What Is Xanax (Alprazolam)?
Xanax is prescribed for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), anxiety associated with depression, and panic disorder.
Other uses include treatment of depression and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Xanax is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, and is available in several forms including tablets, a liquid, disintegrating tablets, and extended release tablets.
Xanax is made by Pfizer and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1981. It's also available as a generic drug.
The liquid form of the drug, Alprazolam Intensol, is made by Roxane.
Alprazolam orally disintegrating tablets, Niravam, are made by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
The extended-release tablets, Xanax XR, are made by Pfizer (other drug companies make generic alprazolam extended-release tablets).
Xanax Warnings
Do not take Xanax if you are allergic to alprazolam, any of the inactive ingredients of the medication, or other benzodiazepines, like Librium, Tranxene, Valium, Ativan, or Serax and others.Do not take Xanax if you have narrow-angle glaucoma.
Do not take Xanax if you are taking the antifungal medications Sporanox or Nizoral.
Xanax can make you drowsy and decrease your ability to drive safely or operate machinery. You may become particularly sleepy if Xanax is taken with other drugs that cause drowsiness, or if you are elderly or debilitated.
Xanax may be habit-forming, so do not take higher doses of the medication or use it for a longer time than your doctor recommends. You can become tolerant, making the drug less effective.
Before taking Xanax, tell your doctor if you have:
- Depression
- Suicidal thoughts
- Breathing problems
- History of alcoholism or drug abuse
- Personality disorder
- Liver or kidney problems
Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of your condition between doses. Do not increase the dose without talking to your doctor first, even if you think the medication doesn't work anymore.
The Xanax 'High' and Addiction
Xanax and other benzodiazepines are among the most widely abused drugs available today.Xanax is often abused for the fast-acting, relaxed "high" it can give to people who take it, including people without a prescription.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), benzodiazepines such as Xanax were responsible for most of the emergency-room visits attributed to central-nervous system depressants in 2009.
Long-term abuse and addiction to Xanax is associated with depression, psychotic experiences, and aggressive or impulsive behavior, according to the Coalition Against Drug Abuse.
Pregnancy and Xanax
Xanax can harm a developing fetus.Before taking Xanax, tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Medications like Xanax may cause birth defects, particularly if taken during the first trimester of pregnancy, and taking it later in pregnancy may have other harmful effects on your baby.
Xanax is not safe to use while breastfeeding, either. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding your baby before taking Xanax, because taking the medication while nursing can cause harmful side effects to the nursing baby.
Xanax has not been proven safe or effective in children under 18.
Xanax Withdrawal
Do not stop Xanax abruptly without talking to your doctor, because stopping the drug abruptly can make your condition worse.
This is typical of many benzodiazepine drugs, including Ativan, Librium, Valium, and others.
Xanax withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
- Trouble sleeping
- Vision problems
- Seizures
- Sweating
- Aggression
- Depression
Alcohol and Xanax
Do not drink alcohol while taking Xanax.Alcohol can worsen Xanax side effects, such as drowsiness, confusion, and unsteadiness.
Talk to your doctor before drinking alcohol while on Xanax.
Xanax Side Effects
- Hives
- Trouble breathing
- Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Drowsiness
- Light-headedness
- Low blood pressure
- Impaired coordination
- Difficulty speaking
- Increased sex drive
However, you should talk to doctor about any side effects you have, particularly if they are severe or do not go away.
Xanax Interactions
Before taking Xanax, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using any of the following medications, which may interact with the drug and cause problems:
- Antifungal medications Sporanox or Nizoral
- Antifungals such as Diflucan, Oravig, Noxafil, or Vfend
- Other benzodiazepines, such as Librium, Librax, Klonopin, Tranxene, Valium, ProSom, Dalmane, Ativan, Versed, Serax, Restoril, or Halcion
- Barbiturates, such as Amytal, Fioricet, Fiorinal, Butisol, Mebaral, Seconal, Nembutal, Luminal, Solfoton, or Seconal
- Antipsychotics, such as Abilify, Saphris, Thorazine, Clozaril, Prolixin, Haldol, Fanapt, Adasuve, Loxitane, Latuda and others
- Sleep medications, such as Lunesta, Unisom, Rozerem, Sonata, or Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, Zolpimist
- Narcotic medications such as Stadol, codeine, Lortab, Vicodin, Levo-Dromoran, Demerol, Dolophine, Methadose, Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph, Narcan, OxyContin, or Darvon, Darvocet
- Antidepressants such as Elavil, Etrafon, Asendin, Celexa, Anafranil, Norpramin, Sinequan, Lexapro, Prozac, Zoloft and others
- Antiseizure medications, such as Carbatrol, Tegretol, Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene, Felbatol, Trileptal, Dilantin, or Mysoline
- Sedating allergy medications, such as Chlor-Trimeton, Benadryl, or Atarax
- Anesthetics
- Amiodarone Cordarone, Pacerone
- Antibiotics, such as Biaxin, erythromycin, Mycobutin, rifampin, Priftin, or Ketek
- Birth control pills
- Tagamet
- Cyclosporine (under the brand names Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
- Dexamethasone (under the brand names Cortastat, Dexasone, Solurex, DexPak)
- Diltiazem (brand names Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac)
- Ergotamines like Cafatine, Cafergot, Wigraine
- HIV/AIDS medicine such as Reyataz, Rescriptor, Sustiva, Atripla, Intelence, Crixivan, Viracept, Viramune, Invirase, or Norvir, Kaletra
- Gleevec
- Isoniazid (brand names INH, Nydrazid)
- Cardene
- Nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)
- Quin-G
- Theophylline (brands Theo-24, Uniphyl)
- St. John's wort
Before taking Niravam, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medications:
- H2 receptor antagonist medications, such as Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid, or Axid
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as Dexilant, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Zegerid, Protonix, or Aciphex
Xanax and Grapefruit
Before taking Xanax, talk to your doctor about drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit while taking this medication, because grapefruit may change the way the drug works in your body.Xanax Dosage
Xanax should be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
General guidelines for Xanax dosages:
- Your doctor may prescribe taking Xanax 2 to 4 times a day.
- When you first start, your doctor may slowly increase your dose to avoid side effects.
- The dose may be lower if you are elderly, debilitated, or have liver disease.
- When coming off of Xanax, your doctor may have you slowly reduce the dose before no longer taking it.
- Keep all forms of Xanax out of the reach of children.
- Store Xanax at room temperature and away from heat and moisture.
Take the tablets with liquid (such as a glass of water). You can take them with or without food.
The tablets are scored and you can split them.
Alprazolam Intensol liquid is available in a bottle with a calibrated dropper with markings for various doses.
Mix the dose of the concentrated oral solution with liquid or semi-solid food such as water, juice, applesauce or pudding.
Discard an opened bottle within 90 days after opening.
Niravam, alprazolam orally disintegrating tablets, comes in strengths of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg.
Taking the medication with liquid is not necessary. You may take it with water if you prefer.
Xanax XR, extended release tablets, come in strengths of 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg, or 3 mg.
Take once daily, usually in the morning with liquid (such as a glass of water).
Swallow the tablet whole; do not chew, crush, or break it.
Xanax Overdose
If you think that you have used too much Xanax, or if you think someone else has, call your Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or call 9-1-1.An overdose of Xanax can be fatal.
Symptoms of an overdose include extreme drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination, diminished reflexes, or coma.
Missed Dose of Xanax
Take the missed Xanax dose as soon as you remember.But if you take several doses per day and miss a dose and it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule.
Do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed one.
Xanax (Alprazolam) Pictures
