The usual starting dose of regular Xanax is 0.5 milligram 3 times a day. This dose can be increased by 1 milligram a day every 3 or 4 days. You may be given a dose from 1 up to a total of 10 milligrams, according to your needs. Side effects of Xanax are usually seen at the beginning of treatment and disappear with continued medication. However, if dosage is increased, side effects will be more likely.
Alprazolam is metabolized mainly by the liver, and 80% is excreted in the urine. The drug has a half-life of 12 to 15 hours, but it will depend on whether the patient suffers from any type of renal or hepatic insufficiency. If you’re considering taking Xanax or are curious about its potential to help you feel less anxious, talk with your doctor. It’s possible to build up a tolerance to Xanax quickly. If that happens, you may begin to notice it takes longer for you to feel the sedative effects of the drug, and the feelings may wear off more quickly. The effects of Xanax become more significant as the dose increases.
- In fact, Xanax has boxed warnings for these effects from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- FDA-labeled indications include anxiety disorders and panic disorders with or without agoraphobia.
- It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment.
- This can make you avoid situations or places you feel may trigger a panic attack, which can lead to agoraphobia.
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Xanax works by increasing the level of a chemical in your brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid. If you have any symptoms of withdrawal from Xanax, tell your medical professional right away. They’ll monitor your condition closely to help prevent your symptoms from becoming worse. They may recommend certain treatments to help relieve your withdrawal symptoms. Xanax has boxed warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If you have symptoms of an allergic reaction to Xanax, be sure to call your medical professional immediately.
Misuse refers to taking a drug for a purpose or in a way that a doctor has not prescribed. People often misuse drugs to produce a pleasurable, calm, or high feeling. Misuse can lead to addiction, which is when you’re unable to stop taking a drug, even though it may be causing harm. Xanax is FDA approved for the short-term treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults.
Black Box Warnings
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects. Xanax and clonazepam may be used to treat panic disorder, and these drugs have other uses that differ. Both come as oral tablets, but clonazepam also comes as an orally disintegrating tablet.
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Postal Inspectors caught him with drugs, cash, knives and cell phones. ST. LOUIS – A man from New York state on Tuesday admitted continuing to sell counterfeit Xanax on the dark web while out on bond after pleading guilty in a similar case. Alistair Bryant, a content creator from Stourbridge who has used counterfeit Xanax in the past, is calling for more controls to reduce the impact of black market sales.
Health Conditions
Generic alprazolam comes as a tablet, extended-release tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, and oral liquid concentrate. To help make sure that you do not miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
What May Interact With This Medication?
When it is time to stop, the dose will be slowly lowered over time to reduce the risk of side effects. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Xanax is a benzodiazepine drug that has a calming and relaxing effect. Doctors usually prescribe it for short periods of time. Xanax is typically used to help ease panic attacks while other treatments for panic disorder, such as antidepressants, take effect.
Alprazolam (oral Route)
Benzodiazepines are medications that help calm the mind and the body down, make you sleepy, and help with anxiety and muscle tension. Alprazolam is used to relieve symptoms of anxiety, including anxiety caused by depression. It is also used to treat panic disorder in some patients. Alprazolam is a controlled substance and may be misused or lead to dependence.
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Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or for a longer time than your doctor tells you to. Tell your doctor if you have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, if you use or have ever used street drugs, or have overused prescription medications. Do not drink alcohol or use street drugs during your treatment. Drinking alcohol or using street drugs during your treatment with alprazolam also increases the risk that you will experience these serious, life-threatening side effects. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had depression or another mental illness. This is a type of medication or substance that slows down your brain and nervous system.
Serious Side Effects
Alprazolam, known by various trade names, is the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medication in the United States. Alprazolam is frequently prescribed to manage panic and anxiety disorders. Alprazolam has also been misused for recreational purposes because of its disinhibition, euphoria, and anxiolytic effects. FDA-labeled indications include anxiety disorders and panic disorders with or without agoraphobia. Alprazolam, known by its brand name Xanax, is a prescription drug that belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs.
- Tolerance to the therapeutic effect of XANAX may develop; however, little tolerance develops to the amnestic reactions and other cognitive impairments caused by benzodiazepines.
- The manufacturer does not recommend a specific dose for this purpose.
- It’s possible to build up a tolerance to Xanax quickly.
- A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- (These are side effects that can happen when you suddenly stop taking a drug your body has become dependent on.) For information, see the “Xanax and withdrawal and dependence” section.
- In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.
If you respond well to the drug and your doctor increases your daily dosage, they’ll do it slowly by 1 mg every 3 to 4 days. The highest dose reported by the drugmaker is a total of 10 mg daily, but it’s uncommon to take such a high dose. Alprazolam comes as a tablet, an extended-release tablet, an orally disintegrating tablet (tablet that dissolves quickly in the mouth), and a concentrated solution (liquid) to take by mouth. The tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, and concentrated solution usually are taken two to four times a day. The extended-release tablet is taken once daily, usually in the morning.
Ultimately, medication, like Xanax, can be a helpful bridge to therapy, which can build a long-term path toward healing and managing anxiety symptoms. Working closely with a doctor and therapist will help find the right balance and what works best for you. Therapists and prescribers can work together to create a plan that not only helps with symptoms but also creates real, long-term positive changes. This could include making some lifestyle changes, stress-reduction techniques, grounding exercises, and building supportive relationships to help you regain a sense of control and connection. Xanax isn’t meant to be used as a stand-alone, long-term treatment, but when used carefully with a doctor’s help, it can be a helpful tool. For many people, it helps them fully participate in therapy, especially in approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), where being emotionally present and engaged is important.
