Halcion Uses (Cont.)

How Does Halcion Work?

Halcion is part of a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines have several effects on the body, including:
 
  • Reducing anxiety
  • Causing sleepiness
  • Relaxing muscles
  • Stopping seizures
  • Impairing short-term memory.
     
All of the medicines in this category can have these effects to some degree, depending on the specific benzodiazepine that is being taken. They work in the brain by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a brain chemical that has a naturally calming effect. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain. This is why Halcion and other benzodiazepines are known as mild tranquilizers, sedatives, or central nervous system depressants (CNS depressants).
 

Halcion Use in Children

Halcion is not approved for treating insomnia in children. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using Halcion in children.
 

Off-Label Halcion Uses

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend Halcion for something other than the condition listed in this article. Currently, there are no universally accepted off-label Halcion uses.

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;