Talk to your care team about all the medications, vitamins, and supplements you take. Call emergency services right away if you have slow or shallow breathing, feel dizzy or confused, or have trouble staying awake. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of this drug or any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first. While Xanax can help with short-term relief for anxiety and panic, there are some downsides to be aware of. Understanding the potential risks of dependence and Xanax withdrawal symptoms can help you and your doctor decide if it’s the right option for your treatment.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately. Xanax should be used with caution in elderly or weak patients, and in those with lung disease, alcoholic liver disease, or any disorder that could hinder the elimination of the drug. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Xanax.
Xanax Tablet Colors: White, Peach, Or Blue
So your risk for these side effects is higher than usual if you drink alcohol while taking Xanax. You can also ask your medical professional whether any of these drugs are right for you. Although Xanax and opioids work differently in your body, they can cause similar side effects. If you have symptoms of low blood pressure while taking Xanax, talk with your medical professional. They may suggest that you check your blood pressure periodically with a home monitor.
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- The necessary duration of treatment for PD in patients responding to XANAX is unknown.
- You’ll find stories directly from other people on their mental health journey as well as the latest information on treatments.
- While doctors try to avoid prescribing opioids and Xanax together, sometimes other options are not as effective for treating your condition.
- It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.
- After Xanax became available, a study found that the drug remained effective for treating panic disorder when lowering the dosage.
They’ll monitor your condition closely to help prevent your symptoms from becoming worse. They may recommend certain treatments to help relieve your withdrawal symptoms. Xanax has boxed warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If you have symptoms of an allergic reaction to Xanax, be sure to call your medical professional immediately.
Risk Of Serious Side Effects Or Death If Used With Opioids
Xanax is typically used for short-term treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Your medical professional may recommend combining Xanax with long-term treatment to further manage your anxiety. Medications used for this long-term treatment can include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as sertraline (Zoloft).
Frequently Asked Questions About Alprazolam
They may recommend that you avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this drug affects your body. Below are a few of the more common side effects reported by people taking Xanax in studies. These side effects can vary depending on the condition the drug is being used to treat.
Xanax tablets are immediate release, which means all the medication is released as soon as the tablet dissolves. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Alprazolam and other benzodiazepines act by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter (a chemical that nerve cells use to communicate with each other) that inhibits activity in the brain. It is believed that excessive activity in the brain may cause anxiety or other psychiatric disorders. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.
Xanax For Panic Disorder
Overdoses can occur when taking Xanax alone, but they commonly occur when people combine Xanax with alcohol. Combining Xanax with other medications and illegal substances can also increase the risk of overdose. The risk of withdrawal symptoms when stopping Xanax is increased in people taking the drug in high doses or for a long time. In some cases, Xanax withdrawal symptoms can continue for several months.
What Are The Most Common Side Effects Of Alprazolam?
If you need to take one of these drugs, your doctor will likely have you stop your Xanax treatment with a taper first. When stopping Xanax, you’ll likely do it slowly using a taper schedule. This will help decrease your risk of withdrawal symptoms. Talk with your doctor about what your dosage taper schedule will be. The information that follows describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you.
To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Xanax’s prescribing information. Seizures can occur in more severe cases of withdrawal. Consequently, patients on alprazolam for extended periods of time should slowly taper the medication under a doctor’s supervision rather than abruptly stopping the medication. This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness).
- The sudden cessation of Xanax-therapy is believed to cause withdrawal syndrome.
- Alprazolam is frequently prescribed to manage panic and anxiety disorders.
- Taking Xanax with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well Xanax or the other medicines work.
- For some people taking higher doses of Xanax for a while, Xanax can still be as safe and effective at a lower dosage.
Side Effects Explained
She loves to lift heavy things, eat healthy foods and treats, stock her makeup bag with clean beauty products and use not-so-toxic cleaning supplies. She’s also a big fan of wine, hiking, reality television and crocheting. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, son and dog. “Start low and go slow with increases is a good mantra to follow for anyone,” he says. Since Xanax can interact with a long list of prescription and over-the-counter medications, be sure to disclose to your doctor what medications you are currently taking.
Eating foods with a higher fiber content, drinking plenty of liquids, and getting regular exercise can help relieve constipation. Since Xanax is recommended as a short-term treatment, once you stop taking the drug, your constipation should go away. Some people report an increased sex drive, but others report a decrease. In most cases, these side effects should be temporary.
Other medications may affect the way this medication works. Talk with your care team about all the medications you take. They may suggest changes to your treatment plan to lower the risk of side effects and to make sure your medications work as intended.
Your doctor will prescribe Xanax at the lowest dose and for the shortest amount of time that’s effective for treating your condition. Once you stop taking Xanax, any side effects you may have had from the drug should go away. Combining Xanax with other substances such as opioids and alcohol can increase the risk of sleepiness. Talk with your doctor before taking other prescription or nonprescription drugs with Xanax. And if you drink, ask your doctor if there’s a safe amount of alcohol you can consume while taking this drug. This is a drug the government regulates due to the risk of physical dependence or misuse (taking a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it).
