This rebound anxiety or depression is usually temporary. It’s important that you don’t take more Xanax than your medical professional recommends. Taking more than the recommended dosage can lead to severe side effects, including coma and, in some cases, death. Taking certain drugs, foods, vaccines, and other substances with some medications may affect how the medication works. Xanax, lorazepam, clonazepam, and diazepam belong to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines.

This article focuses on the Xanax immediate-release tablet. To learn more about Xanax XR’s dosage, talk with your doctor or see the drug’s prescribing information. Pregnancy and breastfeeding require special consideration—Xanax can affect fetal development and pass through breast milk. Always discuss family planning with your healthcare provider.
What If You Combine Xanax With Another Drug Or Medication?

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide). The chemical name of alprazolam is 8-Chloro-1-methyl-6-phenyl-4H-s-triazolo 4,3-α 1,4 benzodiazepine. XANAX contains alprazolam which is a triazolo analog of the 1,4 benzodiazepine class of central nervous system-active compounds. As in all cases of drug overdosage, respiration, pulse rate, and blood pressure should be monitored. General supportive measures should be employed, along with immediate gastric lavage.

While researching Xanax, you may wonder how the drug compares with lorazepam (Ativan), as well as other drugs. These may include clonazepam (Klonopin) and diazepam (Valium). Your medical professional can advise you on how much Xanax to take and how often. It’s important to follow the instructions your medical professional provides.
Anxiety Associated With Depression

She’s also a big fan of wine, hiking, reality television and crocheting. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, son and dog. Since Xanax can interact with a long list of prescription and over-the-counter medications, be sure to disclose to your doctor what medications you are currently taking. We all have dozens of neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, that allow neurons to communicate with each other throughout the body, and the amino acid GABA is one of them. Alprazolam is the generic version of the brand-name drug Xanax. Alprazolam is a fast-acting drug that helps you relax by boosting the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, which is a neurotransmitter that slows down brain activity.
OTC And Natural Alternatives To Adderall, Recommended By Experts
- If you have hangover-like symptoms when stopping Xanax treatment, talk with your doctor.
- You’re more likely to have withdrawal symptoms after stopping Xanax treatment if you’ve been taking the drug for a long time or at a high dose.
- For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Xanax, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
- This side effect was not reported in clinical trials of this drug but has occurred since the drug was approved.
- Your health and wellness is unique to you, and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances.
- Increase the XANAX dosage to the target dose after 10 to 14 days of dosing ritonavir and XANAX together.
You may also want to visit the website of the Xanax manufacturer to see if support options are available. If you drink alcohol, talk with your medical professional. They can advise you on how to stop drinking or they may suggest treatments other than Xanax. It’s important to talk with your medical professional before taking Xanax. You should discuss your overall health and any medical conditions you may have. Addiction means continuing to take a drug even if it’s causing you harm.
- Yes, it’s typically safe to take a mild pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), while you’re taking Xanax.
- No medication should be a person’s first choice when they’re trying to manage their anxiety, rather medication needs to be a last resort, after you’ve tried other non-mediciated options.
- Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as bathrooms.
- A drug’s half-life is the time it takes for half of a dose of the drug to leave your system.
Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Then, they’ll adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. Your doctor will determine your dose of Xanax based on your body’s reaction to the drug rather than Xanax dosing by weight.
The calming effects of Xanax can make you feel calmer and more able to engage in therapy. Xanax is in a category of drugs called benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are medications that help calm the mind and the body down, make you sleepy, and help with anxiety and muscle tension.
Short-Term Effects
Accurate, complete profiles best connect you with the right people for your services. Maintain your profile by updating your photos, video links, treatment services, and contact details to ensure optimal visibility. Our team will follow up with you after receiving your edits. Xanax is used to manage moderate to severe anxiety or alertness caused by depressive episodes in adults. Your doctor will reassess your treatment periodically to be sure you’re getting the right amount of medication. Do not take this medication if you have been diagnosed with the eye condition called narrow-angle glaucoma.
Would My Doctor Prescribe Xanax For Depression, Sleep Problems, Or Other Conditions?

Your healthcare provider will tell you how to stop alprazolam to reduce the risk of withdrawal reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away or go to the nearest emergency room if you have any of the following serious symptoms. Xanax (Alprazolam) can be prescribed online through the MyHealthONE Patient Portal by licensed U.S. physicians. This secure telehealth platform allows patients to receive a professional medical evaluation from the comfort of home. If clinically appropriate, doctors may prescribe Xanax to treat conditions such as anxiety or panic disorders.
Do Not Drive Or Operate Heavy Machinery Until You Know How Taking XANAX With Opioids Affects You
Both drugs are benzodiazepines that help calm the body. Inform patients that in some cases, patients taking benzodiazepines have developed a protracted withdrawal syndrome with withdrawal symptoms lasting weeks to more than 12 months. Instruct patients that discontinuation or dosage reduction of XANAX may require a slow taper see Warnings and Precautions (5.3), Drug Abuse and Dependence (9.3). Xanax is a federal controlled substance (C-IV) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep Xanax in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away Xanax may harm others, and is against the law.
This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone. For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Xanax, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Xanax comes in several different shapes and colors, as shown in the “Xanax images” section toward the end of this article. This is helpful when a doctor prescribes more than one strength of Xanax to make up a daily dose.
1 Controlled Substance

The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking XANAX with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well XANAX or the other medicines work.
If an opioid is initiated in a patient already taking XANAX, prescribe a lower initial dose of the opioid and titrate based upon clinical response. In geriatric patients, the recommended starting oral dosage of XANAX is 0.25 mg, given 2 or 3 times daily. This may be gradually increased if needed and tolerated.
Medications & Supplements
In some cases, your medical professional may recommend a strength of Xanax that isn’t available from the drug manufacturer. In this situation, you might be advised to take a combination of the 1-mg and 2-mg tablets to form 5 mg. In this situation, you might be advised to take three of the 1-mg tablets to form 3 mg.