Alprazolam – How to use, indications and side effects

Alprazolam – How to Use, Indications and Side Effects . In addition, Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety  , whether accompanied by depression  or not. Alprazolam can also be used to treat anxiety  associated with alcohol withdrawal or panic attacks. Alprazolam is also indicated in the treatment of agoraphobia (fear of being in open spaces or in a crowd), whose main feature is the unexpected panic attack, a sudden attack of intense apprehension, fear or terror.

Alprazolam indications: Alprazolam is indicated in thetreatment of anxiety states  . Alprazolam should not be given to patients with psychotic symptoms. Anxiety symptoms may variably include: anxiety  , tension, fear, apprehension, non-tranquility, concentration difficulties, irritability, insomnia and/or neurovegetative hyperactivity, resulting in varied somatic manifestations. Alprazolam is also indicated for thetreatment of anxiety  associated with other manifestations, such as alcohol withdrawal.

Alprazolam is also indicated in the treatment of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia . Its main characteristic is an unexpected panic attack, a sudden attack of intense apprehension, fear or terror. Alprazolam works in the brain by reducing the release of substances that cause anxiety  and its effect occurs 1 to 2 hours after taking the pills. So, check out  Alprazolam – How to Use, Indications and Side Effects.

How to Use Alprazolam: An appropriate dose of alprazolam will be established by your doctor based on the severity of your symptoms and your response to treatment. The usual dose (see table) is sufficient for the needs of most patients. If higher doses are required, these should be increased carefully to avoid unpleasant reactions.

Starting dose: 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg given 3 times a day Usual dose limits: 0.5 mg to 4.0 mg daily given in divided doses.

Panic Disorder:  Initial dose for  alprazolam : 0.5 mg to 1.0 mg at bedtime or 0.5 mg given 3 times a day Usual Dose Limits: The dose should be adjusted according to the patient’s response. Dose adjustments should be increased by a maximum of 1.

Anxiety Disorder:  0.5 mg to 1.0 mg before bedtime or 0.5 mg given 3 mg every 3 or 4 days. With alprazolam , additional doses may be added until a dosage of 3 or 4 times daily is reached. times/day. The mean dose in a large multiclinical study was 5.7 ± 2.27 mg, with patients occasionally requiring a maximum of 10 mg daily.

Geriatric Patients: Initial dose for alprazolam : 0.25 mg given 2 or 3 times daily 0.5 mg to 0.75 mg daily given in divided doses; can be gradually increased if necessary and tolerated. Indication: Geriatric patients or in the presence of debilitating conditionsSide Effects of Alprazolam:  The side effects of  Alprazolam are depression, drowsiness, difficulty controlling body movements, memory loss, difficulty speaking, dizziness  or headache. There may be cases of loss of appetite , decreased or increased libido, feeling empty-headed or problems with attention, increased heart rate, liver problems  , diarrhea or constipation.

Note: The drug should be taken with caution by patients with liver  or kidney problems. During treatment one should not drive a car or work with complex machines, as attention and skill may be compromised. Use with other medicines should be evaluated by the doctor to verify that there are no interactions with Alprazolam .