Halcion Abuse: Signs, Symptoms, Withdrawal Risks & Treatment

Halcion is the brand name for a sedative-hypnotic benzodiazepine called triazolam. This highly potent drug is prescribed for acute insomnia on a short-term basis, and carries a high risk for abuse and addiction when used for longer than 10 days.

Understanding Halcion Abuse

Halcion is a fast-acting benzodiazepine that slows down brain activity so you feel more relaxed and calm enough to fall asleep. The drug is usually only prescribed to insomnia patients for between seven and 10 days, and is sometimes used to treat anxiety and seizures. When used as prescribed, Halcion helps its users fall into a deep sleep, and produces effects that last between two and four hours.

In most cases, the effects of Halcion stop working when users have been taking the drug for longer than one week. When the drug stops working, users take higher doses more frequently in an effort to achieve the drug’s calming effects. These users then develop a tolerance to the drug, become physically dependent, and require more in an effort to feel and function “normally.”

In addition to producing a calming, relaxing effect, Halcion has the ability to enhance a user’s mood and trigger feelings of euphoria. These effects increase the drug’s potential for abuse, as users increase their doses to chase ongoing euphoria. As a result, users become physically and mentally addicted to Halcion, and experience cravings and withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit.

Signs and Symptoms of Halcion Abuse

Many individuals abuse Halcion without knowing about its high risk for addiction. Some people take Halcion without a prescription to treat insomnia, and form an addiction within days.

Common signs and symptoms of Halcion abuse include:

• Behaving mildly intoxicated or drunk
• Slurred speech
• Loss of coordination
• Drowsiness
• Slowed breathing
• Dilated pupils
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Hallucinations
• Insomnia
• Suicidal thoughts
• Anxiety
• Empty prescription bottles in various places
• Using Halcion without a prescription
• Using Halcion at higher doses
• Using Halcion more frequently
• Visiting multiple physicians to gain multiple prescriptions for Halcion
• Using Halcion to relieve stress
• Using Halcion to self-medicate for depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders
• Using Halcion despite existing health problems
• Changes in sleeping patterns
• Problems at work, school, or home
• Lying and secretive behavior
• Cravings for Halcion
• Withdrawal symptoms when quitting Halcion

Dangers & Risk Factors Associated with Halcion Abuse

When used as prescribed, Halcion helps those who suffer from insomnia fall asleep more easily and quickly. But when abused or used long-term, Halcion can lead to an overdose, coma, or death. Those who use Halcion with alcohol and opioids are at significantly higher risk for fatality than those who use the drug on its own.

Serious dangers and health risks associated with Halcion abuse are:

• Slowed breathing
• Slurred speech
• Loss of balance and coordination
• Extreme drowsiness
• Double vision
• Memory loss
• Depression
• Seizures
• Coma
• Death

Loss of balance and coordination increases the risk for accidents, while slowed breathing can lead to coma or death. Another serious risk associated with Halcion use is addiction. Addiction can lead to serious problems with your physical and mental health, and interfere with your career, family, and overall well-being.

Who’s At Risk of Halcion Abuse & Addiction?

Anyone who uses Halcion without a valid prescription or for longer than prescribed is at risk for abuse and addiction. Those who become tolerant to their normal doses of Halcion may abuse the drug in an effort to achieve the same effects, and become addicted as a result.

You may be at risk for Halcion addiction if you meet any of the following criteria:

• Have a personal history of drug abuse or addiction
• Have a family history of drug abuse or addiction
• Abuse alcohol and other substances in addition to Halcion
• Suffer one or more co-occurring mental health disorders (OCD, PTSD)
• Have a history of trauma or abuse
• Are surrounded by negative influences at home
• Suffer chronic stress
• Have problems with your family, career, or education

Halcion Addiction

Halcion abuse can develop into a full-blown addiction if you use the drug on a long-term basis, or without a valid prescription. Halcion addiction can be both physical and psychological, especially if you require high doses of the drug to feel and function normally from day to day. Many who struggle with Halcion addiction often have difficulty controlling their dosage amounts, as well as the frequency at which they use the drug.

Individuals addicted to Halcion may engage in a practice known as doctor shopping to obtain more of this potent benzodiazepine. Doctor shopping is when patients visit multiple doctors across different healthcare networks to obtain multiple prescriptions for Halcion. When their prescriptions finally run out, users head to the streets to buy illicit Halcion or other powerful, deadly drugs such as heroin and fentanyl.

