Alprazolam

Alprazolam, commonly known by the brand name Xanax, is a fast-acting, high-potency benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders.

Brand Names: Alprazolam
Generic Name: Ksalol

This medication is not meant for treatment without a specialist's intervention

Common Uses 
Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression. It works by slowing down the movement of chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced. This results in a reduction in nervous tension (anxiety)


How to Take
Take Alprazolam exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.
Alprazolam may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Alprazolam should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
Measure the liquid form of Alprazolam with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
To take Alprazolam orally disintegrating tablets :
- Using dry hands, remove a tablet from the bottle and place the tablet on your tongue. It will begin to dissolve right away.
- Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing.
- Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. If desired, you may drink liquid after the tablet has completely dissolved.

Warning and Precautions
Do not drink alcohol while taking Alprazolam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol. Alprazolam can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can increase some of the side effects of Alprazolam.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Alprazolam and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Important Information:
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to Alprazolam or to other benzodiazepines, such as Chlordiazepoxide (Librium), Clorazepate (Tranxene), Diazepam (Valium), Lorazepam (Ativan), or Oxazepam (Serax). This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use Alprazolam if you are pregnant.
Before taking Alprazolam, tell your doctor if you have any breathing problems, glaucoma, kidney or liver disease, or a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Do not drink alcohol while taking Alprazolam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol.
This medication may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Alprazolam should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

Possible Side Effects
Get urgent medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• unusual risk-taking behaviour, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger;
• depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
• hyperactivity, agitation, hostility, hallucinations;
• feeling light-headed, fainting;
• seizure (convulsions);
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• muscle twitching, tremor; or
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious Alprazolam side effects may include:

• drowsiness, dizziness, feeling irritable;
• amnesia or forgetfulness, trouble concentrating;
• sleep problems (insomnia);
• muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination, slurred speech;
• blurred vision;
• nausea, vomiting, constipation, appetite or weight changes;
• dry or watery mouth, increased sweating; or
• loss of interest in sex.

Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.

Overdose
Seek urgent medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of Alprazolam can be fatal.
Symptoms of an Alprazolam overdose may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, loss of balance or coordination, feeling light-headed, fainting, or coma.

Storage
Store Alprazolam at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Remove any cotton from the bottle of disintegrating tablets, and keep the bottle tightly closed.

All the information given above is just a summary. You should visit your doctor to get more information about this medicine. Do not share this medicine with the others who it was not prescribed for. Do not use Alprazolam for other health conditions. Do not store the medication with an end term of its storage.