XANAX
(alprazolam tablets) is in a class of drugs called
benzodiazepines. Controlled clinical trials have demonstrated that
XANAX is effective in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety
Disorder, anxiety associated with depression, and Panic Disorder
with or without agoraphobia.
XANAX XR is a prescription medicine for the treatment of panic
disorder. XANAX XR is a once daily formulation of XANAX®
(alprazolam tablets).
XANAX XR allows
patients to take a single daily dose rather than 3 to 4 times per
day with XANAX.
About Xanax |
Aprazolam Intensol
Xanax
(alprazolam) is an anti-panic and anti-anxiety medication. Xanax
is in the group of drugs known as benzodiazepines, a class of
antidepressants, anti-panic agents, and muscle relaxants. Xanax is
only available by prescription.
Xanax is
usually used as a short term treatment for major anxiety and
certain phobias. Xanax is not usually necessary to relieve
everyday stress or anxiety.
Store Xanax
away from light and heat. Xanax Side Effects
Xanax side
effects are usually temporary, and fade with continued treatment.
Higher dosage also increases the risk of side effects. Operating
automobiles or heavy machinery is not recommended while taking
Xanax. Be aware of how this medication affects you before
attempting any potentially dangerous activities.
Common Xanax
side effects: drowsiness, fatigue, light-headedness, or speech
problems.
Less common
Xanax side effects: abdominal cramps, constipation, dry mouth,
hyperventilation, blurred vision, nausea, chest pain, change in
sex drive, confusion, headache, change in appetite, insomnia,
unusual dreams, change in salivation, low blood pressure, racing
heartbeat, fainting, nasal congestion, difficulty urinating,
sweating, weight change, skin irritation, twitching or tremors,
nervous or anxious state, sun sensitivity, respiratory infection,
memory impairment, menstrual difficulties, and loss of
coordination. Speak to your doctor about any of these effects;
your dosage may need to be adjusted or treatment discontinued.
Rare Xanax
side effects: difficulty concentrating, slurred or unusual speech,
double vision, fear, altered sense of taste, lack of inhibition,
muscle cramps or spasms, urination problems, tingling,
incontinence, warmth, weakness, change in muscle tone, or yellow
eyes and skin. Speak to your doctor if you experience any of these
effects; your treatment may need to be discontinued.
Xanax
treatment should be discontinued if any of the following occur:
hyper excitement, muscle spasm, anxiety, hallucinations, rage or
other hostile behavior, tremors, insomnia, sleeping difficulties
or over stimulation.
Cautions:
Xanax has been known to interact undesirably with certain medical
conditions. Tell your doctor if you have, or have a history of,
any of the following conditions:
- Alcohol or
drug abuse - may increase likelihood of Xanax dependence
- Allergic
reaction to Xanax, or other benzodiazepine. Always tell your
doctor about any allergies before starting a medication.
- Borderline
personality disorder or a history of violent behavior.
- Brain
disease - may increase likelihood of side effects from Xanax
- Breathing
difficulties such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or any other
chronic lung disease - Xanax may worsen this condition.
- Difficulty
swallowing - This condition may become more pronounced in
children.
- Epilepsy or
seizures - Abruptly starting or stopping treatment with Xanax
may increase seizures. Although Xanax can be used as an aid to
anti-tremor therapy, it should be used cautiously and strictly
according to a doctor's instructions in these cases.
- Glaucoma -
Xanax should not be prescribed to patients with acute
narrow-angle glaucoma. Patients receiving treatment for open
angle glaucoma should consult their doctor, as Xanax may be an
acceptable treatment for them.
-
Hyperactivity
- Kidney or
liver problems - In isolated cases, Xanax has been reported to
cause jaundice. If you experience yellowing of the skin or eyes,
seek medical treatment immediately. More Xanax may end up in
your bloodstream if you have a pre-existing kidney or liver
condition, increasing the likelihood of side effects.
- Major
Depression
- Myasthenia
gravis - This autoimmune disorder characterized by muscle
weakness may be aggravated by Xanax treatment.
