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Xanax contraindications. Xanax - instructions, analogues, reviews. Usual Older Adult Dose for Restlessness and Anxiety

Xanax is a psychotropic medication that reduces the severity of anxiety, fear, restlessness and emotional stress during panic conditions and depression.

Release form and composition

Xanax comes in the form of tablets containing 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg alprazolam. In blisters of 10 pcs.

Indications for use of Xanax

The active substance of Xanax, according to the instructions, has an anxiolytic, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant effect. The medication is prescribed against the background of:

Anxiety states and neuroses, accompanied by deterioration of sleep, anxiety, somatic disorders, anxiety, tension, irritability;
Mixed anxious-depressive and neurotic reactive-depressive states with loss of interest in the environment, sleep disturbances, decreased appetite and mood, psychomotor agitation, changes in body weight, somatic complaints, suicidal thoughts (feelings of unworthiness, guilt), decreased energy;
Panic states.

Contraindications

Xanax is contraindicated for use in:

Hypersensitivity to alprazolam or auxiliary components included in the tablets;
Psychotic depression (due to its ineffectiveness);
Pregnancy (especially in the first trimester, which is associated with the risk of developing birth defects);
Diseases of the thyroid gland (for tablets of 0.5 mg).

Xanax, according to the instructions, is not used in pediatrics.

Method of use and dosage of Xanax

The optimal dose of Xanax is determined individually; it is determined by the severity of symptoms and the severity of the clinical effect.

Periodically, after assessing the patient's condition, the daily dosage should be adjusted. It is best to increase it by taking the medication in the evening.

Against the background of anxiety, taking 0.5-4 mg of Xanax per day, divided into several parts, is recommended; for depression, the daily dosage is usually 1.5-4.5 mg.

For panic disorders, the dose is selected individually. Its increase should not be more than 1 mg every 3-4 days. As a rule, a single dosage is 0.5 mg, the frequency of administration is three times a day. According to indications, it is possible to take the maximum daily dose– 10 mg.

Elderly or frail people are usually prescribed 0.25 mg of Xanax 2-3 times a day. According to indications in the absence side effects the dosage can be gradually increased.

Duration of Xanax therapy against the background:

Anxiety and depressive disorders – up to six months;
Panic disorders – up to 8 months.

At the end of treatment, the dosage should be reduced gradually - every three days by 0.5 mg. If necessary, a slower dose reduction is possible.

Side effects of Xanax

Xanax may cause side effects various systems organism, most often manifesting itself in the form of:

Drowsiness and sleep disturbances;
Headache and dizziness;
Depression;
Visual disorders;
Changes in body weight;
Increased fatigue and memory impairment;
Muscle weakness, tremors, coordination disorders;
Urinary incontinence or retention;
Dysarthria;
Ataxia;
Decreased libido;
Dyspepsia, anorexia, dystonia, jaundice, liver dysfunction;
Dysmenorrhea.

Much less often during treatment with Xanax the following occur: irritability, agitation, aggressive behavior, hallucinations, hostility. Most often, these symptoms occur due to the abuse of alcohol, drugs, or when used simultaneously with other psychotropic drugs.

Long-term use of Xanax can lead to addiction (especially in alcoholism, drug or substance abuse), drug dependence, and withdrawal symptoms (with rapid withdrawal of the medication).

special instructions

During Xanax therapy, the use of ethanol is strictly prohibited.

Monitoring the peripheral blood picture is necessary during long-term use of the drug and against the background of liver/renal failure.

During treatment, it is necessary to take into account that the therapeutic effect in patients who have not previously taken psychoactive drugs is higher compared to patients with alcoholism, as well as those who have taken anxiolytics or antidepressants.

Against the background of endogenous depression, Xanax can be used simultaneously with antidepressants.

With long-term use of Xanax (longer than 2-3 months) in high doses (more than 4 mg per day), drug dependence may develop, and abrupt cessation of medication use can lead to withdrawal syndrome, manifested in the form of irritability, depression, insomnia and increased sweating.

The use of Xanax should be discontinued if patients develop reactions such as:

Acute states of excitement;
Increased aggressiveness;
Thoughts about suicide;
Shallow sleep
Feeling of fear;
Increased muscle cramps;
Hallucinations;
Difficulty falling asleep.

