Alprazolam

 

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Alprazolam is a prescription medication indicated for the treatment of anxiety disorder (a condition corresponding most closely to the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual [DSM-III-R] diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder), or the short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety. Generalized anxiety disorder (also anxiety) is characterized by unrealistic or excessive anxiety and worry over circumstances of life for a period of time. Anxiety or tension problems associated with the stress of everyday life usually do not require treatment with this drug. Alprazolam tablets are also indicated for the treatment of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia. This drug is also used as a treatment for anxiety associated with depression.

  alprazolam   belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are medications that have anti-anxiety-producing properties.

This drug may be habit-forming and has the potential to cause extreme dependence or abuse in some patients.

Side effects that are most commonly associated with this drug are drowsiness and lightheadedness.

Patients taking this drug should alert their doctors about any problems from the use of this medication and any troublesome side effects.

Read the information leaflet that accompanies the prescription as well as every time the prescription is refilled. There may be new health information.

Alprazolam is available under the following different brand names: Xanax, Niravam, and Xanax XR.

Medical uses

Alprazolam pills in boxes, as sold in France. Both Xanax (original Pfizer alprazolam product) and various generic forms of alprazolam are depicted here.

Alprazolam is mostly used in the short-term management of anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and nausea due to chemotherapy.[6] Alprazolam is indicated for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in adults.[3] The FDA label advises that the physician should periodically reassess the usefulness of the drug.[3]

Panic disorder

Alprazolam is effective in the relief of moderate to severe anxiety and panic attacks.[3] However, it is not a first-line treatment since the development of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Alprazolam is not recommended in Australia for the treatment of panic disorder because of concerns regarding tolerance, dependence, and abuse.[11] Most evidence shows that the benefits of alprazolam in treating panic disorder last only four to ten weeks. However, people with panic disorder have been treated on an open basis for up to eight months without apparent loss of benefit.[3]

Alprazolam is recommended by the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) for treatment-resistant cases of panic disorder where there is no history of tolerance or dependence.[19]

Anxiety disorders

Anxiety associated with depression is responsive to alprazolam. Clinical studies have shown that the effectiveness is limited to 4 months for anxiety disorders.[3] However, the research into the antidepressant properties of alprazolam is poor and has only assessed its short-term effects against depression.[20] In one study, some long-term, high-dosage users of alprazolam developed reversible depression.[21] In the US, alprazolam is FDA-approved for the management of anxiety disorders (a condition corresponding most closely to the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder) or the short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety. In the UK, alprazolam is recommended for the short-term treatment (2–4 weeks) of severe acute anxiety.

Nausea due to chemotherapy

Alprazolam may be used in combination with other medications for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Contraindications

Benzodiazepines require special precaution if used in children and in alcohol- or drug-dependent individuals. Particular care should be taken in pregnant or elderly people, people with substance use disorder history (particularly alcohol dependence), and people with comorbid psychiatric disorders.[24] The use of alprazolam should be avoided or carefully monitored by medical professionals in individuals with: myasthenia gravis, acute narrow-angle glaucoma, severe liver deficiencies (e.g., cirrhosis), severe sleep apnea, pre-existing respiratory depression, marked neuromuscular respiratory, acute pulmonary insufficiency, chronic psychosis, hypersensitivity or allergy to alprazolam or other benzodiazepines, and borderline personality disorder (where it may induce suicidality and dyscontrol).

Like all central nervous system depressants, alprazolam in larger-than-normal doses can cause significant deterioration in alertness and increase drowsiness, especially in those unaccustomed to the drug's effects.

Elderly individuals should be cautious in the use of alprazolam due to the possibility of increased susceptibility to side-effects, especially loss of coordination and drowsiness read more.