Halcion is the brand name for triazolam, a benzodiazepine that treats insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep). It’s a short-term prescription medication recommended for seven to 10 days.

How Halcion Works

Halcion targets gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors that are responsible for regulating brain activity. The drug slows down brain activity, relaxing your brain and body to facilitate restful sleep.

After a week or so on Halcion, your sleep schedule should be back on track. As you gradually stop taking Halcion, continuing the same sleep routine can help you transition to healthy sleep habits without the aid of a drug.

Taking sleeping pills in higher doses can produce a feeling of euphoria along with a sense of calm and relaxation. These effects make Halcion attractive for drug abuse. 

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies triazolam as a Schedule IV controlled substance because of its potential for abuse and addiction. 

Ohio law requires healthcare providers and pharmacies to report benzodiazepine prescriptions to prevent overprescribing and substance abuse.

Dangers Of Halcion Abuse

Halcion abuse is taking it outside of prescription guidelines. If you take a higher dose, use it more frequently, or stay on it longer than your healthcare provider recommends, you’re abusing it. Taking Halcion in any way other than intended is also misusing it.

Snorting Or Injecting Halcion

Some people dissolve Halcion tablets under their tongue or crush them to snort (insufflate). These methods take the drug straight to the bloodstream rather than allowing it to gradually enter the body through the digestive system. Snorting Halcion can cause nasal tissue damage.

Injecting Halcion (triazolam) is another way to shoot it into the bloodstream. But triazolam is not water-soluble, which means it doesn’t dissolve well in water. You’ll be left with particles that can block your veins, cutting off blood flow. Lack of blood flow may lead to tissue death and loss of limbs.

Halcion Overdose

Snorting or injecting Halcion increases your risk of overdose because these methods put a full dose into your system at once, rather than gradually. You can also overdose if you take a high dose or overlapping doses (taking more Halcion before it’s out of your system). 

Halcion use along with central nervous system (CNS) depressants like alcohol, opioids, or other benzodiazepines (“benzos”) raises overdose risk. Combining depressants can cause severe respiratory depression that may be fatal.

Signs of a Halcion overdose include:

• slow or shallow breathing
• blue skin, lips, or nails
• extreme drowsiness
• confusion
• slurred speech
• loss of coordination
• coma

An average of 12.7% of unintentional overdose deaths in Ohio over the last decade involved benzodiazepines.

Higher Risk Of Halcion Side Effects

Medical professionals prescribe Halcion (triazolam) in measured amounts that are safe for your situation. Not following your prescription makes it more likely you’ll experience the adverse effects of Halcion.

Halcion side effects may include:

• dizziness
• drowsiness
• lightheadedness
• headaches
• impaired coordination
• tingling sensation
• nausea and vomiting
• rash, hives, itching
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• hoarseness
• hallucinations

Halcion makes some people experience sleepwalking or bizarre sleep behavior, such as having sex, cooking food, or driving while not fully awake.

Taking too much Halcion can cause it to have the opposite effect. You may have sleep disturbances and increased anxiety if you abuse it.

Halcion Addiction & Dependence

Halcion is a short-term drug because its risks outweigh its benefits after a time. Your body will become tolerant to it (meaning you’ll need a larger dose for the same effect). The larger the dose, the more your body depends on it to function (physical dependence). 

Doctors typically advise tapering off benzodiazepines like Halcion, gradually decreasing the dose to avoid or lessen withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are the body’s adverse reaction to being without a drug it has become dependent on. 

Halcion withdrawal symptoms include:

• rebound insomnia
• muscle cramps
• abdominal pain
• vomiting
• sweating
• tremors
• seizures

If you depend on Halcion for too long or take it too often, your brain structure will adapt to the drug. You’ll start to have cravings for it. It will be very hard to stop taking it, even if it is causing noticeable harm to your life and health. That’s addiction, and it can be devastating.