- Porphyria -
Xanax (alprazolam) is listed as an unsafe drug for porphyria, an
enzyme deficiency that can cause fragile skin that is sensitive
to sunlight, digestive difficulties, anxiety, and reddish-brown
urine.
- Psychosis
or other serious mental illness - Xanax has not proved to be an
effective treatment for these conditions, and is not
recommended.
- Sleep apnea
(temporary suspension of breathing during sleep) - Xanax may
worsen this condition. Individuals with sleep apnea should not
generally use sedatives as sleep aids. (See
Sleep
Disorders)
Dependence:
Xanax has been known to be habit-forming. Withdrawal symptoms may
occur if treatment is discontinued abruptly. Follow your doctor's
advice about how much, and how often, you should take Xanax. If
you are considering stopping Xanax treatment, ask your doctor how
to safely decrease and then stop Xanax. Xanax Interactions
Xanax slows
the central nervous system, and should be taken with care with
medications that do the same thing. When Xanax is taken with
certain other medications, the rate of side effects may increase,
and the action of either medication may be increased or altered.
Certain medications can cause an undesirable build-up of Xanax in
the body. Ask your doctor's advice about combining Xanax with any
of the following:
- Alcohol -
Xanax should not be mixed with alcohol, it increases the risk of
overdose and fatal toxicity.
- Agenerase (amprenavir)
- Any
medication which may cause drowsiness
- Antibiotics
(esp. macrolide antibiotics) like azithromycin, biaxin,
clarythromycin, or erythromycin
-
Antihistamines like Tavist or Benadryl
- Adalat,
Procardia (nifedipine)
- Antabuse (disulfiram)
- Antiseizure
medication like Cerebyx (fosphenytoin), Dilantin (phenytoin), or
Tegretol (carbamazepine).
-
Benzodiazepines of any other type, such as Valium (diazepam),
Halcion (triazolam), Restoril (temazepam), Librium (chlordiazepoxide),
Tranxene-SD (clorazepate), Paxipam (halazepam), ProSom (estazolam),
Klonopin (clonazepam)
- BuSpar (buspirone)
- Can result in oversedation.
- Cardene (nicardipine)
- Cordarone (amiodarone)
- Desyrel (trazodone)
- Risk of additive CNS depression.
- Diflucan (fluconazole)
- Ergotamine
derivatives
- Grapefruit
juice
- Kava kava -
Do not take this herb while taking Xanax.
- Lanoxin (digoxin)
- MAO
inhibitors such as the antidepressants Nardil or Parnate.
- Narcotic
analgesics of any kind, like Darvon (propoxyphene), Darvocet (propoxyphene,
acetaminophen), Demerol (meperidine), Codeine, Percocet (oxycodone,
acetaminophen), Vicodin (hydrocodone, acetaminophen), Vicoprofen
(hydrocodone and ibuprofen) or OxyContin (oxycodone) may
accelerate central nervous system or respiratory depression when
taken with Xanax. Also, Xanax may decrease the effectiveness of
these medications as pain relievers.
- Norflex (orphenadrine)
- Risk of oversedation.
- Neoral,
Sandimmune (cyclosporine)
- Nicotine -
Heavy smoking may reduce the effectiveness of your treatment.
- Nizoral (ketoconazole)
- Xanax should not be mixed with this antifungal medication.
- Oral
contraceptives - May increase the effects of Xanax.
- Prilosec (omeprazole)
- May increase the effects of Xanax.
- Rescriptor
(delavirdine)
- Rifamate (isoniazid),
Rifater (rifampin), or Mycobutin (rifabutin)
- Sedatives
like Fioricet (butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine),
Fiorinal (butalbital, aspirin, and caffeine), Phenobarbitol,
Seconal, or other barbiturates
- Selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Celexa (citalopram),
Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), or
Zoloft (sertraline).
- Serzone (nefazodone)
- Skeletal
muscle relaxants such as Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine), Skelaxin (metaxalone),
Soma (carisoprodol), or Robaxin (methocarbamol) may cause
oversedation in combination with this medication.
- Sleep
medication like Ambien (zolpidem), Sonata (zaleplon), or over
the counter sleeping pills should be used with Xanax only as,
and if, advised by your doctor.
