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Halcion |
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What is Halcion and why is it prescribed? Halcion is used for short-term treatment of insomnia. It is a member of the benzodiazepine class of drugs, many of which are used as tranquilizers. Sleep problems are usually temporary, requiring treatment for only a short time, usually 1 or 2 days and no more than 1 to 2 weeks. Insomnia that lasts longer than this may be a sign of another medical problem. If you find you need this medicine for more than 7 to 10 days, be sure to check with your doctor. How should you take Halcion? Follow your doctors directions for taking Halcion. Never take more than your doctor has prescribed. Take Halcion only as needed. Keep Halcion in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature. Are there any Halcion side effects? Halcion side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. More common Halcion side effects may include coordination problems, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, light-headedness, nausea/vomiting, and nervousness. Less common or rare Halcion side effects may include aggressiveness, agitation, behavior problems, burning tongue, changes in sexual drive, chest pain, confusion, congestion, constipation, cramps/pain, delusions, depression, diarrhea, disorientation, dreaming abnormalities, drowsiness, dry mouth, exaggerated sense of well-being, excitement, fainting, falling, fatigue, hallucinations, impaired urination, inappropriate behavior, incontinence, inflammation of the tongue and mouth, irritability, itching, loss of appetite, loss of sense of reality, memory impairment, memory loss, menstrual irregularities, morning "hangover" effects, muscle spasms in the shoulders or neck, nightmares, rapid heart rate, restlessness, ringing in the ears, skin inflammation, sleep disturbances including insomnia, sleepwalking, slurred or difficult speech, stiff awkward movements, taste changes, tingling or pins and needles, tiredness, visual disturbances, weakness, and yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. What are the possible food and drug interactions when taking Halcion? If Halcion is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. Avoid alcoholic beverages and grapefruit juice. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Halcion with Amiodarone (Cordarone), Antidepressant medications (including "tricyclic" drugs such as Elavil and such MAO inhibitors as Nardil and Parnate), Antihistamines (such as Benadryl and Tavist), Barbiturates (such as phenobarbital and Seconal), Cimetidine (Tagamet), Clarithromycin (Biaxin), Cyclosporine (Sandimmune Neoral), Diltiazem (Cardizem), Ergotamine (Cafergot), Erythromycin (E.E.S., PCE, E-Mycin, others), Fluvoxamine (Luvox), Isoniazid (Nydrazid), Itraconazole (Nizoral), Ketoconazole (Sporanox), Narcotic painkillers (such as Demerol), Major tranquilizers (such as Mellaril and Thorazine), Nefazodone (Serzone), Nicardipine (Cardene), Nifedipine (Adalat), Other tranquilizers (such as BuSpar, Valium, and Xanax), Oral contraceptives, Paroxetine (Paxil), Ranitidine (Zantac), Seizure medications (such as Dilantin and Tegretol), Sertraline (Zoloft), or Verapamil (Calan). Are there any special warnings about Halcion? When Halcion is used every night for more than a few weeks, it loses its effectiveness to help you sleep. Also, it can cause dependence, especially when it is used regularly for longer than a few weeks or at high doses. Abrupt discontinuation of Halcion should be avoided, since it has been associated with withdrawal symptoms. A gradual dosage tapering schedule is usually recommended for patients taking more than the lowest dose of Halcion for longer than a few weeks. The usual treatment period is 7 to 10 days. If you develop unusual and disturbing thoughts or behavior during treatment with Halcion, you should discuss them with your doctor immediately. "Traveler's amnesia" has been reported by patients who took Halcion to induce sleep while traveling. To avoid this condition, do not take Halcion on an overnight airplane flight of less than 7 to 8 hours. You may suffer increased anxiety during the daytime while taking Halcion. When you first start taking Halcion, until you know whether the medication will have any "carry over" effect the next day, use extreme care while doing anything that requires complete alertness such as driving a car or operating machinery. You should be aware that anterograde amnesia has been associated with benzodiazepine drugs such as Halcion. You should be cautious about using Halcion if you have liver or kidney problems, lung problems, or a tendency to temporarily stop breathing while you are asleep. |
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