In clinical settings, Xanax may be used to ease short-term agitation or help someone stay calm before a medical procedure. Mixing Xanax with opioid medications, for example, can lead to serious side effects like slowed breathing, and can even be fatal. There’s no recommended Xanax dosage for children, though doctors sometimes prescribe the drug off-label for children.
Treatment
Your doctor may increase your dosage again and then reduce it more slowly. However, if you have serious withdrawal symptoms, contact your doctor right away. If your symptoms feel life threatening, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Despite what some people may think, anxiety drugs are not inherently bad. They have side effects, but generally they are not too dangerous, and Alprazolam is an example of one of the few medicines that could have an impact on your life. Alprazolam is used for all types of anxiety, but it’s one of the few medicines prescribed for panic disorder.
Benefits Of Xanax As An Anxiety Medication
Xanax (alprazolam) is a brand-name oral tablet prescribed for certain anxiety disorders in adults. As with other drugs, Xanax can cause side effects, such as sleepiness and sexual side effects. But anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, are different because they involve excessive fear and anxiety.
Label: XANAX- Alprazolam Tablet
- As with other drugs, Xanax can cause side effects, such as sleepiness and sexual side effects.
- Boxed warnings alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.
- If you drink alcohol, talk with your medical professional.
- You’ll usually stop feeling the effects of Xanax before the drug is fully cleared from your system.
- If you take this medication as it’s intended — it’s commonly prescribed to treat anxiety or panic disorders — you may notice symptom relief after your first dose.
- Valium, or diazepam, is slower to kick in but tends to stay active for much longer, which can make it more useful for things like muscle tension, seizures, or medication tapers.
Do not take XANAX if you are allergic to alprazolam, other benzodiazepines, or any of the ingredients in XANAX. Do not take XANAX if you are taking antifungal treatments, including ketoconazole or itraconazole. He said another drug, a strong synthetic opioid called nitazenes, had also caused fatal overdoses in the UK, including in the Birmingham area last summer. At CalmClinic, we believe that information is only as helpful as its accuracy. That is why all of the content that we publish is always reviewed and analyzed by professionals in the psychology and healthcare fields.
For instance, a small number of people report feeling more irritable or agitated, even though the medication is meant to reduce stress. Emotional numbness or restlessness can also show up, though these reactions are less common. Xanax side effects can show up early in treatment or after a dose change. Yet, others may linger or feel more noticeable, especially with regular use. The calming effect of Xanax doesn’t stick around all day.
While Xanax can help with short-term relief for anxiety and panic, there are some downsides to be aware of. Understanding the potential risks of dependence and Xanax withdrawal symptoms can help you and your doctor decide if it’s the right option for your treatment. Just like any medicine, there are side effects of Xanax; some are mild, while others are more serious. Xanax, also called alprazolam, is a prescription drug in the benzodiazepine family. It is primarily prescribed for the purpose of managing anxiety disorders and panic attacks.
They may also be able to recommend tips on how to help prevent and ease side effects. We cover only the immediate-release form of Xanax in this article. If you’d like to learn about Xanax XR, talk with your medical professional or pharmacist. Xanax contains the active drug alprazolam, which is a controlled substance.
Adverse Effects
If you suddenly stop taking a drug that your body is physically dependent on, this can cause withdrawal symptoms. Xanax has a boxed warning about the risk of dependence and withdrawal. Rarely, some people may also have withdrawal symptoms that last a long time after stopping Xanax. Keep in mind this drug has a boxed warning about the risk of dependence and withdrawal. For more information about this warning, see the “Side effect specifics” section.
What Should Be Done In Case Of Overdose?
- Research suggests you may feel the effects of xanax in as little as 30 minutes.
- Misuse can cause over-sedation, collapse and overdose.
- At CalmClinic, we believe that information is only as helpful as its accuracy.
- Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended.
- This medication must be prescribed by a doctor and is available by prescription only.
Both Xanax and CNS depression may lead to side effects such as lack of coordination and drowsiness. So your risk for these side effects is higher than usual if you drink alcohol while taking Xanax. The half-life of Xanax can be used to figure out how long the drug stays in your body. A drug’s half-life is the time it takes for half of a dose of the drug to leave your system. So it takes about 11 hours for your body to get rid of half of a dose of Xanax.
Drug Details
The drugmaker reports that overdoses have happened with Xanax alone and when Xanax was combined with other drugs or alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug your body has become dependent on. For more information about the risk of Xanax withdrawal and dependence, see the “Xanax and withdrawal and dependence” section. Xanax is sometimes used off-label for insomnia (difficulty sleeping).
Taking these drugs together can cause severe sleepiness, respiratory depression (breathing that’s slow, shallow, and may stop completely), coma, and even death. For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication. Xanax can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others.
Avoid Taking Other Drugs That May Cause Sleepiness Or Dizziness
It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. This document does not contain all possible interactions of this drug with other drugs. Therefore, before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the medications you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list of drugs with your doctor and pharmacist.
There is a risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction with this medication. It is important to take this medication as directed by your care team. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose. It is very important to protect the orally disintegrating tablets from moisture. Remove and throw away any cotton packaging from the medicine bottle when you first use the medicine.
Keep in mind that weight changes are a common symptom of anxiety, which Xanax is used to treat. It’s possible you may gain or lose weight while you’re taking Xanax because your anxiety is easing. Weight changes may not necessarily happen because of Xanax itself. Weight changes were a common side effect in studies of the drug. Alprazolam is the generic version of the brand-name drug Xanax.
Alprazolam (Xanax)
If you have questions or concerns about how long the side effects from Xanax may last, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Due to these risks, doctors usually prescribe lower doses of Xanax for older adults. If you develop serious side effects while taking Xanax, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