Fortunately, Halcion addiction can be effectively treated at drug rehab centers that treat addiction as a whole both physically and mentally. Addiction treatment centers offer a number of therapies that help you get clean, and stay clean for the months and years following your stay at rehab.

Am I Addicted to Halcion?

When you’re suffering from addiction, you may not know you have a problem until it’s too late. You may be addicted to Halcion if you experience cravings and withdrawal symptoms when not taking your usual dose, or if you’ve made Halcion a higher priority than other important life obligations.

If you’re using Halcion and suspect you might have a problem with addiction, ask yourself the following questions to determine whether you need help.

• Am I experiencing cravings and withdrawal symptoms when not using Halcion?
• Have I been using higher doses of Halcion?
• Have I been using Halcion more frequently?
• Have I been making excuses to use Halcion?
• Have I been prioritizing Halcion use over important responsibilities?
• Do I take Halcion with me everywhere I go?
• Have I been using Halcion with alcohol and other substances?
• Is Halcion use causing problems with my family, job, and education?
• Have I tried quitting Halcion in the past without success?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be suffering from Halcion addiction. Your next step is to speak with an experienced drug abuse counselor about local addiction treatment centers that can help.

Halcion Addiction Treatment Options

Halcion addiction treatment can help you overcome physical and psychological addiction to this highly potent benzodiazepine. Halcion addiction is commonly treated using detoxification, counseling, and aftercare — all of which address addiction as a whole. Seeking treatment for Halcion addiction gives you the chance to improve your health, happiness, and overall livelihood, and achieve a sober, more fulfilling lifestyle.

Detoxification helps you overcome physical dependency on Halcion. Counseling addresses psychological root causes of addiction, along with behaviors and thought-patterns that may also be driving your addiction. Aftercare programs use 12-step support groups, ongoing education, and counseling to help you stay sober and avoid relapse for life following addiction treatment.

Detoxification

Detoxification is the first stage of Halcion addiction treatment, and helps you overcome physical addiction to the drug. Following detox, you’ll no longer experience cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with Halcion use. Detox from Halcion is usually performed using one of two methods: medically supervised detox or tapering.

Medically supervised detox is when you withdraw from Halcion in a safe, controlled medical environment surrounded by medical staff who monitor the detox process. Withdrawing from Halcion can cause pain and discomfort for some individuals, and be life-threatening for those who abuse Halcion at especially high doses or have used the drug for an extended period of time. Medically supervised detox may involve the use of one or more medications that help relieve or eliminate certain Halcion withdrawal symptoms.

Tapering is when your doctor gradually reduces your Halcion dosage over a period of time until you’re no longer using or physically dependent on the drug. Tapering helps your body adjust to lower doses of Halcion, and minimizes your risk for experiencing pain and discomfort as you withdraw. Many doctors may switch you from Halcion to a longer-acting benzodiazepine such as diazepam or clonazepam that requires you to take fewer doses to achieve the same effect.

Common Halcion withdrawal symptoms include:

• Rebound insomnia
• Increased heart rate
• Headaches
• Fever
• Sweating
• Muscle cramps
• Shaking
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Hallucinations
• Cravings for Halcion

Rehabilitation

Drug rehab centers offer a number of therapies aimed at helping you fully overcome addiction to Halcion. The best treatment centers will tailor addiction therapies to your personal recovery needs based on your addiction type and unique history with addiction. Some therapies may work better for you than for others, which is why most addiction treatments are customized especially for you.

Following Halcion detox, rehabilitation often involves a series of individual, group, and family counseling sessions. These counseling sessions help you identify, manage, and overcome psychological factors that may be causing your addiction. For instance, if you abuse Halcion to avoid or combat feelings of stress, counseling teaches you healthy ways to manage stress that don’t involve drugs or alcohol.

Many drug rehab centers also offer 12-step support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous to help you uncover new tips and tricks for avoiding relapse and staying sober. These support groups allow you to bond with and learn from other recovering addicts who share similar struggles. Recreational therapies such as art therapy and nature therapy are offered at some drug rehab centers to help you overcome addiction along with counseling and support groups.

Halcion addiction treatment can last anywhere between a few weeks to several months, and takes place in either an outpatient or inpatient setting. Outpatient drug rehab centers are ideal for those who have other important life obligations outside of addiction treatment, while inpatient drug rehab centers are ideal for those who need safe environments in which to recover without distractions and access to drugs and alcohol. If you’re not sure which rehab setting is ideal for you, our caring drug abuse counselors are on standby 24/7 to answer all your questions.