What is xanax? Types of Xanax
Xanax treats anxiety and panic disorders. The generic name of xanax is alprazolam. Xanax is present in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. These were developed initially as replacements for barbiturates. Xanax affects the brain and the central nervous system. Gaba or gamma-aminobutyric acid is a natural chemical of the body. Xanax enhances the effects of GABA. Xanax is also known by specific other names like
- Handlebars
- Bars
- Blue footballs
- Benzos
- French fries
- Ladders
- Sticks
What are the uses of xanax?
As given before, you use xanax for the treatment of anxiety caused by depression and anxiety disorders, and panic disorders. The panic disorder may be with or without agoraphobia. Again the panic disorder may include
- palpitations,
- trembling,
- getting sensations of shortness of breath,
- chest pain,
- feeling dizzy,
- a feeling of depersonalization or detachment from self
- fear of losing control
- fear of death etc.
We can say that a person is suffering from Anxiety disorder if he has the following symptoms
- Motor tension (trembling twitching or feeling shaky)
- Autonomic hyperactivity
- Sweating
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Nausea or diarrhea
- Frequent urination
- Trouble in swallowing
- Difficulty in concentrating due to anxiety.
What are the daily doses of xanax?
Xanax is an oral medicine. The dosage depends upon the medical condition and age of the patient. The dosage also depends on the response of the patient to the treatment. We increase the dosage gradually until it starts to have a proper effect. The patient may have withdrawal symptoms like, for example, seizures if he suddenly stops the medicine. Due to this reason, the doctor may reduce the dosage very slowly. Abruptly stopping the drug may create specific problems. These are symptoms of withdrawal, and they include
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Blurred vision
- Muscle cramps
- Numbness or tingling in the fingers
- Sweating
- Depression
- Tremors
- Seizures
Xanax stays in the system for 12 to 15 hours. But it starts to have its effects within one or two hours.
The doses of xanax are available in milligrams as follows
Xanax 2 mg is multi-scored. Therefore it can easily be divided into two parts of 1 mg or four parts of 0.5 mg.
Xanax affects more significantly as the dose increases. Therefore the lowest possible doses are prescribed for new users. You store Xanax at a controlled room temperature of 20 degrees to 25-degree centigrade.
Are there any side effects of xanax?
If used by pregnant women, xanax may cause congenital disabilities and very grave withdrawal symptoms in newborn babies. Therefore xanax is not generally prescribed for pregnant women. Breastfeeding while taking this drug is not recommended. There may be undesirable side effects if we continue breastfeeding.
Taking xanax may become a habit. It can cause addiction, overdose, or even death. Therefore the dosage should be monitored very carefully. Another critical point here is that the patient should not take alcohol along with the medicine. That is, xanax can increase the effects of alcohol.
Opioid medications like hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone do not work along with xanax. It may lead to excessive fatigue, slow breathing, and even coma or death.
If you have seizures, kidney or liver disease, asthma, open-angle glaucoma, depression, drug or alcohol addiction, then this should be reported to the doctor beforehand. The doctor will decide on continuation or otherwise of the xanax medication. Other side effects include
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Changes in sex drive
The doctor immediately needs to be informed in case of any such side effects.
Some other serious side effects include
- Mood changes
- Slurred speech or difficulty in talking
- Loss of coordination
- Trouble in walking
- Memory problems
- Yellowing eyes or skin
- Seizures
Allergic reactions to the drug include
- Rashes, itching, or swelling, especially in the face, tongue, or throat
- Severe dizziness
- Trouble in breathing
Older people are more sensitive to the side effects of this drug. They may experience loss of coordination and drowsiness. Due to these, they may be at risk of falling. Therefore you should take care of them.
The following symptoms show that a person has xanax use disorder
- Taking xanax in more significant amounts than prescribed.
- Spending a lot of time in getting, using, or recovering from xanax pills
- Always wanting to have xanax.
- Problems in fulfilling personal responsibilities in school, work, office, etc
- Continued use of medicine despite the knowledge that it is causing trouble
- Adverse effects of the drug on personal relationships or other social problems.
- Stopping or decreasing important work due to xanax use.
- You are using xanax in dangerous situations.
Xanax abuse can occur in several ways. These include
- Taking more than a few pills at a time
- Taking xanax injections
- Snorting xanax
- Taking xanax via blotter paper
- Taking xanax along with other drugs
Alprazolam (generic name of xanax) is one of the most prescribed and misused medicines. Xanax is a benzodiazepine, and benzodiazepines cause 35% of the visits to hospital emergencies. Xanax or alprazolam is one of the most misused benzodiazepines. Clonazepam, lorazepam, and diazepam follow xanax.
Are there any precautions before taking What is xanax?
Before taking xanax, you should ensure that it is safe for you. Therefore the doctor should be informed if you suffer from
- Seizures
- Kidney or liver disease
- Asthma or other breathing problems
- A history of depression and suicidal thoughts
- Drug or alcohol addiction
- If you are using narcotic medication
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