Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 241371

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible

Posted by galkeepinon on July 13, 2003, at 0:53:22

Hi, I wanted to see if anyone has ever taken Halcion (Triazolam)??? I was given it in the hospital in May and my psychiatrist then was a little leary about giving it to me, but I was having a terrible time sleeping-terrible. She gave me a prescription when I went home and I have been leary of taking it ever since. However, I haven't been sleeping very good at all and was thinking about taking one tonight.

I would really like to know if anyone has been on this medication and how they did on it, if they have been on it for an extended period of time, or if anyone has heard anything good or bad or indifferent about it?

Thank you so much in advance,

Gal

 

Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible » galkeepinon

Posted by Larry Hoover on July 13, 2003, at 6:53:07

In reply to HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible, posted by galkeepinon on July 13, 2003, at 0:53:22

> Hi, I wanted to see if anyone has ever taken Halcion (Triazolam)??? I was given it in the hospital in May and my psychiatrist then was a little leary about giving it to me, but I was having a terrible time sleeping-terrible. She gave me a prescription when I went home and I have been leary of taking it ever since. However, I haven't been sleeping very good at all and was thinking about taking one tonight.
>
> I would really like to know if anyone has been on this medication and how they did on it, if they have been on it for an extended period of time, or if anyone has heard anything good or bad or indifferent about it?
>
> Thank you so much in advance,
>
> Gal

I don't think I've taken than particular benzo for sleep, but I take benzos for sleep *every* night. Apart from a period of time where I did a trial of Remeron, I've been using benzos to get to sleep for years now. The one I use is Restoril (temazepam), but from the research I've done, the difference is probably pretty slight. You may have a slight hangover effect (residual dopiness) in the morning, but you get over it quickly, especially if you just decide to get active.

There is a slight reduction in dreaming on benzos for sleep, but that might be a good thing for some people.

I've been steadily improving in emotional strength, resiliency, and cognitive functioning ever since I started using the benzo, because good restorative sleep is a key component of my well-being. It just took me years to get my doctors to take my complaints of insomnia seriously enough to get them to enter "benzo-land" with me. I really don't understand why the medical establishment has demonized benzos. What should I do, return to alcohol abuse instead?

Just my opinionated concluding my remarks,
Lar

 

Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible » galkeepinon

Posted by cubbybear on July 13, 2003, at 8:18:19

In reply to HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible, posted by galkeepinon on July 13, 2003, at 0:53:22

Hi-- I wanted to get back to you before you pop just one of those Halcion pills. In many ways, I agree with what Larry said--e.g. some doctors are unnecessarily paranoid about benzos; these meds are important as anxiolytics as well as sleeping aids. However, I know from what has been posted on this board, along with credible charts, and official comparative data on all the benzos that there is a VAST difference between some of them. Halcion has the highest potential for habituation since it has the shortest half-life, and I believe it's not intended for use for more than a few days.

Years ago, I used it on rare occasions to help me sleep (maybe once a month), and it was very effective. I then switched to Xanax, when I discovered that it was effective for insomnia as well as anxiety and panic.
Last year, I was put on Klonopin, another benzo, to help me sleep, and it is rated as even "safer" than Xanax. I've been on it for about a year and am trying to wean off it, but as you can see from my other post, I've been having a tough time getting off it, so even Klonopin has the potential to be tough to quit. That being said, I wouldn't want to be the person who's become stuck on Halcion. This stuff is quite potent. I'd recommend that you talk to your doctor and if you still have insomnia, try switching to something else. . Keep in mind that there is potential for habituation in any benzo for some people, and you won't know it until you decide it's time to try quitting it.

.

 

Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible » galkeepinon

Posted by jlo820 on July 13, 2003, at 13:28:52

In reply to Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible » galkeepinon, posted by cubbybear on July 13, 2003, at 8:18:19

Halcion is an extremly potent, quick acting benzo with a very short half-life. I was just given a prescription yesterday because I had not slept in two nights. It is not a long-term treatment for insomina...you shouldn't take it for more than 7-10 days. If you are having a real hard sleeping on a particular night, you can take .125 or .25 mg...maybe even for two nights in a row. But beyond that, I would talk to my Dr. Another problem with continuous use is that you can get what is called "Rebound Insomina"...insomina from coming off Halcion (or any of the benzos used for sleep.)

Let me know if you have additional questions. I have taken it for two nights and have slept great.

I will try without tonight and see what happens.

