Home/Terminology/Benzodiazepine/Triazolam

How to Pronounce Triazolam (Halcion)

try-AZ-oh-lam

IPA: /traɪ.ˈæz.oʊ.læm/

Brand name: Halcion

try AZ oh lam

How do you pronounce Triazolam?

Triazolam is pronounced “try-AZ-oh-lam”. It has 4 syllables: try ‑ az ‑ oh ‑ lam. The stress falls on the second syllable, “az”. The first syllable “try” sounds like the word try, referring to the triazole ring in the chemical structure.

How many syllables are in Triazolam?

Triazolam has 4 syllables: try ‑ az ‑ oh ‑ lam.

What is Triazolam used for?

Triazolam (Halcion) is an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine approved for short-term treatment of sleep-onset insomnia. Its half-life of only 2–5 hours, with no active metabolites, makes it effective for difficulty falling asleep but not useful for sleep maintenance insomnia. It is a Schedule IV controlled substance. Due to its potency (100x more potent than diazepam) and documented amnesia at higher doses, triazolam fell out of favor in many countries in the early 1990s, though it remains FDA-approved in the US.

How does Triazolam work?

Triazolam binds to the benzodiazepine site of GABA-A receptors, potentiating GABA-mediated chloride ion influx. It contains a triazole ring fused to the benzodiazepine structure, which increases receptor binding affinity and potency. Its rapid onset (15–30 minutes) and short duration make it suitable for sleep-onset, but the same properties contribute to rebound insomnia and anterograde amnesia at higher doses.

Word Parts

prefix tri- three (triazole ring fused to benzodiazepine structure)

root -azol- triazole ring component

suffix -am benzodiazepine class marker

Common Mispronunciations

Stress falls on syllable 2 (AZ). Avoid “TRY-a-zo-lam” with stress on the first syllable. The “oh” in syllable 3 is a long “o” sound, not a short “ah”.

Where You’ll Encounter This

Sleep medicine, pharmacology education (triazolam is the prototype ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine), dental sedation (sometimes used for procedural anxiety), drug interaction discussions (CYP3A4 substrate with many interactions). Frequently appears on pharmacology licensing exams as an example of an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine.