• you are taking antifungal medicines including ketoconazole and itraconazole. The elderly may be more sensitive to the effects of benzodiazepines. They exhibit higher plasma alprazolam concentrations due to reduced clearance of the drug as compared with a younger population receiving the same doses.

Misuse of this medication is dangerous and against the law. A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each prescription and refill. Be sure to read this information carefully each time. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

People whose profession requires the manipulation of machinery or driving should be cautious as alprazolam can cause drowsiness or dizziness. Keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop. Talk with your doctor or dentist if you have anxiety before medical procedures. The following table highlights the basics of the drug’s dosage, with strengths given in milligrams (mg).

However, its usage and safety have been subjects of concern and debate. In this article, we’ll delve into the best practices for taking Xanax, ensuring your safety, and helping you 4 ways to use alprazolam achieve the intended benefits. Store alprazolam tablets at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) Keep alprazolam tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children. ” Take alprazolam tablets exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much alprazolam tablets to take and when to take it.

Alprazolam dosage

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Xanax XR 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. Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Xanax images

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of alprazolam in the pediatric population. Lexapro is used to treat anxiety and major depressive disorder.

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Alprazolam tablets are contraindicated in patients with known sensitivity to this drug or other benzodiazepines. The ability of alprazolam to induce human hepatic enzyme systems has not yet been determined. However, this is not a property of benzodiazepines in general.

• You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
• Xanax is used to treat anxiety disorders and anxiety caused by depression.
• Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
• Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of alprazolam in the pediatric population.
• To take the concentrated liquid, use only the dropper that came with your prescription.
• They’ll also likely prescribe naloxone (Narcan) to keep on hand.

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

You’ll likely start with Xanax 0.5-mg tablets three times daily. If you respond well to the drug and your doctor increases your daily dosage, they’ll do it slowly by 1 mg every 3 to 4 days. The highest dose reported by the drugmaker is a total of 10 mg daily, but it’s uncommon to take such a high dose. Doctors usually try to prescribe alprazolam for the shortest time possible.

What is the dose of alprazolam for sleep?

Episodes of hypomania and mania have been reported in association with the use of alprazolam in patients with depression. Azole antifungal agents — Ketoconazole and itraconazole are potent CYP3A inhibitors and have been shown in vivo to increase plasma alprazolam concentrations 3.98 fold and 2.7 fold, respectively. The coadministration of alprazolam with these agents is not recommended. Other azole-type antifungal agents should also be considered potent CYP3A inhibitors and the coadministration of alprazolam with them is not recommended (see Contraindications). The following are examples of drugs known to inhibit the metabolism of alprazolam and/or related benzodiazepines, presumably through inhibition of CYP3A.

What other drugs will affect Xanax?

Cimetidine — Coadministration of cimetidine increased the maximum plasma concentration of alprazolam by 86%, decreased clearance by 42%, and increased half-life by 16%. Benzodiazepines can potentially cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. If alprazolam is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Because use of these drugs is rarely a matter of urgency, their use during the first trimester should almost always be avoided. The possibility that a woman of childbearing potential may be pregnant at the time of institution of therapy should be considered. Patients should be advised that if they become pregnant during therapy or intend to become pregnant they should communicate with their physicians about the desirability of discontinuing the drug.

• The answer starts with understanding your body’s needs and following a doctor’s guidance.
• Alprazolam helps calm the mind, making it easier to relax and drift off.
• In contrast, patients treated with doses of alprazolam greater than 4 mg/day had more difficulty tapering to zero dose than those treated with less than 4 mg/day.
• The tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, and concentrated solution usually are taken two to four times a day.
• Studies supporting this claim were conducted in patients whose diagnoses corresponded closely to the DSM-III-R/IV criteria for panic disorder (see Clinical Studies).

What factors can affect my dosage?

The tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, and concentrated solution usually are taken two to four times a day. The extended-release tablet is taken once daily, usually in the morning. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness).

Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. It’s important to take alprazolam only as your doctor prescribes. You should not increase your dose or take the medication more often than prescribed unless your doctor has approved doing so. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved alprazolam to treat only panic disorder and anxiety in some situations.