Warning Signs Of Halcion Abuse & Addiction

If you’re concerned that a loved one is abusing Halcion or unsure if you’re addicted to it, knowing the signs of abuse and addiction can help. Not every sign by itself indicates a problem, and you don’t have to have all the signs to be suffering from addiction.

Warning signs of Halcion abuse and addiction can include:

• unmarked pill bottles or Halcion pills in bags
• multiple prescriptions from different doctors (doctor shopping)
• taking Halcion during the day 
• constant sedation
• mood shifts
• behavior changes
• loss of interest in hobbies
• poor work or school performance
• borrowing or stealing money to buy Halcion
• an obsession with obtaining Halcion pills
• an inability to stop taking Halcion or cut back

While you may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking Halcion as prescribed, these symptoms will likely be worse if you’re addicted to Halcion. Reducing your dosage or frequency of use can cause withdrawal symptoms if you’re abusing the drug.

Halcion Addiction Treatment

Halcion addiction treatment usually starts with medical detox, which is an inpatient program that keeps you safe during the withdrawal process. 

Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be life-threatening. Medical detox programs monitor your vital signs and provide medication to ease withdrawal symptoms.

After detox, the best rehab centers provide personalized treatment plans. A Halcion (triazolam) treatment program may include behavioral therapy, nutritional guidance, exercise, and support groups. 

Benzodiazepine addiction treatment at Ohio Recovery Center combines evidence-based treatments with experiential therapy. Substance use disorder affects your physical, spiritual, and mental health, so we aim to treat the whole person.

Speak with an Ohio Recovery Center specialist today to learn more about Halcion abuse, drug addiction, and treatment options.

FAQs

How Long Does Triazolam Stay In Your System?

On average, triazolam can stay in your system for between 8 hours and 1 day after last use. It can also be detected on a urine screen for between 2 and 4 days. Compared to other benzodiazepines like Xanax, however, drug testing for triazolam is uncommon.

Learn more about How Long Triazolam Stays In Your System

What’s A Typical Dose Of Halcion?

For an adult, the typical dose of Halcion is 0.25 mg per day before bedtime. For adults over 65, the typical dose is 0.125 mg daily before bedtime.

Learn more about Halcion Dosage

Can You Snort Halcion?

Halcion is a benzodiazepine medication available as a tablet which can be crushed into a fine powder and snorted. However, this can lead to damage to the nasal cartilage and other unwanted side effects and dangers.

Learn more about Snorting Halcion

Can You Inject Halcion?

Some people do inject Halcion. However, while triazolam is sometimes prepared for injection in medical settings, Halcion pills should not be crushed and injected due to a high risk of adverse effects, including dependence, addiction, overdose, scarring, vein damage, and infection.

Learn more about Injecting Halcion

Can You Plug Halcion?

Halcion is a benzodiazepine prescription tablet which can be crushed into a powder. The powder can be combined with a liquid and inserted into the rectum, a process known as plugging. However, this can create life-threatening health problems and anal tissue damage.

Learn more about Plugging Halcion

What Does A Halcion High Feel Like?

A Halcion high can feel like you are sluggish, drowsy, and uncoordinated. You may also feel lightheaded or have trouble breathing when you get high on Halcion, which can be dangerous to your health.

Learn more about a Halcion High

What Does Halcion Look Like?

Halcion looks like a blue oval tablet that’s either 0.125 mg or 0.25 mg in strength. The imprint on the tablet depends on the manufacturer.

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How Much Does Halcion Cost?

Halcion can cost between $11 and $180 for a 30-day prescription in Ohio. If you buy triazolam tablets from illicit Ohio drug dealers, you can pay between $2 and $15 per milligram.

Learn more about Halcion Cost

How Does Halcion Affect Sex?

Halcion may generally improve sex by relieving insomnia, though it may also impair sexual interest or function. Taking Halcion in high doses may also lead to unintended sexual activity, and the drug has a history of being used for date rape.

Learn more about The Effects Of Halcion On Sex