Posted by Cam W. on August 2, 2000, at 6:39:49
In reply to CAM! Halcion for panic?!!!, posted by Jennifer on August 1, 2000, at 21:04:45
Jennifer - I have noticed that the dental office across the alley has been ordering generic Halcion (triazolam) from me. They had a new "Doogie" start there a few months ago. I thought he was ordering the Halcion for "personal use", but have subsequently found that they are using it for sedation in anxious patients. Even the older (our age) dentist is now using it. Up until now, they had been using diazepam (Valium) injectible for anxiety, but they use that much less now.
Occasional Halcion use should be no problem. It is when you take it everyday and build tolerance to the effects, that problems start (or when you throw up in the lap of a Japanese Prime Minister - half a tablet, my a**). Also, there can be some problems with amnesia while under the influence of the drug. This can make driving home treacherous. The short half-life of an hour or two is a bonus, though (the effects don't last anywhere near as long as Valium). Sublingual use of Halcion may work faster and better for the panic, but I don't think that it would have anything to do with stopping overusage. The best way to stop overusage is to not have a supply of the drug handy, which your dentist will probably not give you, anyway.
One potential problem is that Halcion is metabolized by the cytochrome system (primarily CYP-3A3/4). This means that inhibitors of this system (eg Serzone, Luvox, Prozac, diltiazem, grapefruit juice, etc.) could increase Halcion's effects (and side effects). If you were taking any of these CYP-3A3/4 inhibitors, you would probably require a smaller dose of Halcion for the same anti-panic effect. I haven't heard of any problem using Halcion with MAOIs.
Yes, occasional Halcion use should cause few, if any problems. Hope this helps - Cam.
poster:Cam W.
thread:41961
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000729/msgs/41992.html