Xanax ( Alprazolam ) tablets

Xanax is the brand name of alprazolam, a prescription drug used to treat anxiety disorders.
Xanax is prescribed for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), anxiety associated with depression, and panic disorder.
Other uses include treatment of depression.
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 West-Ward Pharmaceuticals.

Alprazolam orally disintegrating tablets, Niravam, are made by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
Xanax XR extended-release tablets are also made by Pfizer; other drug companies make generic alprazolam extended-release tablets, too.

Xanax Warnings

The FDA warns that there are serious risks associated with using Xanax or other benzodiazepines at the same time as opioid analgesics, like oxycodone and hydrocodone, among others, or with opioid-containing cough products.
Taking opioids and benzodiazepines together can result in extreme sleepiness, slowed or difficult breathing, coma, or death.
You should talk to your doctor about alternative treatments as well as the serious risks involved before taking opioids and benzodiazepines like Xanax together.

Do not take Xanax if you’re allergic to alprazolam, any of the inactive ingredients in the medication, or other benzodiazepines, like Librium, Tranxene, Valium, Ativan, Serax, and others.
Do not take Xanax if you have acute narrow-angle glaucoma.
Do not take Xanax if you’re taking the antifungal drugs Sporanox (itraconazole) or Nizoral (ketoconazole).
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’re 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.
Before taking Xanax, tell your doctor if you have:

• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Asthma or other breathing problems
• History of alcoholism or drug abuse
• Liver or kidney problems
• Epilepsy or a history of seizures

Tell your doctor what other prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you take, because these may interact with Xanax. Also, tell your doctor if you smoke.
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 like 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're pregnant. Drugs like Xanax may cause birth defects, particularly if taken during the first trimester of pregnancy. Taking it later in pregnancy may have other harmful effects on your baby, too.
Xanax is not safe to use while breast-feeding, either. Tell your doctor if you’re breast-feeding 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 taking Xanax without talking to your doctor. Stopping the drug abruptly can make the 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
• Blurred vision
• Seizures
• Sweating
• Aggression
• Depression

Withdrawal from Xanax should be done under the supervision of a doctor, who will probably reduce your dosage gradually to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

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

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Xanax:

• Hives
• Trouble breathing
• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat

Common side effects of Xanax are:

• Drowsiness
• Light-headedness
• Insomnia
• Impaired coordination
• Slurred speech
• Memory problems

Most side effects with Xanax happen when first starting the medication and these usually go away.
Still, you should talk to doctor about any side effects you have, particularly if they are severe or don’t go away.

Xanax Interactions

Always tell your doctor what other prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, and nutritional supplements that you take, because these may interact with Xanax.
Before taking Xanax, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you’re using any of the following drugs, which may interact and cause problems:

• Antifungal drugs Sporanox or Nizoral
• Other antifungals, such as Diflucan (flucanozole), Oravig, Noxafil, and Vfend
• Other benzodiazepines, such as Librium, Librax, Klonopin, Tranxene, Valium, ProSom, Dalmane, Ativan, Versed, Serax, Restoril, and Halcion
• Barbiturates, such as Amytal, Fioricet, Fiorinal, Butisol, Seconal, Nembutal, and Luminal or Solfoton
• Antipsychotics, such as Abilify, Saphris, Thorazine, Clozaril, Prolixin, Haldol, Fanapt, Adasuve, Loxitane, Latuda, and others
• Sleep medication, such as Lunesta, Unisom, Rozerem, Sonata, and Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, or Zolpimist
• Narcotic medication, such as Stadol, codeine, Lortab, Vicodin, Levo-Dromoran, Demerol, Dolophine, Methadose, Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph, Narcan, OxyContin, Darvon, and Darvocet
• Antidepressants, such as Elavil, Etrafon, Asendin, Celexa, Anafranil, Norpramin, Sinequan, Lexapro, Prozac, Zoloft, and others
• Antiseizure medication, such as Carbatrol, Tegretol, Depakote or Depakote ER, Depakene, Felbatol, Trileptal, Dilantin, and Mysoline
• Sedating allergy medication, such as Chlor-Trimeton, Benadryl, or Atarax
• Anesthetics
• Antihistamines
• Cordarone or Pacerone (amiodarone)
• Antibiotics, such as Biaxin, erythromycin, Mycobutin, rifampin, Priftin, and Ketek
• Birth control pills
• Tagamet
• Gengraf, Neoral, or Sandimmune (cyclosporine)
• Cortastat, Dexasone, Solurex, or DexPak (dexamethasone)
• Cardizem, Dilacor, or Tiazac (diltiazem)
• Ergotamines, like Cafatine, Cafergot, Wigraine
• HIV and AIDS medicine, such as Reyataz, Rescriptor, Sustiva, Atripla, Intelence, Crixivan, Viracept, Viramune, Invirase, Norvir, and Kaletra
• Gleevec
• Isoniazid
• Cardene
• Adalat or Procardia (nifedipine)
• Quin-G
• Theo-24 or Uniphyl (theophylline)
• St. John's wort

Also, certain drugs that decrease stomach acid can slow the rate at which Niravam (alprazolam orally disintegrating tablets) get into the body.
Before taking Niravam, tell your doctor if you’re using any of the following drugs:

• H2 receptor antagonist medication, 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

The dose of Xanax you take will depend on which condition you have and your age, as well as which form of the medication you use.
Xanax should be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
General guidelines for Xanax dosages:

• Your doctor may prescribe taking Xanax two to four 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’re 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.

Xanax tablets are available in strengths of 0.25 milligrams (mg), 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg.
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 semisolid 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 this 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 this 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 the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or call 911.
An overdose of Xanax can be fatal.
Symptoms of an overdose include extreme drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination, diminished reflexes, fainting, 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’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule.