Current Scheduling Status
Year(s) and type of review / ECDD meetings
Drug Class
Recommendation (from TRS)
ECDD Technical summary
In 1984, triazolam was included in Schedule IV of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, together with a number of other benzodiazepines. The 27th meeting (5) of the Committee reviewed 37 benzodiazepines in 1990 and found that triazolam was appropriately controlled in Schedule IV. However, the 28th (6) meeting of the Committee recommended in 1992 that a critical review should be undertaken if there was any indication that triazolam had a lower therapeutic usefulness than previously considered. The Expert Committee decided to conduct such a critical review of triazolam in view of the fact that a downward assessment of triazolam’s therapeutic usefulness at higher doses has resulted in the lowering of the recommended dose for triazolam in many countries. The information currently available supports the previous assessment that triazolam has an intermediate abuse liability relative to other benzodiazepine agonists. This limited information does not suggest that the risk to public health and society due to the abuse of triazolam is greater than that assessed in 1990.
Recommendation
No rescheduling recommendation is therefore required since, according to the scheduling criteria, a change in the assessment of therapeutic usefulness alone does not provide a basis for rescheduling a substance in Schedule IV of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971. However, the Committee considers it useful to continue the monitoring of abuse-related adverse drug reactions and behavioural problems associated with triazolam. Continued vigilance is also recommended with regard to illicit activities involving the drug. The Expert Committee recommends that WHO bring to the attention of appropriate international agencies the association of triazolam with criminal activities.
In 1984, triazolam was included in Schedule IV of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, together with a number of other benzodiazepines. The 27th meeting (5) of the Committee reviewed 37 benzodiazepines in 1990 and found that triazolam was appropriately controlled in Schedule IV. However, the 28th (6) meeting of the Committee recommended in 1992 that a critical review should be undertaken if there was any indication that triazolam had a lower therapeutic usefulness than previously considered. The Expert Committee decided to conduct such a critical review of triazolam in view of the fact that a downward assessment of triazolam’s therapeutic usefulness at higher doses has resulted in the lowering of the recommended dose for triazolam in many countries. The information currently available supports the previous assessment that triazolam has an intermediate abuse liability relative to other benzodiazepine agonists. This limited information does not suggest that the risk to public health and society due to the abuse of triazolam is greater than that assessed in 1990.
Recommendation
No rescheduling recommendation is therefore required since, according to the scheduling criteria, a change in the assessment of therapeutic usefulness alone does not provide a basis for rescheduling a substance in Schedule IV of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971. However, the Committee considers it useful to continue the monitoring of abuse-related adverse drug reactions and behavioural problems associated with triazolam. Continued vigilance is also recommended with regard to illicit activities involving the drug. The Expert Committee recommends that WHO bring to the attention of appropriate international agencies the association of triazolam with criminal activities.
ECDD Recommendation
No change in scheduling
Link to full TRS
who_trs_856.pdf1.07 MB