Pharmacokinetics of oral triazolam in children

The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic behavior of triazolam in children. Nine healthy children, aged 6 to 9 years, received oral triazolam (0.025 mg/kg suspended in Kool-Aid, Kraft General Foods, Chicago, IL) before dental treatment. Plasma triazolam concentrations were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometry at approximately 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 minutes. A one-compartment model with first-order absorption and varying parameters was used, and estimated concentration curves were obtained for each subject. The observed peak plasma concentration was 8.5 +/- 3.0 ng/mL (mean +/- SD). The observed time to peak plasma concentration was 74 +/- 25 minutes. Elimination half-life was 213 +/- 144 minutes. Substantial recovery from signs and symptoms of clinical sedation required 180 to 240 minutes. The long duration of effect and relatively slow elimination should be noted by clinicians concerned with patient safety.