Alprazolam is a short-acting drug in the benzodiazepine class used to treat anxiety disorders and as an adjunctive treatment for depression.
Alprazolam was invented by Pfizer and is marketed under the trade name Xanax. Its patent expired in September 1993.
Side effects
Common side effects of alprazolam can include
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Somnolence (drowsiness)
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Euphoria
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Confusion
Less common side effects can include
Rare side effects can include
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Sleep apnea
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Hypoventilation (Respiratory depression)
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Blurred vision
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Difficulty in depth perception
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Slurred speech or dysarthria
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Changes in personality
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Confusion
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Disorientation
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Amnesia (memory impairment)
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Vivid dreams and/or nightmares
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Jaundice
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Tachycardia
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Bradycardia
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Changes in plasma cortisol and ACTH levels
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Blood dyscrasias
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Decreased salivation
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Increased salivation
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Diarrhea
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Constipation
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Nausea
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Elevated hepatic (liver) enzymes
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Incontinence
Rare paradoxical side effects can include:
Paradoxical side effects are usually a result of too high a dose (sometimes deliberate) and/or combination with alcohol. Adjusting the dosage usually causes them to cease.
Long-term treatment with alprazolam may lead to physical and/or psychological dependence. Users often develop a tolerance to the drug 's sedative effects, though tolerance to its anxiolytic efficacy rarely develops when used at theraputic dosage levels.
There is now a general consensus among many psychiatrists that alprazolam (a so-called 'high-potency' benzodiazepine) poses a particularly high risk for misuse, abuse and dependence. Withdrawal after long-term treatment should be done slowly over a period of weeks (or even months) to avoid serious withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, panic attacks, rebound anxiety, muscle cramps and seizures. Some patients may benefit from a substitution with diazepam or clonazepam as these drugs remain in the bloodstream longer and have a somewhat lower risk of dependency.