 

Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible » jlo820

Posted by galkeepinon on July 13, 2003, at 18:35:29

In reply to Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible » galkeepinon, posted by jlo820 on July 13, 2003, at 13:28:52

So you are taking it now too??? I did take it last night, I think I did sleep deeper-before I knew it-it was morning-but I didn't sleep that long-so your theory about short-half life may hold true-I agree. The psychiatrist also told me something about if a person used it on a long-term basis they could start becoming psychotic??? Is that true??? That's what scares me!!!! What do you think makes Halcion so potent?
What strength have you been taking?
Thanks,
Gal


> Halcion is an extremly potent, quick acting benzo with a very short half-life. I was just given a prescription yesterday because I had not slept in two nights. It is not a long-term treatment for insomina...you shouldn't take it for more than 7-10 days. If you are having a real hard sleeping on a particular night, you can take .125 or .25 mg...maybe even for two nights in a row. But beyond that, I would talk to my Dr. Another problem with continuous use is that you can get what is called "Rebound Insomina"...insomina from coming off Halcion (or any of the benzos used for sleep.)
>
> Let me know if you have additional questions. I have taken it for two nights and have slept great.
>
> I will try without tonight and see what happens.
>
>

 

Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible

Posted by jlo820 on July 14, 2003, at 0:42:26

In reply to Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible » jlo820, posted by galkeepinon on July 13, 2003, at 18:35:29

Yes I am taking it now. I am not going to take it tonight, so we will see how it goes.

I don't know about becoming psychotic---this I have never heard, perhaps your doctor chose the wrong term---but you can become very anxious and agitated if you take it for long periods of time then stop.

Can't answer to why Halcion is so potent. Do a simple google search for benzodiazepines and you will find plenty of information.

 

Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible

Posted by SLS on July 14, 2003, at 16:43:59

In reply to HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible, posted by galkeepinon on July 13, 2003, at 0:53:22

Hi.

Halcion is a particularly powerful benzodiazepine - the most potent, in fact. It works great to put someone to sleep, but because of its short half-life, wears off rather quickly. I think Halcion has received a lot of bad press regarding its potential to produce amnesia. It is probably no greater than that of Ambien. Ativan works fairly well to put someone to sleep and help them stay asleep. Restoril is milder and, although not so good to put someone to sleep, is great for having one stay asleep. I found that I had no hangover using Restoril. Ativan is probably more likely to produce hangover, but I never really had much of a problem with it.

If your problem is primarily that of falling asleep, Halcion will work better than Ativan, Restoril, Ambien, Sonata, or Klonopin. When I was taking Parnate, Ativan was not strong enough to put me to sleep. Halcion put me to sleep quickly, but I would wake up in a few hours and have to take more. The ideal solution for me was to take both Halcion and Ativan at bedtime. I fell asleep and stayed asleep until morning. Initially, Halcion was prescribed in the range of 0.25-1.00mg. After the uproar about amnesia, the drug manufacturer, Upjohn, reduced the recommended range to between 0.125-0.500mg. I would not be afraid to take 1.00mg if necessary. I took 2.00mg, and have no recollection of it causing amnesia. :-)

Benzodiazepines have become demonized as of about 10 years ago in the US. I understand that doctors in the UK won't prescribe them at all. I think they are an invaluable tool that can be used safely if administered with care and respect.


- Scott

 

Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible » SLS

Posted by galkeepinon on July 14, 2003, at 16:56:59

In reply to Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible, posted by SLS on July 14, 2003, at 16:43:59

Hi Scott, WOW! It is rather amazing you posted this. I have taken Halcion for the last 2 nights and although I have slept very well, I have had "bouts" of amnesia-or rather forgetfulness today-real quick moments of "I forget" kind of thoughts. Restoril never did a thing for me where as Ambien (10mg) helped a great deal for sleep, but I have never gotten a prescription for it. I am really, really hesitant to have posession of a sleeping pill. Although is Halcion considered a sleeping pill? I am kind of bent that this former psychiatrist had sent me home with it. I am glad that I hadn't used it up though. It's just until recently that because I haven't been able to sleep-that I took 1 the last 2 nights.
I do also take 2mg of Klonopin to sleep so I took the Halcion with the Klonopin both nights and slept well. I just hate having to do this because I'm a little skiddish about Halcion, I have done some research on it but maybe not enough.
This whole "anti-bezo thing is so pathetically overated it makes me sick! I think they are an invaluable tool that can be used safely if administered with care and respect also and I think a lot of doctors categorize patients as a whole sometimes and put them into the category of addicts-those that abuse and misuse benzos-manipulating the system. I do not enjoy taking meds, I have been through countless trials with them, and I am responsible in what I do concerning them. My biggest problem is because of this I have been known to be non-med compliant, meaning because I don't like to take them-I could never abuse them so my docs don't ever worry about me getting addicted:)

What do you think about all I have said???
I really appreciate your input here Scott!

