Alprazolam : Drug Information

08 Mar 2021 By Cynthia D. Ritchie

What is Alprazolam?

Alprazolam is a short-acting tranquilizer that belongs to the class of triazolobenzodiazepine (TBZD). It is benzodiazepines fused with a triazole ring. Alprazolam is available under the brand name called Xanax. Doctors use this medication as a short term measure to treat anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or any other conditions as determined by them. It works by improving the activity of specific neurotransmitters of the brain.

Alprazolam is mostly available in the oral form. One can avail of this medication only with a proper prescription from a doctor.

What to know before taking Alprazolam?

You should avoid taking this medication if you are allergic to it or any of its components or if you have:

  • Recently taken any anti-fungal medicines such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, etc
  • Allergic reaction to any benzodiazepine

To ensure that Alprazolam is safe for you, you should tell your doctor if you have or ever had the following medical issues:

  • Problem in breathing
  • Sleep apnea
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Addiction to drugs or alcohol
  • Depression
  • Mood swings
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Seizures
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease

Expecting women and lactating mothers should not use Alprazolam; it may affect the baby.

How to take Alprazolam?

Take Alprazolam exactly as prescribed by the doctor. You must follow all the instructions given on the prescription label and medication guide carefully. Please don’t take it more than recommended and try to be consistent throughout the treatment. Consult your doctor if you are not feeling any improvement in your condition.

Alprazolam is a highly addictive drug; therefore, buying and selling Alprazolam is an offense under the prevailing law. Before taking this medication, you must be aware that abuse, misuse, and addiction to Alprazolam may lead to a fatal situation.

Amitriptyline

You may require a few frequent medical tests if you are using this medicine for the long term. Do consult your doctor before leaving this medication; otherwise, you can experience rebound or withdrawal symptoms. Keep the medication out of children’s reach and store it at room temperature away from heat and moisture. After completion of treatment, ask your pharmacist regarding the disposal of leftover medicines.

Alprazolam dosage

The dosage of Alprazolam prescribed by the doctor is dependent on several factors, such as :

  • The age and weight of the patient
  • Symptoms
  • The seriousness of the condition
  • Other medical issues that the patient is having
  • Other medications that the patient is using
  • How the patient reacted to the first dose of the medication

The doctor may prescribe the dosage of Alprazolam according to the different medical conditions of the patient.

Dosage for anxiety

In the form of a solution, tablets, or orally disintegrating tablets

For older adults

An initial dose of 0.25 mg thrice a day, Your doctor may adjust your medicine quantity if he thinks appropriate.

For adults

An initial dose of 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg thrice a day. Your doctor may adjust your quantity of medicine if he thinks it appropriate. However, the maximum amount of Alprazolam should not exceed the limit of 4 mg per day.

For children

Your doctor will determine the dose for the child after a full medical check-up.

Dosage for panic disorder

In the form of extended-release tablets

For older adults

An initial dose of 0.5 mg once a day in the morning, Your doctor may adjust your medicine quantity if he thinks appropriate.

For adults

An initial dose of 0.5 mg to 1 mg once a day in the morning. Your doctor may adjust your quantity of medicine if he thinks it appropriate. However, the maximum amount of Alprazolam should not exceed the limit of 10 mg per day.

For children

Your doctor will determine the dose for the child after a full medical check-up.

In the form of a solution, tablets, or orally disintegrating tablets

For older adults

An initial dose of 0.25 mg twice or thrice a day, Your doctor may adjust your medicine quantity if he thinks appropriate.

For adults

An initial dose of 0.5 mg thrice a day, Your doctor may adjust your medicine quantity if he thinks appropriate. However, the maximum amount of Alprazolam should not exceed the limit of 10 mg per day.

For children

Your doctor will determine the dose for the child after a full medical check-up.

Overdose

If you ever feel uneasy after taking Alprazolam or have taken the medication in excess, Do consult your doctor and seek medical help as soon as possible. You can get medical assistance by calling the poison helpline number at 1-800-222-1222. It would help if you never ignore these symptoms, as they can be very dangerous.

  • Extreme drowsiness
  • Confusion
  • Muscles weakness
  • Loss of balance
  • Loss of coordination
  • Lightheadedness
  • Fainting

What to avoid while using Alprazolam?

You should avoid taking alcohol after taking Alprazolam, as the interaction between these two can be dangerous. Taking this medication can impair your thinking process or reaction to that. You must be very careful while driving and doing activities that require alertness and attention. Please don’t eat grapefruit while you are on this medication; a serious interaction may happen.

Alprazolam side effects

Some of the common side effects of using Alprazolam are as follows:

  • Drowsiness
  • Lightheadedness

It is obvious to experience mild side effect symptoms, but if these symptoms bother you so much and are unbearable, you should consult your doctor and ask for medical help. You can stop taking medication and tell your doctor if you face the following problems while taking Alprazolam:

  • Severe lightheadedness
  • Seizure
  • Hallucination
  • Abnormal behavior
  • Increased energy
  • Sleeping less
  • Too many thoughts in the pipeline
  • Agitation
  • Talking more than usual
  • Double vision
  • Jaundice

You should also report to your doctor from time to time if you experience any new symptoms or your symptoms are getting even more worst.

What drugs can interact with Alprazolam?

If your doctor is treating you with Alprazolam, he must be knowing all the possible interactions with other medications. It is your responsibility to tell the doctor about all the over the counter medicines you take or taken in the past few days. Some of the following medications which can interact with Alprazolam are:

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