During Xanax therapy, special care should be taken when administering vehicles and performing work that requires increased concentration.

Xanax analogs

Analogues of Xanax include medications:

By active substance– Neurol, Helex, Alzolam, Zolomax, Alprazolam;
According to the mechanism of action - Chlozepid, Nozepam, Relium, Seduxen, Relanium, Apaurin, Mezapam, Lorafen, Gidazepam, Tazepam, Grandaxin, Sibazon, Rudotel, Diamidazepam.

Terms and conditions of storage

Xanax is one of the anxiolytics dispensed from pharmacies as prescribed by a doctor. The shelf life of the tablets is 36 months if stored in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

In this article you can find instructions for use medicinal product Xanax. Reviews of site visitors - consumers of this medicine, as well as the opinions of specialist doctors on the use of Xanax in their practice are presented. We kindly ask you to actively add your reviews about the drug: whether the medicine helped or did not help get rid of the disease, what complications and side effects were observed, perhaps not stated by the manufacturer in the annotation. Analogues of Xanax in the presence of existing structural analogues. Use for the treatment of anxiety, depression, increased irritability in adults, children, as well as during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Composition and interaction of the drug with alcohol.

Xanax- has an anxiolytic, sedative, muscle relaxant effect.

By binding to benzodiazepine and GABAergic receptors, it causes inhibition of the limbic system, thalamus, hypothalamus, and polysynaptic spinal reflexes.

Compound

Alprazolam + excipients.

Pharmacokinetics

After oral administration, it is quickly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Plasma protein binding is 80%. Passes through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the placental barrier, penetrates into breast milk. Metabolized in the liver. It is excreted primarily by the kidneys. Repeated administration at intervals of less than 8-12 hours may lead to accumulation.

Indications

anxiety states and neuroses with feelings of anxiety, tension, restlessness, irritability, deterioration of sleep, somatic disorders;
mixed anxiety-depressive and neurotic reactive-depressive states, accompanied by decreased mood, loss of interest in the environment, psychomotor agitation, sleep disturbance, decreased appetite, changes in body weight, somatic complaints, cognitive impairment, suicidal thoughts (feelings of guilt, low value), decreased energy;
for somatic disorders, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, functional and organic diseases (cardiovascular, dermatological, gastrointestinal tract);
panic states (in combination or without phobic symptoms);
panic attacks and phobias with agoraphobia.

Release forms

Tablets 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg.

Extended-release tablets 0.5 mg and 1 mg (Xanax Retard).

Instructions for use and dosage regimen

Orally, the optimal dose is determined individually depending on the severity of symptoms and the severity of the clinical effect. It is better to increase the dose by taking more the drug in the evening (before bedtime). In general, patients who have never previously been treated with psychotropic drugs require lower doses. Elderly and debilitated patients are advised to take smaller doses of alprazolam, since an overdose may cause the development of excessive sedation or ataxia. It is recommended to periodically re-evaluate the patient's condition and subsequently adjust the dose of alprazolam.

In general, the usual dose is sufficient for most patients. If a patient requires a higher dose, dose increases should be done with caution to avoid the development of side effects.

Duration of therapy: up to 6 months - for anxiety and depressive disorders; up to 8 months - in the treatment of panic disorders.

Reducing the dose of the drug should be carried out gradually (withdrawal syndrome or abstinence may develop). It is recommended to reduce the daily dose by no more than 0.5 mg every 3 days. In some cases, a slower dose reduction is required.

Side effect

headache;
dizziness;
drowsiness;
sleep disorders;
fatigue;
memory impairment;
depression;
muscle weakness;
tremor;
coordination disorders;
ataxia;
changes in body weight;
dyspepsia, anorexia;
dystonia;
jaundice;
decreased libido;
dysmenorrhea;
urinary incontinence or retention;
visual disturbances;
irritability;
hallucinations;
hostility and aggressive behavior (more often when abusing alcohol, drugs, or taking other psychotropic drugs);
addiction (especially with alcoholism, toxic or drug addiction);
drug addiction;
withdrawal symptoms (with abrupt withdrawal of the drug).

