What is the most important information I should know about HALCION?

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HALCION is a benzodiazepine medicine. Taking benzodiazepines with opioid medicines, alcohol, or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, breathing problems (respiratory depression), coma and death. Get emergency help right away if any of the following happens:

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shallow or slowed breathing

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breathing stops (which may lead to the heart stopping)

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excessive sleepiness (sedation)

 

Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how taking HALCION with opioids affects you.

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Risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction. There is a risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction with benzodiazepines, including HALCION which can lead to overdose and serious side effects including coma and death.

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Serious side effects including coma and death have happened in people who have abused or misused benzodiazepines, including HALCION. These serious side effects may also include delirium, paranoia, suicidal thoughts or actions, seizures, and difficulty breathing. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you get any of these serious side effects.

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You can develop an addiction even if you take HALCION as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

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Take HALCION exactly as your healthcare provider prescribed.

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Do not share your HALCION with other people.

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Keep HALCION in a safe place and away from children.

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Physical dependence and withdrawal reactions. HALCION can cause physical dependence and withdrawal reactions.

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Do not suddenly stop taking HALCION. Stopping HALCION suddenly can cause serious and life-threatening side effects, including unusual movements, responses, or expressions, seizures, sudden and severe mental or nervous system changes, depression, seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear, an extreme increase in activity or talking, losing touch with reality, and suicidal thoughts or actions. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you get any of these symptoms.

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Some people who suddenly stop benzodiazepines, have symptoms that can last for several weeks to more than 12 months, including, anxiety, trouble remembering, learning, or concentrating, depression, problems sleeping feeling like insects are crawling under your skin, weakness, shaking, muscle twitching, burning or prickling feeling in your hands, arms, legs or feet, and ringing in your ears.

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Physical dependence is not the same as drug addiction. Your healthcare provider can tell you more about the differences between physical dependence and drug addiction.

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Do not take more HALCION than prescribed or take HALCION for longer than prescribed.

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After taking HALCION, you may get up out of bed while not being fully awake and do an activity that you do not know you are doing. The next morning, you may not remember that you did anything during the night. You have a higher chance for doing these activities if you drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy with HALCION. Reported activities include:

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driving a car ("sleep-driving")

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making and eating food

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talking on the phone

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having sex

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sleep-walking

Call your healthcare provider right away if you find out that you have done any of the above activities after taking HALCION.