Thanks again,
Gal

> Hi.
>
> Halcion is a particularly powerful benzodiazepine - the most potent, in fact. It works great to put someone to sleep, but because of its short half-life, wears off rather quickly. I think Halcion has received a lot of bad press regarding its potential to produce amnesia. It is probably no greater than that of Ambien. Ativan works fairly well to put someone to sleep and help them stay asleep. Restoril is milder and, although not so good to put someone to sleep, is great for having one stay asleep. I found that I had no hangover using Restoril. Ativan is probably more likely to produce hangover, but I never really had much of a problem with it.
>
> If your problem is primarily that of falling asleep, Halcion will work better than Ativan, Restoril, Ambien, Sonata, or Klonopin. When I was taking Parnate, Ativan was not strong enough to put me to sleep. Halcion put me to sleep quickly, but I would wake up in a few hours and have to take more. The ideal solution for me was to take both Halcion and Ativan at bedtime. I fell asleep and stayed asleep until morning. Initially, Halcion was prescribed in the range of 0.25-1.00mg. After the uproar about amnesia, the drug manufacturer, Upjohn, reduced the recommended range to between 0.125-0.500mg. I would not be afraid to take 1.00mg if necessary. I took 2.00mg, and have no recollection of it causing amnesia. :-)
>
> Benzodiazepines have become demonized as of about 10 years ago in the US. I understand that doctors in the UK won't prescribe them at all. I think they are an invaluable tool that can be used safely if administered with care and respect.
>
>
> - Scott

 

Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible » galkeepinon

Posted by SLS on July 14, 2003, at 19:20:54

In reply to Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible » SLS, posted by galkeepinon on July 14, 2003, at 16:56:59

Hi Gal.

> What do you think about all I have said???

I think it sounds like you need something to help you sleep.

If you decide to stay with medication, it seems like Ambien would be your best choice. You reported having success with Ambien without experiencing any memory difficulties, so it makes sense to choose it over Halcion. For me, I never liked the idea of using Klonopin expressly for sleep. It stays in the body too long and can be depressogenic. I think Ativan makes for a better sleeping pill.

Halcion has been used primarily as a sleeping pill, but is being used by some dentists to sedate their patients. I think the amnesia is a good thing here! I don't blame your being skiddish using it. It is probably best to use it as a last resort.

Some people on Psycho-Babble have had success using a magnesium supplement at bedtime to enhance sleep. Just don't use magnesium oxide. It pretty much just passes through the system without being absorbed. I find magnesium glycinate to work well. You should find threads devoted to magnesium in the Psycho-Babble archives using the search function.

Good luck.


- Scott

 

Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible » SLS

Posted by galkeepinon on July 14, 2003, at 22:36:03

In reply to Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible » galkeepinon, posted by SLS on July 14, 2003, at 19:20:54

The Halcion is doing fine right now with the Klonopin-have to ask my doc about Ambien-docs are hesitant to give out that med for some reason.........I used to use Magnesium supplements and they worked wonders-haven't used them for a very long time.

Gal

>
>
> Hi Gal.
>
> > What do you think about all I have said???
>
> I think it sounds like you need something to help you sleep.
>
> If you decide to stay with medication, it seems like Ambien would be your best choice. You reported having success with Ambien without experiencing any memory difficulties, so it makes sense to choose it over Halcion. For me, I never liked the idea of using Klonopin expressly for sleep. It stays in the body too long and can be depressogenic. I think Ativan makes for a better sleeping pill.
>
> Halcion has been used primarily as a sleeping pill, but is being used by some dentists to sedate their patients. I think the amnesia is a good thing here! I don't blame your being skiddish using it. It is probably best to use it as a last resort.
>
> Some people on Psycho-Babble have had success using a magnesium supplement at bedtime to enhance sleep. Just don't use magnesium oxide. It pretty much just passes through the system without being absorbed. I find magnesium glycinate to work well. You should find threads devoted to magnesium in the Psycho-Babble archives using the search function.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> - Scott
>

 

Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible

Posted by stjames on July 15, 2003, at 16:19:03

In reply to Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible, posted by SLS on July 14, 2003, at 16:43:59

I think Halcion has received a lot of bad press regarding its potential to produce amnesia. It is probably no greater than that of Ambien.

Halcion is the only benzo that produces marked
amnesia, for me.

 

Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible

Posted by SLS on July 15, 2003, at 22:32:40

In reply to Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible, posted by stjames on July 15, 2003, at 16:19:03

> > I think Halcion has received a lot of bad press regarding its potential to produce amnesia. It is probably no greater than that of Ambien.

> Halcion is the only benzo that produces marked
> amnesia, for me.


Hi James.

Can you describe your experience with Halcion? Was it like a blackout?


- Scott

 

Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible

Posted by stjames on July 16, 2003, at 13:51:30

In reply to Re: HALCION-Questions..........Please help if possible, posted by SLS on July 15, 2003, at 22:32:40

> Hi James.
>
> Can you describe your experience with Halcion? Was it like a blackout?
>
>
> - Scott


No, not a blackout. Loss a memories (1/2 day) prior to taking Halcion. Never had this (amnesia)on any other benzo.


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