Contraindications

hypersensitivity;
psychotic depression (not effective);
pregnancy (especially 1st trimester);
children's adolescence and youth (up to 18 years);
thyroid diseases (0.5 mg tablets).

Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Xanax is contraindicated during pregnancy (especially in the 1st trimester).

During the period of use, lactating women should stop breastfeeding.

Use in children

Contraindicated in children and adolescents under 18 years of age (no studies have been conducted on the effectiveness and safety of Xanax in people under 18 years of age).

special instructions

Use with extreme caution in cases of impaired liver and kidney function, severe depression, suicidal tendencies, and panic disorders.

To avoid withdrawal syndrome (withdrawal symptoms), treatment is stopped gradually, reducing the dose by no more than 0.5 mg every 3 days.

Impact on the ability to drive vehicles and operate machinery

Drug interactions

Against the background of amprenavir, biotransformation is blocked, the concentration of alprazolam in plasma increases, the activity and risk of toxicity increases.

The potential effect of increased plasma concentrations of alprazolam (metabolized by CYP3A4) should be taken into account when alprazolam is coadministered with aprepitant.

Close clinical monitoring for cases of respiratory depression and/or prolonged sedation should be performed during concomitant use of boceprevir with intravenous alprazolam. Xanax dose adjustment is necessary.

Against the background of valproic acid, CNS depression increases.

Strengthens (mutually) with Haloperidol the depression of the central nervous system; Caution is required when prescribing in combination.

Strengthens (mutually) with Diazepam the depression of the central nervous system, increases the risk of apnea (with intravenous administration).

Against the background of alprazolam, the plasma concentration increases, the clearance and/or Vss of digoxin decreases, and the risk of toxicity increases.

The effect may be enhanced with Diltiazem; Caution is required when prescribing in combination.

Itraconazole as an inhibitor of CYP3A4 slows down biotransformation, significantly reduces clearance, increases the concentration of alprazolam in plasma, enhances the effects, incl. side effects; joint use is contraindicated.

Strengthens (mutually) the depression of the central nervous system with carbamazepine.

Ketoconazole, as a CYP3A inhibitor, may significantly reduce the clearance of alprazolam; joint use is contraindicated.

The development of hallucinations has been reported when taking ketorolac tablets in patients taking Xanax.

The simultaneous use of clarithromycin (as part of a set of tablets and capsules clarithromycin + lansoprazole + amoxicillin) with alprazolam (metabolized by the CYP3A isoenzyme) is contraindicated.

Strengthens (mutually) the depression of the central nervous system with Codeine.

Strengthens (mutually) the sedative effect of Metoclopramide.

When used in combination with milk thistle fruit, an extract that inhibits the cytochrome P450 system may enhance the effect of Xanax.

Strengthens (mutually) the effect of Tramadol; with combined use, the risk of developing convulsive seizures increases.

Strengthens (mutually) the inhibition of the central nervous system by Phenobarbital.

Fluconazole as an inhibitor of CYP3A slows down biotransformation and reduces clearance; co-administration is not recommended.

Concomitant use of alprazolam and fluoxetine resulted in increased plasma alprazolam levels and decreased psychomotor activity.

Strengthens (mutually) the inhibition of the central nervous system by Chlorpromazine and Chlorprothixene; Caution is required when prescribing in combination.

Slows down the elimination of Erythromycin; Caution is required when prescribing in combination.

Against the background of alprazolam, the effect of ethanol (alcohol) on the central nervous system is enhanced.

Analogues of the drug Xanax

Structural analogues of the active substance:

Alzolam;
Alprazolam;
Alprox;
Zolomax;
Kassadan;
Xanax retard;
Neurol;
Frontin;
Helex.

Analogues pharmacological group(anxiolytics):

Adaptol;
Anvifen;
Atarax;
Afobazole;
Bromazepam;
Valium Roche;
Hydroxyzine;
Grandaxin;
Diazepam;
Diazepex;
Diapam;
Ipronal;
Lexotan;
Librax;
Lorazepam;
Loram;
Lorafen;
Mebicar;
Mezapam;
Mexiprim;
Mexicofin;
Merlit;
Miolastan;
Napoton;
Neurophazol;
Nobritem;
Nozepam;
Noofen;
Oxazepam;
Relanium;
Relium;
Seduxen;
Sibazon;
Tazepam;
Tenoten;
Tenoten for children;
Tofisopam;
Phenazepam;
Phenibut;
Elenium;
Elzepam.

