Xanax or Alprazolam is a highly potential benzodiazepine, mainly a type of tranquilizer that helps in reducing the debilitating symptoms like fear, pounding hearts, shortness of breath and gives a better sense of control to the victims of anxiety and panic disorder.
The main ingredient of Xanax is Alprazolam which is a complex chemical made of a triazolo 1, 4 benzodiazepine analog units. The molecular formula for it is C 17 H 13 ClN 4 and molecular weight is 308.8. It is a natural white crystalline powder which is not soluble in water with normal PH levels. At the same time, the chemical is soluble in chloroform and alcohol, partly soluble in acetone and slightly soluble in ethyl acetate. The chemical Alprazolam helps the patient by reducing stress which may trigger anxiety attacks.
| Alprazolam: 8-Chloro-1-methyl-6-phenyl-4H-s-triazolo [4,3-a][1,4] benzodiazepine |
It is a triazolobenzodiazepine , a drug of benzodiazepine class. It’s structure has a triazolo-ring attached to it. And the chemical name for Alprazolam is ‘8-Chloro-1-methyl-6-phenyl-4H-s-triazolo [4,3-a][1,4] benzodiazepine’.
The exact mechanism of Alprazolam is unknown but it m ainly exerts its effect by binding to the GABA A subtype of the GABA receptor and increasing inhibitory effects of GABA in several sites within the central nervous system. It varies the depressant commotion from mild mutilation of chore performance to hypnosis.
Xanax Pharmacokinetics
Xanax/Alprazolam is for oral administration and it readily gets absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract . The plasma achieves peak concentrations within 1-2 hours from the time of administration. It is observed that plasma levels are proportionate to the administered doses of Xanax; i.e. higher dose range of 0.5 to 3.0 mg will show peak levels of 8.0 to 37 mg/ml.
In vitro, Alprazolam, mainly the albumin in it, is bound to human serum protein or plasma protein to a level of 80 percent. The pharmacologically active a -hydroxyalprazolam is hydroxylated in the liver which along with other metabolites are later excreted in urine as glucuronides. Some other ingredients of Xanax are also excreted in urine, but in unchanged form.
The half life range of Alprazolam is 6 to 20 hours after single dose administration. The constant state can be reached within 7 days with multiple doses as in three times a day. But doses should be strictly as per doctor’s prescription.
Xanax Prescription
Xanax is available only on doctor’s prescription and this CNS Depressant is used to treat anxiety and panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. However, this benzodiazepine should not be used to relieve nervousness or tension caused by the stress of everyday life. Xanax can also be used to treat insomnia or trouble in sleeping. Xanax or alprazolam may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Xanax is available in the following dosage forms;
| Oral Solution (.25mg, .05mg, 1mg/5ml, 0.25mg / 2.5ml)Tablets (0.25 mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, and 2mg) |
Proper use of Xanax
| Oral SolutionUse the dropper provided with Xanax oral solution and measure each dose with care.Each dose should be mixed with water or water like solution, soda or soda-like beverages or apple sauce.The entire mixture should be taken right away and should not be saved for later.TabletsMake sure you have a dry hand when you touch the tablet.Do not leave the tablet out side the bottle.Do not crush, chew, or breakShould be taken with a full glass of water. |
Dosage
| For anxiety:Adults- initially, 0.25 to 0.5 milligram (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if required. However, the dose generally is not more than 4 mg a day.Children younger than 18 years of age-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.Older adults- initially, 0.25 mg two or three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.For panic disorder:Adults-initially 0.5 mg three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if required. However, the dose generally is not more than 10 mg a day.Children younger than 18 years of age-Use and dosage must be determined by your doctor. |
Xanax Missed Dose
| One should take the missed dose as soon as one realizes that he has missed a dose.If 2 hours has already crossed, skip that dose and go back to normal schedule.Do not double-dose at any cost as Xanax double dose may be dangerous. |
Xanax Overdose
| If an overdose of Xanax is suspected, seek immediate medical help.The symptoms of a Xanax overdose are drowsiness, drunken behaviour, slow pulse rate, breathing difficulty, severe confusion, abnormal walking or talking. |
Xanax (Alprazolam) is habit-forming which causes mental or physical dependence, especially when taken for a long time or in high doses. It is advisable that one should not take Xanax for more then 8 months.
