Home » Anti Depressant » Xanax (Alprazolam)
Pay with Bitcoin and get 10% discount! Click here.
Xanax (Brand Pfizer) - Shipped from EU
Brand Names: Xanax, Alprax and more.
Generic Name: Alprazolam
Manufacturer: Pfizer
Alprazolam LPH - Shipped from EU
Brand Names: Xanax, Alprax and more.
Generic Name: Alprazolam
Manufacturer: Labormed
How does it work?
Alprazolam tablets contain the active ingredient alprazolam, which is a type of medicine called a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are used for their sedative and anxiety-relieving effects.
Benzodiazepines work by acting on receptors in the brain called GABA receptors. This causes the release of a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) in the brain.
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are stored in nerve cells in the brain and nervous system. They are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. GABA is a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural 'nerve-calming' agent. It helps keep the nerve activity in the brain in balance, and is involved in inducing sleepiness, reducing anxiety and relaxing muscles.
Alprazolam increases the activity of GABA in the brain and therefore increases its calming effect. This helps decrease anxiety and also causes drowsiness and relaxation of muscles.
Alprazolam is used for the treatment of severe anxiety, including anxiety associated with depression. It should only be used when the disorder is severe, disabling or subjecting the individual to extreme distress. It is only suitable for short-term use, as the medicine has a high potential for dependence and addiction.
Alprazolam remains active in the body for many hours and, as a result, any drowsiness it causes may last into the next day.
What is it used for?
• Short-term treatment of severe anxiety, including anxiety associated with depression
Warning!
- This medicine causes drowsiness, muscle weakness and impairs concentration and alertness. These effects may continue into the following day and are made worse by drinking alcohol. If you are affected you should avoid potentially hazardous tasks such as driving or operating machinary. Avoid alcohol.
- •Benzodiazepines can sometimes cause unexpected reactions in certain people. If you experience any unusual feelings, thoughts or behaviour after starting treatment with this medicine, for example feeling restless, agitated, irritable or aggressive, or experiencing delusions, rages, nightmares or hallucinations, you should consult your doctor, as this medicine may not be suitable for you or the dose may be too high.
- •The body rapidly becomes used to benzodiazepine drugs and they can be addictive. As a result, they are useful for short-term help (two to four weeks), but should not generally be used for longer periods.
•Treatment with this medicine should be stopped gradually by slowly reducing the dose, following the instructions given by your doctor. This is because suddenly stopping treatment can cause withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, muscle pain, restlessness, confusion, sweating, tremor, loss of appetite, difficutly sleeping, irritability, severe anxiety, sensitivity to light, noise or physical contact, hallucinations or convulsions.
Use with caution in
Elderly people
- History of alcoholism or drug abuse
- Disease affecting the airways or lungs (respiratory disease)
- Decreased kidney function
- Decreased liver function
- People who are severely depressed or suicidal
- Personality disorders
Not to be used in
•Allergy to benzodiazepines
- •Abnormal muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis)
•Severe breathing difficulties
•Syndrome involving short spells when breathing stops during sleep (sleep apnoea syndrome)
•Severe liver disease
•Breastfeeding.
-
This medicine is not recommended for children.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- This medicine should not be used during pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor, as it may be harmful to the developing baby. This is particularly important during the third trimester of pregnancy and during labour, because it can cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms in the baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor if you get pregnant or plan to get pregnant while taking this medicine.
- This medicine passes into breast milk. It should not be used by mothers who are breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Label warnings
This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
•Sedation
•Drowsiness
•Feeling light-headed or dizzy
•Numbed emotions
•Reduced alertness
•Headache
•Confusion
•Muscle weakness
•Double or blurred vision
•Slurred speech
•Unexpected effects such as increase in aggression, difficulty sleeping, nervousness or anxiety
•Tremor
•Change in weight
•Irregular menstrual periods
•Loss of memory (amnesia)
•Shaky movements and unsteady walk (ataxia)
•Changes in sex drive
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.
There is an increased risk of drowsiness and sedation if alprazolam is taken with other drugs that can cause drowsiness, including the following:
•alcohol
•tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline
•MAOI antidepressants, eg phenelzine
•antipsychotics, eg chlorpromazine, clozapine
•opioid painkillers, eg morphine, codeine, dihydrocodeine
•other benzodiazepines, eg temazepam
•barbiturates, eg phenobarbital
•sedating antihistamines, eg chlorphenamine
•sleeping tablets.
The following medicines may increase the blood level of alprazolam and therefore increase the risk of its side effects. (Some of these medicines are not recommended for use in combination with alprazolam, while others may be used with caution. You should tell your doctor if you feel excessively sleepy or get any other side effects if you start treatment with one of these while taking alprazolam - your doctor may need to reduce your dose of alprazolam.)
•azole-type antifungals, eg ketoconazole and itraconazole (these are not recommended for use in combination with alprazolam)
•cimetidine
•erythromycin
•fluoxetine
•fluvoxamine
•nefazadone
•oral contraceptives (the pill)
•protease inhibitors for HIV infection, eg amprenavir, indinavir, ritonavir
The following medicines may decrease the blood level of alprazolam, making it less effective:
•rifampicin
•theophylline.
Alprazolam may increase the blood level of digoxin, used to treat abnormal heart beats and heart failure. This could lead to an increase in the side effects of digoxin and so your doctor may need to reduce your digoxin dose if you take both these medicines together.
Alprazolam may also affect (increase or decrease) the blood level of the anti-epileptic medicine phenytoin.
|