If there are no analogues of the drug for the active substance, you can follow the links below to the diseases for which the corresponding drug helps, and look at the available analogues for the therapeutic effect.

Reading time: 6 minutes. Published 03/29/2019

Xanax(Xanax, Alprazolam, Alprazolam) is trademark the drug alprazolam, which belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. Prescribed for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, panic attacks and social phobia.

When Xanax enters the body, it interacts with β-receptors and slightly increases dopamine levels. GABA is gamma-aminobutyric acid, the main inhibitory and calming neurotransmitter. Increasing its levels leads to calmness and focus. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, pleasure and mood. Neurotransmitters themselves are transmitters of information between nerve cells.

How does it work

Xanax (alprazolam), once in the body, is quickly absorbed, metabolized, distributed throughout the tissues of the body and absorbed by the brain. It then binds to GABA receptors, which reduce the activity of the central nervous system and the person experiences a whole combination of effects: anxiolytic, amnesic, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, muscle relaxant and sedative. Additionally, the rapid modulation of GABA receptors by Xanax results in increased firing of dopamine-secreting neurons. The latter creates the effect of pleasure and improves mood.

But Xanax is not the only powerful neurotransmitter. It also slows cerebral blood flow in the amygdala, pituitary gland, thalamus and hypothalamus, causing the following effects: sedation, poor coordination and slow reaction time. But in the nucleus accumbens—the area of the brain responsible for pleasure—Xanax increases cerebral blood flow. This leads to euphoria, impulsiveness, and also develops addiction.

In other words, Xanax causes feelings of mental and physical relaxation, drowsiness, and dullness. These effects appear half an hour after administration. Peak concentration is reached within an hour. The reasons for this rapid action are: pharmacokinetics (absorption, metabolism, distribution), pharmacodynamics (interaction with neurotransmitters) and the ability to activate various aspects of the brain (cerebral blood flow, neural communication, neuroelectric frequencies).

Short term effects occur during normal use of the drug and are rather positive and calming in nature:

Mental and physical relaxation.
Calm.
Loss of coordination.
Slow speech.

Long term effects appear with chronic use of sedatives:

Cognitive deficits (dementia): poor memory, absent-mindedness, confusion, poor concentration and decreased intellectual ability.
Psychomotor disorders.
Addiction.

Side effects

All prescription drugs have side effects, including Xanax. Even following prescribed dosages and doctor's orders can lead to many side effects, some more serious than others. Some of the common side effects of Xanax include:

Drowsiness, fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness and poor coordination.
Irritability, insomnia, problems concentrating.
Headache, slurred speech, blurred vision, nasal congestion, dry mouth.
Nausea, vomiting, constipation, upset stomach, loss of appetite.
Decreased libido.
Addiction.

Addiction

People who take Xanax for a long time may develop a tolerance to the drug. When tolerance occurs, the body requires a larger dose or increased frequency of use to achieve a therapeutic effect. With constant use, addiction develops and the body stops functioning properly without the drug.

If you stop taking it abruptly, withdrawal symptoms appear:

Anxiety, depression, hallucinations, panic attacks, psychosis, suicidal thoughts,
Poor concentration, headaches, insomnia, nightmares, irritability, memory problems, mood swings,
Muscle spasms and pain, tachycardia, increased sweating, tremor.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

Xanax (alprazolam) and alcohol

IMPORTANT: Xanax should not be mixed with alcohol.

Mixing alcohol with benzodiazepines is not always intentional. Sometimes a person who has finished taking sedatives decides the next day to sit with friends and have another drink. But he doesn’t realize that the drug is still circulating in his body, and adding alcohol will not have the desired effect. Let's figure out what's what.

Both alcohol and Xanax interact with β-receptors, which have a calming and sedative effect. The release of dopamine also increases, which gives euphoria and pleasure. At best, this will provoke increased side effects:

Aggression. Some people may behave more aggressively due to extreme intoxication and decreased self-control.
Allergic reaction. Itching, swelling of the face, rash, headache, spasm of the vocal cords and difficulty breathing.
Coordination problems, dizziness. The combined use of Xanax and alcohol increases GABAergic and decreases glutamatergic transmission, which reduces activity in the cerebellum and leads to incoordination, dizziness and loss of balance.
Brain fog. Characterized by confusion, forgetfulness and inability to concentrate.
Coma. Characterized by a deep state of unconsciousness that persists for a long period of time as a result of brain damage.
Decline blood pressure . Reduces the amount of blood flowing to vital organs, causing blurred vision, chills, dizziness, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.
Dissociation. A person perceives a situation as if it were happening not to him, but to someone else.
Dry mouth. Alcohol causes dehydration, and Xanax interferes with saliva production.
Frequent urination. Occurs due to inhibition of the release of vasopressin (a hormone involved in urinary retention), which prevents the kidneys from reabsorbing and storing water reserves and increases urine production.
Gastrointestinal disorders: nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea.
Rapid pulse. Alcohol causes peripheral blood vessels to dilate and increase blood flow, which speeds up the heart rate.
Respiratory depression. Slow and difficult breathing. This can lead to loss of consciousness, coma and death.
Deterioration of vision: decreased sharpness, brightness.

In the worst case scenario, mixing alcohol and Xanax increases the risk of overdose and death.

Xanax overdose

Sedatives, or tranquilizers, are commonly used to treat symptoms of insomnia and anxiety. By focusing on the central nervous system, Xanax slows down the functioning of the brain and body. Unless taken in extreme doses, or for a suicide attempt, overdose of sedatives alone is very rare. Overdose more often occurs when mixed with alcohol or other drugs such as opiates or barbiturates.

An overdose of Xanax (benzodiazepines) slows breathing and heart rate. This can lead to coma, permanent brain damage and death.

Signs of overdose:

Dizziness and vomiting.
Incoherent speech and severe disorientation.
Slow and shallow breathing.
Blue lips and fingertips (cyanosis, indicates a lack of oxygen in the body).
Coma.

In this case, you need to urgently call an ambulance and explain the situation..

Analogues

Alprazolam.
Alzolam.
Zolomax.
Helex.
Kassadan.
Frontin.

Stories about the opioid drug epidemic in the United States have long become commonplace: in the country, more than a hundred people die every day from overdoses of heroin, fentanyl and similar substances. A health emergency has already been declared to combat them, but another scourge rarely makes it to the front pages of local media. We are talking about the mass craze for the drug “Xanax” (Xanax, in English pronunciation - “Zanax”). Today, millions of Americans are forced to live at a frantic pace, and for many of them, it is the Xanax tablet that helps them gather strength, calm down and feel like a human being. I figured out how the daily “duty” anti-anxiety pill drives its victims into graves.

“It takes me out of the dark bubble of anxiety and lifts me up onto a cloud! From there I can look at everything from top to bottom and not worry. I'm calm and collected. It also helps me sleep, and I’m grateful to that,” this is how a Reddit user under the nickname wizardswrath00 describes the effect of taking Xanax.

“Anxiety is a real bitch. Euphoria comes when you realize: you are no longer in her power. The Xanax drives it away and you can feel like you're in control again. It will calm you down so much that you can fall asleep exactly when you want! Isn't that cool? No more staring at the ceiling until 3:30 in the morning when your mind can't calm down and you feel sick from your own thoughts. If you're afraid of interacting with other people, Xanax will help too. It’s a great feeling when this weight is finally lifted from your shoulders,” says another user.

Medical encyclopedias explain: Xanax, thanks to the active ingredient alprazolam, allows you to almost instantly relax, relieve tension, and suppress feelings of fear, anxiety and restlessness. You can quickly pop a small tablet under your tongue at the end of the working day and instantly forget about your strict boss and endless reports.

It would seem that the miraculous properties provided alprazolam, invented in the 1960s, with explosive popularity: today more than five percent of the adult population of the United States takes relaxation pills; it is on the list of the most frequently prescribed drugs in the country.

The tablets really work, but they have a number of unpleasant features. Firstly, tolerance to Xanax develops very quickly - to achieve the same relaxing effect, the body needs more and more alprazolam. Secondly, with uncontrolled use, addiction develops over time. Third, it lowers your breathing and heart rate—and if taken with opioid drugs (such as heroin or the equally popular fentanyl), the likelihood of death increases dramatically. Up to a third of all Xanax-related deaths occurred due to co-administration with opioids.

In addition, unlike many other substances that simply “knock out” the body when overdosed, benzodiazepines act differently: they erase memory, leaving the ability to act. Those who have taken too much Xanax can wander the streets for hours, attack people, rob and steal, get behind the wheel and cause accidents. Someone in such a helpless state himself becomes a victim of scammers and rapists.

Xanax is also known for its terrible withdrawal symptoms after a long-term overdose. Reddit users share: “I was having visual hallucinations, I felt like I was going crazy, it was a constant bad trip (slang for a psychedelic crisis - approx. "Tapes.ru"). It was as if there were blows in my head; I almost had an attack twice. I heard a loud bang in my head, saw a bright flash, my body jerked sharply, but nothing happened. It was like a flashbang grenade had exploded in my head. It's fucking scary."

“Dude, that sounds tough. Sometimes I have flashes in my head in my sleep, my body twitches so much that I either bite my tongue or kick the cat so that he flies out of bed... And this is four years later. This is not a joke,” another user responded, admitting that now, due to an addiction from the past, he cannot sleep without sleeping pills.

In a thread on a drug users forum where the problem of quitting certain substances is discussed, benzodiazepines (the generic name for drugs like Xanax) won by a huge margin: 244 votes for them versus 91 for methadone and 88 for heroin. Then, however, there is a similar severity of “withdrawal”: refusal of alcohol in those suffering from long-term severe alcoholism.

One of the best drugs to relieve panic attacks is Xanax. The instructions for use indicate that it eliminates depression, insomnia, and senile tremor. What do doctors and patients think about this?

What does Xanax treat?

Usually the drug is prescribed by neurologists or psychiatrists. The medicine has an international name - “Alprazolam”. It's a tranquilizer. It has a mild sedative effect, reduces the excitability of the nerve centers of the thalamus and hypothalamus. Since these parts of the brain are responsible for the sensory and neuroendocrine activities of the brain, you can guess that their excessive stimulation negatively affects the body. Xanax helps stop the negative process. Instructions for use recommend taking it to people suffering from:

Who should not take Xanax?

Like any medicine, this drug has contraindications. You need to pay special attention to them: tablets affect the central nervous system, so their improper use can lead to especially dangerous consequences. Who should not take Xanax? The instructions contain a detailed list of contraindications. The drug is not prescribed to people suffering from:

Hypersensitivity to the components that make up the tablets, or to the main medicinal substance.
Myasthenia.
Glaucoma.
Various breathing disorders.
Liver failure.
Motor disorders caused by improper functioning of the cerebellum or frontal lobes.
Nocturnal respiratory arrest.

Some people who are in a state of alcohol addiction believe that it is Xanax. Instructions for use and reviews from doctors categorically state the opposite: the medicine is contraindicated in case of alcohol, drug or drug poisoning. Combining this drug with alcohol can cause death. “Xanax” (doctors’ reviews of the drug indicate that experts are unanimous on this issue) should be taken with increased caution by patients with psychosis, depression and disorders of the brain structure of organic origin. In this case, the drug can cause a paradoxical reaction, aggravating symptoms up to suicidal tendencies. It is not recommended to use Xanax for pregnant women, teenagers and the elderly.

Where can you buy Xanax?

Very often, patients with anxiety conditions ask the question: “Is Xanax sold by prescription or not?” The answer is clear: only by prescription. Anxiolytic affects nervous system, can cause paradoxical reactions, so it is strictly forbidden to take it without a doctor’s recommendation. This can lead to serious consequences.

The second, no less popular question: “Are there any analogues for the drug Xanax?” Yes. These include the following medications:

"Alprazolam." This is not even an analogue, but an international name for the active substance. Sold in tablet form and often less expensive than Xanax. Reviews from people taking the analogue indicate that the difference in price is not due to the difference in the composition of the tablets, but to the cheaper packaging of Alprazolam.
"Zolomax". It has not identical, but similar composition.
"Neurol".
"Helex."