Let your doctor know about all the physical and mental conditions in details before he prescribes you Xanax. Please click on Xanax Precautions for details.
There can be some serious side-effects related to Xanax medication on rare cases. Please click on Xanax Side-effects for details.
Xanax Side Effects
Xanax is a CNS depressant which works by slowing down the nervous system and controlling the chemicals in the brain. Xanax or Alprazolam is used as a treatment for anxiety disorder, panic attacks and nervous tension, different types of phobias, depression, insomnia and others. There are common to rare side effects associated with Xanax medication. They occur generally at the beginning of the therapy and slowly disappear within a day or two.
The most recurrent side-effects of Alprazolam are light-headedness and drowsiness and these symptoms wither away within 24 to 48 hours. A few serious side effects may occur and it is advised that in such a case one must immediately stop Xanax medication and seek medical attention;
| Allergic reaction after taking Xanax; e.g.; breathing difficulty, closing throat, swelling of face, lips, tongue, itching.Mouth or throat soarRashesSkin and eyes turning yellowHallucinationVision changes |
There are other less serious side effects of Xanax, with occurrence one may continue to take Xanax but after consulting the doctor;
| DepressionNauseaDifficulty in urinatingBad dreamsDry mouthDecreased libidoHeadacheMood swing |
There are rare chances of other side effects, with occurrence, please consult a doctor, especially if they are unusual or bothersome.
There are possible side effects which may occur due to reaction with other medications you may be taking or your physical condition, which you have not revealed to your doctor. To know in detail, please click on Xanax Precaution.
| Xanax PrecautionThere are definite conditions in which Xanax medication should not be taken and there are certain medications that can cause reaction with Xanax or Alprazolam. Hence before taking Xanax one must consider his/her health problems in order to avoid unnecessary health problems. Please do not forget to tell your doctor about all the health problems you have faced along with each and every medicine you are taking.It becomes all the more necessary to inform your doctor if you have any of the following health problems or conditions before you administer Xanax medication;Narrow Angle Glaucoma.Kidney & Liver diseaseAlcohol or Drug AbuseAsthma & Bronchitis and respiratory diseasesSevere Depression & Suicidal ThoughtsEpilepsy or SeizureMania, Bipolar disorder or mental problem other than anxiety and panic disorderPregnant and Breast-feedingIf you are above 65 years of ageLet your doctor know if you are taking below mentioned medications before you take Xanax medication;Ketoconazole (Nizoral) or itraconazole (Sporanox)Other antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, sedatives,Pain relievers,Seizure medicinesMuscle relaxantsAntacids ( It may decrease the effectiveness of Xanax, so there should be a gap of at least 3 to 4 hours)Drugs or medications other than mentioned above may interact with Xanax. So, it is advisable for the patient to disclose all drugs and medicines including over-the-counter drugs, addictive drugs, minerals and vitamins to the doctor before he prescribes you Xanax.There are some rare as well as severe side effects of Xanax that should be known to the patient. Please click on Xanax Side effects for details. |
Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms
Xanax is a triazolobenzodiazepine that is popularly used as an anti-anxiety pill. It is highly administered for its anti-panic and anti-depressant properties. Although Xanax have proved really successful in relieving anxiety disorder, but when administered on a regular basis, it produces physiological dependence with severe withdrawal symptoms. However, Xanax withdrawal symptoms are related to both dose and duration of usage. Higher doses tend to produce more rapid physiologic addiction than lower doses. The time taken by a body to show withdrawal symptoms may vary from four to six months at dosages between 2 mg. to 4 mg. A history of addiction to Xanax can lead to addiction occur more rapidly over a shorter period of time, with more intense withdrawal symptoms.
Xanax, because of being a short-acting agent, has rapidly arriving and accelerating withdrawal symptoms producing severe Dysphoria at just about six hours from the last dose and generally hitting the highest level at approximately 24 to 72 hours after discontinuation. So, once Xanax generates the physiologic dependence, the ability of the patient to discontinue its use successfully on their own is quite low, and medical support becomes necessary in such cases.
Xanax withdrawal symptoms may include panic attack and a bereavement type of emotional instability. The nature of symptoms being internal makes the diagnosis and cure very difficult. Generally, patients find it hard to describe verbally what is occurring. More hopelessly, many of the descriptions resemble the emotional or psychiatric problem for which they originally started taking Xanax, and leaves in dilemma of taking that as withdrawal symptom. However, Xanax withdrawal symptoms can be easily detected with some of the more defining features.