- Sporanox (itraconazole)
- Xanax should not be mixed with this antifungal medication.
- Street
drugs - Marijuana may increase sedative effects from Xanax.
- St. John's
Wort - Do not take this herb while taking Xanax.
- Tagamet (cimetidine)
-
Tranquilizers such as Haldol (haloperidol), Mellaril (thioridazine),
or Thorazine (chlorpromazine) may cause oversedation.
- Tricyclic
antidepressants such as Elavil (amitriptyline), Asendin (amoxapine),
Anafranil (clomipramine), Pertofrane or Norpramin (desipramine),
Sinequan (doxepin), Tofranil (imipramine), Aventyl or Pamelor (nortriptyline),
Vivactil (protriptyline), and Surmontil (trimipramine), may
increase the risk of side effects from Xanax.
- Valerian - Do not
take this herb while taking Xanax.
Talk with your
doctor if you are considering mixing an antidepressant and anxiety
medication like Xanax with any other antidepressant, or any
medication that may cause drowsiness. Anxiety medication can have
increased, unexpected, or severe side effects when mixed with
other medications that affect the central nervous system.
Stimulants of any type may blunt the effectiveness of Xanax.
Xanax Dosages
Xanax comes in
doses of .25 mg (white oval tablet), .5 mg (pink oval tablet), 1
mg (blue oval tablet), and 2mg (white oblong tablet, scored). The
usual starting dose is .25-.5 mg, 3-4 times per day, up to a
maximum of 4-6 mg per day, divided among several doses.
Xanax should
be taken exactly as your doctor recommends. Don't take more or
less than prescribed, and don't double your doses if you should
miss one. Take your doctor's advice about how quickly or slowly to
ease off Xanax treatment if you plan to stop taking it. Xanax
should not be started or stopped abruptly, as it strongly
increases the likelihood of side effects. If you have a convulsive
disorder, or experience severe muscle spasming, abruptly stopping
or starting Xanax could increase these effects.
Xanax overdose
symptoms can include confusion, poor coordination, sleepiness, or
coma. Seek medical treatment immediately if you suspect an
overdose. Xanax and Pregnancy
Xanax is not
recommended for women who are breastfeeding, pregnant, or planning
to become pregnant. Xanax could cause breathing problems or muscle
weakness in an infant. Also, a newborn whose mother had been
taking Xanax might experience withdrawal symptoms.
Other
benzodiazepines, similar to Xanax, have been seen to cause an
increase in birth defects. While Xanax has not been demonstrated
to be a high risk factor for birth defects, the possibility exists
that it could increase their likelihood. Xanax and Children
Xanax has not
been studied for use in children. Xanax and Seniors
Older adults
taking Xanax are usually encouraged to start with smaller doses
(.25 mg 3-4 times per day) and limit intake to the smallest
effective dose. Seniors are more likely to become too heavily
sedated, or experience decreased muscle coordination. What
Xanax Treats
Xanax has been
prescribed as a treatment for:
- Anxiety
disorder characterized by unrealistic fears and excessive
worries.
- Panic
Disorder, sometimes accompanied by fear of open spaces
(agoraphobia).
- Also for
the temporary symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, depression, fear
of strangers, irritable bowel, and premenstrual syndrome. Dosage
varies.
- Xanax may be
prescribed in low doses to treat
fibromyalgia.
Xanax is a trademark
of Pharmacia & Upjohn
Do not take
ketoconazole (Nizoral) or itraconazole (Sporanox) during treatment
with alprazolam without first talking to your doctor. • Alprazolam
may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness,
including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, sedatives
(used to treat insomnia), pain relievers, anxiety medicines,
seizure medicines, and muscle relaxants. Tell your doctor about
all medicines that you are taking, and do not take any medicine
without first talking to your doctor. • Antacids may decrease the
effects of alprazolam. Separate doses of an antacid and alprazolam
by several hours whenever possible. • Drugs other than those
listed here may also interact with alprazolam. Talk to your doctor
and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter
medicines, including herbal products.
How it
works:
Increases the action of GABA.