Minor differences in the composition of the tablets, experts say, can cause different reactions to taking the medicine. That is why the doctor also writes a prescription to buy an analogue. Replacing one drug with another in a pharmacy (only at the request of the consumer) is impossible.

Why is Xanax dangerous?

Reviews from both doctors and patients themselves are unanimous on one thing: the drug, with all its positive effects on the body, carries two dangers:

Causes addiction.
May be fatal.

Alprazolam belongs to the class of psychoactive substances that are most often used in medicine. The action begins almost immediately after taking the pill and lasts a long time. “Xanax” - reviews from doctors confirm this - does not cause drowsiness; on the contrary, many people feel a certain lift in mood after it. This is what determines the desire to take the medicine again and again.

Alprazolam and its analogues have one more unpleasant side, doctors say. It is effective and relieves panic attacks. The drug acts quickly and improves the condition so much that many people prefer to carry it with them all the time and take it even when they feel unwell. Today, Alrazolam and its analogues are increasingly being equated to street drugs.

Attention! Taking the medicine with others can cause death.

Who else does a tranquilizer help?

A course of Xanax is often prescribed for This is the name given to a state of uncontrollable and uncontrollable fear associated with people's fear of performing social activities. Some people can't speak publicly. Someone is afraid of society strangers. In more severe cases, social phobia can manifest itself in the fear of being in a crowd, riding in public transport, or even going outside. It is interesting that the majority of those suffering from this pathology are well aware of the causelessness of their fears. However, they cannot improve their condition on their own. Phobias can have very real manifestations:

A sharp increase in heart rate, leading to shortness of breath and interruptions in breathing.
Sweating.
Chills.
Frequent changes in skin color: from bright red to bluish-pale.
Speech impairment.
State of stupor.

“Xanax” (the instructions, reviews of doctors and people taking it confirm this) helps to successfully combat this condition.

In severe cases, a phobia attack can result in a panic attack or fainting.

How does Xanax work?

How to take an anxiolytic

The medicine is available in several forms.

Most often, Xanax and Alprazolam are sold in tablets containing the main active ingredient from 0.25 mg to 1.2 mg. 1 mg of this drug is comparable to 10 mg of Valium. The package can contain from 10 to 100 tablets. In the prescription, the doctor must indicate how many tablets and in what dosage the patient has the right to buy.

How is the drug taken? Xanax (tablets) is prescribed based on the patient’s diagnosis. Daily norm divided into several steps. Treatment begins with minimal doses, then the amount of the substance is increased.

Anxiety, restlessness - up to 4 mg per day.
Depression - 4.5 mg.
Panic attacks - the dosage is selected in accordance with the condition and characteristics of the patient. You can increase it by 1 mg every 4 days.

The dosage form “retard” can be taken not 3, but 1-2 times a day.

The maximum duration of taking the drug is 3 months. Otherwise, addiction develops.

Sometimes Xanax comes in the form of drops. In Russia, this dosage form is practically never found.

Special warnings and instructions

According to doctors' reports, when taking drugs based on alprazolam, the condition of patients with severe forms of depression in half of the cases not only did not improve, but on the contrary: there was a development of manicness. For this reason, taking Alprazolam (or Xanax) with this diagnosis is recommended only under the supervision of specialists and in combination with antidepressants.
Patients who have previously taken other psychoactive drugs respond more quickly to the effects of this drug.
If the medicine is prescribed to patients with renal or liver failure, it is recommended to monitor their condition and collect tests weekly.
If a pregnant woman takes Xanax, the child may be born with withdrawal symptoms, breathing problems, cardiac problems, muscle tone and other abnormalities, experts warn.
The medicine should not be prescribed simultaneously with antipsychotics, hypnotics, antiepileptics, narcotic drugs and muscle relaxants. They enhance each other's effects and can lead to complete depression of the central nervous system.

Xanax and alcohol

Alprazolam and its analogues should absolutely not be taken with alcohol or medications containing ethanol. Their interaction leads to hallucinations, depression of consciousness, and coma.