Xanax dose

Xanax dose

What is Xanax?

Xanax is a drug that belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines; they are also called antianxiety agents.

Xanax is used to treat anxiety and panic disorder; it can be used alone or in combination with other medicines.

A Xanax dose contains the active substance alprazolam and inactive ingredients such as cellulose, corn starch, lactose, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate docusate sodium, and sodium benzoate.

Xanax dose is used for the treatment of:

1. Generalized Anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults.
2. Panic disorder (PD) in adults.

Xanax dose:

The dose in GAD:

The recommended Xanax dose is 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg to be given 3 times daily.

The dose can be increased gradually at intervals of every 3 to 4 days.

The maximum recommended Xanax dose is 4 mg daily (in divided doses).

The dose in PD:

The recommended starting Xanax dose for the treatment of PD is 0.5 mg 3 times a day.

The dose could be increased, but never exceed 1 mg per day.

There is no clear information about the duration necessary for the treatment of panic disorder in patients responding to Xanax dose.

The healthcare provider will carefully start lowering the dose when it is time to discontinue the drug, this may often be accompanied by withdrawal symptoms.

To reduce the risk of withdrawal reactions, gradually decrease the Xanax dose when you are going to lower the dose or when you decide to discontinue the drug.

If you develop withdrawal reactions, you should consider pausing the taper or increasing the dose again, and then decrease the dose more slowly.

Xanax dose in geriatric patients:

In geriatrics, the recommended starting Xanax dose is 0.25 mg to be given 2 or 3 times daily.

The dose may be gradually increased when needed.

Geriatric patients are more sensitive to the adverse reactions of benzodiazepines, so the dose can be reduced.

Xanax dose in patients with hepatic impairment:

The recommended starting Xanax dose is 0.25 mg to be given 2 or 3 times daily.

This could be gradually increased if needed and tolerated.

It can also be reduced in case of the occurrence of adverse reactions.

Xanax dose may arise the following side effects:

 

• Fatigue and tiredness.
• Memory impairment.
• Decreased or increased libido.
• Dysarthria (inability to control muscles used in speech leading to difficulty in speaking due to brain damage).
• Increased salivation.
• Weight gain or weight loss.
• Increased or decreased appetite.
• Dry mouth.
• Menstrual disorders.
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Hypotension (decrease in blood pressure).

Withdrawal symptoms caused by discontinuation of Xanax dose:

1. Nervous system disorders:

• Abnormal involuntary movement.
• Muscle cramps.

2. Psychiatric disorders:

• Fatigue and tiredness.
• Amnesia (loss of memory).

 

3. Gastrointestinal disorders:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Decreased salivation.

 

4. Nutrition disorders:

• Weight loss.
• Decreased appetite.

 

5. Dermatological disorders:

 

6. Cardiovascular disorders:

• Tachycardia (too fast heart rate).

 

7. Paradoxical reactions:

• Increased muscle spasticity.
• Sleep disturbances.
• Aggressive behavior.

Drug interactions:

The following drugs have clinically important interactions with Xanax dose:

1. Opioids

Such as morphine, methadone, codeine, tramadol, hydromorphone.

Using Xanax in combination with opioids increases the risk of respiratory depression.

Prevention and management:

Don’t use Xanax with opioids, when necessary monitor patients closely for respiratory depression.

2. Central nervous system (CNS) depressants:

Such as: antihistamines, anticonvulsants, ethanol, and psychotropic medications.

Using benzodiazepines with CNS depressants produces more depression effects on the central nervous system.

Prevention and management:

Limit the duration and dose of Xanax during the treatment with CNS depressants.

3. Ritonavir:

Short-term administration of ritonavir leads to increased alprazolam exposure.

 

Prevention and management:

Reduce Xanax dose when starting ritonavir administration.

No dose adjustment for Xanax is needed in case of long-term treatment (more than 10 to 14 days).

 

4. Digoxin:

Digoxin concentration increases when Xanax is used especially in geriatric patients (65 years and more).

Prevention and management:

Measure serum digoxin concentration before starting treatment with Xanax, reduce digoxin dose if necessary.

What is the difference between abuse, addiction, and misuse?

Abuse: the improper use of the drug for its desirable psychological or physiological effects.

Misuse: the intentional use of the drug for its therapeutic benefits in another way than prescribed by the healthcare provider.

Addiction: behavioral and physiological phenomena that are accompanied by a strong desire to take the drug with great difficulty in controlling the drug use.

Xanax is a drug that is highly abused and addictive.

Abuse and misuse of Xanax usually involve the use of doses greater than the maximum recommended dose.

Here, some adverse reactions that occur when Xanax is abused or misused:

• Abdominal pain.
• Blurred vision.
• Amnesia (lack of memory).
• Ataxia (group of disorders affecting coordination, balance, and speech).

To avoid exposure to severe adverse reactions due to misuse and/or abuse of Xanax, stick to the Xanax dose recommended by your healthcare provider.

 

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