Триазолам

Yellow Solid

Triazolam

Triazolam, a benzodiazepine derivative with sedative and hypnotic activity, was introduced in 1978 for themanagement of insomnia. It is controlled under Schedule IV of the 1971 Convention of Psychotropic Substances. Concern regarding the psychotropic effects of triazolam was first raised in the Netherlands in 1979 when this compound was suspended for sale and subsequently withdrawn by the Committee for the Evaluation of Medicines on the basis of reports of a reversible complex of symptoms including paranoia, depersonalization, nightmares, suicidal tendency and hyperaesthesia in patients receiving the drug. The basis for this decision was later successfully contested by the manufacturer and the drug was reregistered in early 1990 with a revised product information. However, concern was regenerated elsewhere that higher doses are associated with an unacceptable incidence of unwanted effects and the manufacturer has eventually withdrawn 0.5 mg tablets on a worldwide basis. In 1991 the issue of the safety of triazolam was again reopened by reports of retrograde amnesia and depression among patients taking the decreased recommended dosages. The product information has been revised by the United States FDA to include more rigorous cautions regarding dosage. In the Member States of the European Communities the products have been suspended pending further review by the EC Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products.

Triazolam, 8-chloro-6-(o-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-4H-s-triazolo[4,3-a][1,4] benzodiazepine(Halcion), has all of the characteristic benzodiazepine pharmacologicalactions. It is an ultra–short-acting hypnoticbecause it is rapidly α-hydroxylated to the 1-methyl alcohol,which is then rapidly conjugated and excreted.Consequently, it has gained popularity as sleep inducers, especiallyin elderly patients, because it causes less daytimesedation. It is metabolically inactivated primarily by hepaticand intestinal CYP3A4; therefore, coadministration withgrapefruit juice increases its peak plasma concentration by30%, leading to increased drowsiness.