Topic: Alprazolam
Generic Name: Benzodiazepine
Brand Names: Alprazolam
Alprazolam is a drug which belongs to benzodiazepine group. It is used to treat the issues of panic disorders, anxiety disorders and anxiety caused by depression. It works in the human body through affecting the chemicals level in the brain. It is a significant medication which can be used with the doctor’s advice only.
Patients already using the medicines like itraconazole or ketoconazole, should not take alprazolam. Stop taking the medicine if you are allergic to alprazolam or other medicine like medicines such as Valium, Tranxene, Ativan, and the like.
The alprazolam medication is suitable to treat the medical conditions like anxiousness associated with depression, panic disorder and repeated episodes of Anxiety. Oral intake of the medicine is helpful for treating essential tremor.
Start using the medication with the consent of a trained medical practitioner only. Do not take the medicine with a friend’s recommendation. The doses of the medication may not be same for all. The measurement and frequency of taking the medicine may vary depending upon your age, medical condition and response to treatment. Follow the direction of the physician to reduce the risk of side effects.
The common side effects that are found with this medication are something like feeling tired and drowsiness, lack of balance and coordination, memory problems, slurred speech and feeling anxious early in the morning.
Often it has been seen that a few patients came up with some serious side effects of taking the medication. In case of any serious side effects, get the emergency medical assistance immediately. The serious side effects includes hurting yourself, depressed mood, thoughts of suicide, unusual risk-taking behavior, racing thoughts, increased energy, agitation, hallucinations, confusion, hostility, uncontrolled muscle movements, pounding heartbeats, tremor and fluttering in your chest. You may also have signs of an allergic reaction like hives, swelling and difficult breathing.
The stated medication may cause some withdrawal reactions, if you suddenly stop using it. So if your body is addicted to the medication and you are using it regularly for a long time in high doses, generally doctor advice to decrease the doses gradually to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
To reduce the risk of addiction takes the medicine as per the doctor’s instruction in prescribed doses. The medication hardly creates abnormal drug-seeking behavior unless you have abused alcohol.
This medication may cause serious effect to pregnant woman and their newborn kids. There is a possibility that it may create birth defects or any other life-threatening hazard in newborns. Be careful if you are a lactating woman, the drug can pass into breast milk and can cause serious harm to a nursing baby. Thus mothers under the treatment of Alprazolam are restricted to breast-feed.
Due to the sedative effects of alprazolam, there is a greater chance of accidental falls and injury among the older adults. As Alprazolam is a sedative, it can impair your thinking and reactions. It is better not to drive while you are taking alprazolam. This medication is not approved for children below the age of 18. Only adults can use the medication exactly as prescribed by the physician. Do not try to take the medicine in larger amounts, than instructed.
If anyway, you missed a dose of the medicine, do not worry. You can take the missed dose when you remember. However, it is better to skip a missed dose if it is almost the time for your next dose. Extra doses of medicine may cause harm to you.
Over dose of the medication may cause serious effects. You need to seek emergency medical help in case of an overdose situation immediately. It can be fatal. Extreme drowsiness, muscle weakness, confusion, fainting, loss of balance, unbalanced coordination and feeling light-headed are a few serious overdose symptoms.