The early stage of withdrawal symptoms is accompanied by a sense of anxiety and apprehension coupled with rising tremor feelings and slight bi-frontal headache. This stage rapidly progresses to feelings of panic-like anxiety with palpitations. The patient also starts feeling de-realization, along with marked startle response and increased sensory input.
With progressing withdrawal symptoms, patient gets marked disturbance of proprioception, in which he feels dizzy and erratic. One finds simple tasks, like swallowing, signing one’s name, talking or even buttoning a shirt extremely difficult.
One may start crying at a sudden or may start shivering out of fear without any external event. These frequent consequences make him feel weak emotionally like bereavement & often describe painful emotions. Because of feelings of amplified sensory inputs, one may experience bizarre misinterpretations ranging from feeling one’s teeth rotating in their sockets to parts of their bodies falling off.
Further advancing withdrawal symptom include illusions and hallucinations initially with patterns and geometric shapes, and then into full-formed complex visual hallucinations. Sometimes, at this stage, patients may have delusions of bodily dysfunction. One may feel as if he is having a nervous breakdown, or going crazy in an attempt to understand what is going on. With further progression, disorientation to person get replace with full delirium, and eventually withdrawal ends up at major motor seizure activity. The last triad of symptoms including hallucination, delirium and seizure are classified as major Xanax withdrawal symptoms.
However, all cases are not associated with withdrawal symptoms but most are found to have withdrawal for at least several months. It has been documented that it may take six months to two years to resolve Xanax withdrawal symptoms
Xanax Alcohol Together: Forget About Depression, You Will Play With Your Life!
It may be a sudden change in one’s life or unfortunate death of spouse, depression needs little excuse to creep in your life quietly. You won’t even know when chronic depression has overtaken you over the time if those mood disorders are not taken care of. At such times, you are offered immense help from your peer group, but you don’t feel like mingling with anybody. This is the time when most of people, especially men, find alcohol as their companion. They use alcohol as a form of self-medication. They try to cheer themselves up with alcohol or may use alcohol to help them get some sleep.
Well, alcohol can produce a pleasant effect and a relaxed state. However, this lifted mind state stays only for a short while. Alcohol doesn’t give a permanent relief instead offers many health problems that may stay permanently. A small quantity of alcohol is nowhere considered harmful, but if someone uses alcohol to cope with a depressive illness, he may consume damaging amount and thus may fall prey to serious after effects of alcohol.
Now, let us tell you how depression and alcohol together can do disaster. Extreme state of depression can produce suicidal thoughts. Alcohol compromises judgment and makes someone impulsive. Moreover, alcohol may trigger the aggressive behavior and may make one to do violent acts due to lack of inhibition. Thus, lack of inhibition, self-control, compromised judgment and heightened impulsivity can increase the chances of a person to attempt suicide in an extremely depressed state.
On the other hand, there are many people, who take anti-depressants such as xanax , to deal with depression. Undoubtedly, these anti-depression and anti-anxiety pills have been proved really effective and helpful in most of the cases. Xanax is one of the preferred antidepressant people take to get relief from mild to severe depression. It has made relaxing and sleeping possible for people who are tired of depression and sleepless nights. Xanax prescriptions are evidenced as highly effective for regulating mood. It works by suppressing or balancing certain brain chemicals and nervous system that are responsible for regulating the negative moods. However, some side effects like headaches, dizziness and dry mouths etc. are reported in some cases.
Till now, we have discussed the effects of xanax as well as alcohol on depression. But, many people tend to use both, xanax and alcohol, to deal with depression, which is not considered as a wise act at all. Mixing xanax with alcohol carries a great risk for the person who does so. One can face serious health problems if the amount of xanax alcohol taken is large enough and there are possibility of accidents, including seizures and blackouts.Xanax alcohol together is sufficient enough to invite alcoholic hepatitis, peripheral neuropathy, cereballar degeneration, brain atropy, and stroke. All in all, attempt to use xanax and alcohol in order to get rid of depression and panic attacks is not at all appropriate. Depression here has to be aggressively treated along with strict control on the intake of alcohol. Though depression tends to make life a hell, but xanax alcohol together can show someone the door to death. So, never ever think of mixing xanax with alcohol to deal with depression. It won’t enhance the effect but will probably play with your life.