Alprazolam 1mg (Xanax) | Anxiety Relief Tablets

ALPRAZOLAM (al PRAY zoe lam) treats anxiety. It works by calming your nervous system. This medication is part of a class known as benzodiazepines.

This medication may be used for other purposes; ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

What should I tell my healthcare team before taking this medication?

You should know if you have any of these conditions:

• • Depression or other mental illnesses

• • History of alcohol or drug abuse or dependence

• • Kidney disease

• • Liver disease

• • Lung disease, asthma, or breathing problems

• • Seizures

• • Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts

• • A rare or allergic reaction to alprazolam, other benzodiazepines, certain foods, dyes, or preservatives

• • Pregnant or trying to become pregnant

• • Breastfeeding

How should I use this Medication?

Take this medication by mouth. Take as directed on the prescription label. Could you not take it more often than directed? Keep taking it unless your healthcare team tells you to stop taking it.

You will receive a special Guide from your pharmacist for each and repeat prescription. Read this information carefully each time.

Talk to your healthcare team about using this medication in children. Special care may be needed.

Patients over 65 may react more strongly to treatment and need a lower dose.

Overdose: If you think you have taken too much of this medication, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Note: This medication is for you only. Do not share this medication with others.

What happens if I miss a Dose?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Take only that dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What may interact with this Medication?

Do not take this medication with the following conditions:

• • Certain antivirals for HIV or hepatitis

• • Some medications used to treat fungal infections include ketoconazole, itraconazole, and posaconazole

• • Clarithromycin

• • Grapefruit juice

• • Cough suppressants

• • Sodium oxybate

This medication may also interact with:

• • Alcohol

• • Antihistamines for allergies, coughs, and colds

• • Certain medications for anxiety or sleep

• • Certain medications for depression, such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, nefazodone, sertraline

• • Certain medications for seizures, such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone

• • Cimetidine

• • Digoxin

• • Erythromycin

• • Female hormones such as estrogens or progestins, as well as birth control pills, patches, rings, or injections

• • General anesthetics such as halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol

• • Muscle relaxants

• • Narcotic pain medications

• • Phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your doctor a list of all medications, herbs, over-the-counter drugs, or nutritional supplements you are taking. Also, tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or take illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medication.

What should I be aware of while using this Medication?

Contact your healthcare team regularly to check your progress. Tell your healthcare team if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.

Please do not stop taking it unless your healthcare team tells you to. You could develop a serious reaction. Your healthcare team will tell you how much medicine you need to take.

You may feel sleepy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machines, or do anything that requires mental alertness until you know how this medication affects you. To reduce the risk of dizziness and fainting, do not stand up or sit up quickly, especially if you are an elderly patient. Alcohol can make dizziness and drowsiness worse. Avoid alcoholic beverages.

If you take another medication that causes drowsiness, you may have increased side effects. Give your healthcare team a list of all the medications you are taking. Your healthcare team will tell you how much medicine you need to take. Do not take more medicine than prescribed. Call 911 if you have trouble breathing or unusual drowsiness.

Women should inform their healthcare team if they are planning to become pregnant or think they may be pregnant. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine. For more information, please get in touch with your healthcare team.

What side effects may I notice while taking this Medicine?

Side effects you should report to your healthcare team as soon as possible:

• • Allergic reactions: rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat

• • CNS depression: slow or shallow breathing, shortness of breath, fainting, dizziness, confusion, difficulty staying awake

• • Thoughts about suicide or harming yourself, decreased mood, feelings of depression

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your healthcare team if they persist or are bothersome):

• • Change in libido or performance

• • dizziness

• • sleepiness

• • nausea

This list may not include all possible side effects. Contact your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Where should I keep my Medicine?

Keep out of reach of children and pets. This medication can be abused. Please keep it in a safe place to protect it from theft. Please do not share it with anyone. It is for your use only. Selling or giving away this medication is dangerous and illegal.

Store the medication at room temperature, between 20 and 25°C (68 and 77°F). Dispose of any unused medication after the expiration date.

