Alprazolam is a generic medication better known as Xanax. This drug is super potent in the treatment of panic and generalized anxiety disorder. Below, you’ll find the thing about Alprazolam cleared out.
| Meds Name | Doses | Per Pill | Go To Pharmacy |
| Generic Alprazolam | 1 mg | $2.46 | Visit Pharmacy |
Alprazolam (Xanax) – Generic Drug for Anxiety Treatment
The therapy of anxiety and panic disorder may be a costly thing, especially if you use brand medications. Along with other barriers, not everyone can afford such treatment, so it’s no surprise that only 36.9% of people with anxiety get the proper care. One of the ways to improve the statistic is to offer more affordable treatment for this medical condition. A great alternative to the brand medication is its generic counterpart. Alprazolam is a generic Xanax, which is a highly efficacious and safe treatment for anxiety and panic.
Alprazolam is approved by the FDA and has been used in the US since the early 1980s. This medication is on the list of controlled substances like other benzodiazepines. You can buy Alprazolam only if you have a valid prescription for the drug.
How Is Alprazolam Different from Xanax?
When facing the choice between Alprazolam and Xanax, many people would choose the latter. Why? They think that the higher price for the drug works as a sign of better quality. But, in fact, things are different. Both brand and generic medications are similar in their efficacy and safety. When digging deeper, you’ll see that the active substance in Alprazolam and Xanax is alprazolam. This means that the effects produced by the medications are identical. What’s more, containing the same dosages of the active ingredient, the brand and the generic share the rate of effectiveness and safety.
The difference in the price point for the two medicines is easy to explain. The manufacture of the brand medication requires going through all the stages of the process, starting with the formula development and clinical studies, ending with licensing, branding, and product advertising. All these expenses are included in the price of the brand drug. In the production of the generic medication, all the preparatory stages are missing. The company just uses a ready-made formula to manufacture the medication. This scenario requires minimum investments, which is reflected in the cost of Alprazolam.
Alprazolam Dosages. What Is the Right Dose for You?
Alprazolam is produced in the tablet form of pills. They contain 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg of the active substance. For anxiety disorders, the typical starting daily dose of the drug is 0.75 mg or 1.5 mg, divided into three intakes. Every three to four days, your dose can be increased to achieve a better therapeutic effect. The maximum you can take daily is 4 mg Alprazolam, divided into several intakes.
People dealing with panic disorder require a different dosing schedule. While the initial dose of the drug is similar to that in anxiety treatment, visible improvements in the patient’s condition are typically observed with dosages exceeding 4 mg per day. Some patients may need up to 10 mg Alprazolam daily to keep their disorder under control.
Whatever your reason to take Alprazolam, consult a medical specialist about the most appropriate dose. Your healthcare provider will evaluate your medical condition to give personalized recommendations about the dosing regimen. Never exceed the prescribed dosage to avoid an overdose.
What If You Overdose?
Studies say that Alprazolam is more toxic than other benzodiazepines. People who overdose on Alprazolam require more medical attention than those overdosing on other drugs from the family of benzos. With this in mind, you should closely follow your doctor’s advice for dosing.
If you overdose on Alprazolam, you are likely to experience:
- drowsiness;
- coordination troubles;
- confusion;
- low blood pressure;
- shallow breathing;
- diminished reflexes.
Depending on the overdose you take and other circumstances (like concomitant alcohol or opioids use), your symptoms may be severer. Alprazolam overdose may lead to excessive sedation and coma. Lethal outcomes of Alprazolam overdose have also been reported.
Call an emergency if you accidentally overdose on Alprazolam. General supportive measures can help your body cope with intoxication.
Reasons to Avoid Taking Alprazolam
Along with the positive changes in your mental health condition, Alprazolam may cause some unwanted reactions. Certain medical conditions may increase your risks for severe side effects. You are not recommended to take this medication if you:
- have an allergy to any of its components;
- take ketoconazole, itraconazole, or other potent CYP3A inhibitors;
- use opioid analgesics;
- have a history of substance abuse;
- are pregnant or lactating;
- suffer from severe depression or mania;
- severe liver or kidney disease.
Summing up
If you are looking for quality, effective, and affordable treatment for panic or anxiety, Alprazolam is a great option. You should just follow your doctor’s advice about the dosage to get minimum to no unwanted effects from the therapy.