Triazolam is used for the short-term treatment of insomnia, and is in a family of drugs known as benzodiazepines.
Summary of
Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, an herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem
contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized
interactions.
May Be Beneficial:Supportive
interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication
work better.
Melatonin
Vinpocetine*
Avoid:Adverse interaction—Avoid these supplements when taking this
medication because taking them together may cause undesirable or dangerous results.
Alcohol
Grapefruit juice
Pomegranate juice*
Depletion or interference
None known
Side effect reduction/prevention
None known
Reduced drug
absorption/bioavailability
None known
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the
interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific
evidence.
Interactions with Dietary Supplements
Melatonin
A preliminary study showed that taking melatonin and triazolam together produces better
quality of sleep than occurs when the drug is taken alone. The results also indicated that
less triazolam is needed when melatonin and triazolam are taken together, which might reduce
side effects such as morning grogginess.1 Additional research is needed to
determine whether individuals taking triazolam should also take melatonin.
Vinpocetine
In a preliminary trial, an extract of periwinkle called vinpocetine was shown to produce minor
improvements in short-term memory among people taking flunitrazepam, a
benzodiazepine.2 Further study is needed to determine if vinpocetine would be a
helpful adjunct to use of benzodiazepines, or triazolam specifically.
Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds
Grapefruit
juice
Drinking grapefruit juice with triazolam dramatically increases the amount of drug absorbed
and the amount of time it stays in the body.3 Though the clinical significance of
this interaction is unknown, some people may experience increased side effects, such as
morning grogginess, dizziness, and poor coordination. Therefore, people taking triazolam
should probably avoid drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit for the duration of
therapy.
Pomegranate
juice
Pomegranate juice has been shown to inhibit the same enzyme that is inhibited by grapefruit juice.45 The degree
of inhibition is about the same for each of these juices. Therefore, it would be reasonable to
expect that pomegranate juice might interact with triazolam in the same way that grapefruit
juice does.
Alcohol
Drinking alcoholic beverages while taking triazolam may enhance side effects such as
drowsiness, confusion, and dizziness.6 Consequently, people taking triazolam should
avoid drinking alcohol, especially when they must stay alert.
References (To view, roll mouse over the "References" heading; to hide, click on the heading)
1. Ferini-Strambi L, Zucconi M, Biella G, et al. Effect of melatonin on
sleep microstructure: preliminary results in healthy subjects. Sleep
1993;16:744–7..
2. Bhatti JZ, Hindmarch I. Vinpocetine effects on cognitive impairments
produced by flunitrazepam. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 1987;2:325–31.
3. Sifton DW, ed. Physicians’ Desk Reference. Montvale,
NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 2000, 2461–3.
4. Sorokin AV, Duncan B, Panetta R, Thompson PD. Rhabdomyolysis
associated with pomegranate juice consumption. Am J Cardiol 2006;98:705–6.
5. Summers KM. Potential drug-food interactions with pomegranate juice.
Ann Pharmacother 2006;40:1472–3.
6. Sifton DW, ed. Physicians’ Desk Reference. Montvale,
NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 2000, 2461–3
The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only.
It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience,
or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur
in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over
the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist
for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in
prescribed medications.