This medication can cause harm or death if taken by other adults, children, or pets. It is important to throw away the medication as soon as you no longer need it or when the expiration date has passed. You can do this in two ways:

• • Take the medication to a medication tracking program. Contact your pharmacy or the police to find a location.

• • If you cannot return the medication, check the label or package insert to see if the medication should be thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet. Ask your healthcare team if you are unsure. Remove the medication from the container when it is safe to throw it in the trash. Mix the medication with cat litter, soil, coffee grounds, or other unwanted substances. Seal the mixture in a bag or container. Throw it in the trash.

Note: This sheet is a summary. It may not contain all the information you need. If you have any questions about this medication, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or healthcare provider.

Additional Frequently Asked Questions

What is Xanax for?

Alprazolam (Xanax®) is a medication that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for effectively treating the following conditions:

• • Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder.

• • Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia.

Providers sometimes prescribe Xanax for other conditions. This is considered an off-label or non-FDA-approved use of the drug. Xanax’s off-label uses include:

• • Certain symptoms of depression.

• • Insomnia.

• • Premenstrual syndrome.

How long does Xanax stay in your body?

The half-life of alprazolam (Xanax) is about 11 hours in adults. This means it takes about 11 hours for the active ingredient in the drug in your body to be reduced by half.

In other words, if you were to take a single dose of alprazolam, the drug would likely be completely gone from your body 22 hours after you take it.

Is Xanax addictive?

Yes, Alprazolam (Xanax) and other benzodiazepines are addictive. This means that they can strongly activate your brain’s reward center and induce feelings of pleasure. Not everyone who is prescribed Xanax develops an addiction.

If you follow the instructions on your prescription carefully, your risk of developing a substance use disorder is low. Your risk increases if you use the medication incorrectly.

A substance use disorder can have a significant impact on your health, relationships, and overall quality of life. It can also be life-threatening. If you feel like you are becoming dependent on Xanax or taking more than your doctor has prescribed, get help as soon as possible.

Can you take Xanax while Pregnant?

There are some risks and benefits to taking benzodiazepines, including Xanax, during pregnancy. That’s why you should talk to your doctor about it. They will make recommendations on a case-by-case basis because each person is unique. It’s ideal to have these conversations before you try to conceive.

An analysis of 14 studies that looked at pregnancy and birth outcomes after exposure to benzodiazepines found that benzodiazepine use during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of:

• • Miscarriage (spontaneous abortion).

• • Premature birth.

• • Low birth weight.

• • Low Apgar score.

• • Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

A study of Xanax use, specifically during pregnancy, showed an increased risk of:

• • Miscarriage.

• • Low birth weight.

• • Apgar score of 7 or less at one minute after birth.

It is important to remember that the benefits of taking Xanax during pregnancy to treat an underlying mental health condition outweigh the potential risks. Untreated or inadequately treated mental health conditions during pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of:

• • Failure to take prenatal precautions (such as taking prenatal vitamins and attending prenatal appointments).

• • Inadequate nutrition.

• • Increased alcohol and tobacco consumption.

Untreated anxiety during pregnancy can also increase the risk of postnatal anxiety.

Does Xanax cause Weight Gain?

As a side effect, Xanax can sometimes cause changes in appetite and weight gain. However, it is important to remember that several factors can contribute to weight gain. For example:

• • As adults age, they often tend to gain weight.

• • You may develop other exercise or eating habits that are not related to the medication itself.

Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about this possible side effect. Please note that the benefits of taking Xanax may outweigh any potential weight gain.

Does Xanax make you Sleepy?

Xanax and other benzodiazepines have a sedative effect, which means they can make you drowsy and drowsy. However, some people experience sleep disturbances (insomnia) as a side effect of Xanax.

Take Xanax only as directed. Talk to your doctor if you experience excessive sleepiness or difficulty sleeping.

A message from the Resteo Shop

Alprazolam (Xanax®) is one of the most commonly prescribed psychiatric medications. Although this medication can treat various medical conditions, it also carries risks.

Talk to your doctor about any concerns or questions about alprazolam. They will be happy to help.