Alprazolam and other benzodiazepines may also cause the development of physical dependence, tolerance, and benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms during rapid dose reduction or cessation of therapy after long-term treatment. [65] [66] There is a higher chance of withdrawal reactions if the drug is administered in a higher dosage than recommended, or if a person stops taking the medication altogether without slowly allowing the body to adjust to a lower-dosage regimen. [67] [68] The benzodiazepines diazepam and oxazepam have been found to produce fewer withdrawal reactions than alprazolam, temazepam, or lorazepam. Factors that determine the risk of psychological dependence or physical dependence and the severity of the benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms during dose reduction of alprazolam include: dosage used, length of use, frequency of dosing, personality characteristics of the individual, previous use of cross-dependent/cross-tolerant drugs (alcohol or other sedative-hypnotic drugs), current use of cross-dependent/-tolerant drugs, use of other short-acting, high-potency benzodiazepines, [75] [76] and method of discontinuation. [67] Pharmacology [ edit ] Alprazolam binds at the α1β3γ2 GABAA receptor. Alprazolam with red space-filling carbon atoms. γ2 receptor subunit in mint green. The α1' subunit is hidden. [77]

Walker BM, Ettenb a b c Ait-Daoud N, Hamby AS, Sharma S, Blevins D (2018). "A Review of Alprazolam Use, Misuse, and Withdrawal". Journal of Addiction Medicine. 12 (1): 4–10. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000350. PMC 5846112. PMID 28777203. Alprazolam may be used in combination with other medications for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. [8] Contraindications [ edit ]According to prior research, Phenibut is a central depressant and analog of the inhibitory neurotransmitter y-aminobutyric acid, which is a fancy technical term for GABA. Well, the reason I’m writing this right now is there in fact ARE all natural pills and supplements out there that work very closely to Xanax. Do not increase the dosage without asking it the doctor. An increased dose can enhance the effect and cause severe harm to your body. a b Ashton H (August 2002). "The Ashton Manual – Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw". Benzo.org.uk. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008 . Retrieved 31 October 2008.

Taking this drug can also lead to misuse and addiction. Misuse of Xanax increases your risk of overdose and death. Quantification of alprazolam in blood and plasma samples may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis of intoxication in hospitalized patients, or to provide evidence in the case of crimes e.g., impaired driving arrest, or to assist in a thorough forensic investigation, e.g., in a medicolegal death investigation. Blood or plasma alprazolam concentrations are usually in a range of 10–100 μg/L in persons receiving the drug therapeutically, 100–300 μg/L in those arrested for impaired driving, and 300–2,000 μg/L in victims of acute overdosage. Most of the commercial immunoassays used for the benzodiazepine class of drugs cross-react with alprazolam, but confirmation and quantitative determination are usually done by chromatographic techniques. [92] Forms of alprazolam [ edit ] Anecdotally, injection of alprazolam has been reported, causing dangerous damage to blood vessels, closure of blood vessels ( embolization) and decay of muscle tissue ( rhabdomyolysis). [104] Alprazolam is not very soluble in water—when crushed in water it does not fully dissolve (40µg/ml of H 2O at pH 7). [105] There are also reports of alprazolam being snorted. [106] Due to the low weight of a dose, alprazolam, in one case, was distributed on blotter paper in a manner similar to LSD. [107] The poly-drug use of powerful depressant drugs poses the highest level of health concerns due to a significant increase in the likelihood of experiencing an overdose, which may cause fatal respiratory depression. [101] [102]A drug patent is assigned by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and assigns exclusive legal right to the patent holder to protect the proprietary chemical formulation. The patent assigns exclusive legal right to the inventor or patent holder, and may include entities such as the drug brand name, trademark, product dosage form, ingredient formulation, or manufacturing process A patent usually expires 20 years from the date of filing, but can be variable based on many factors, including development of new formulations of the original chemical, and patent infringement litigation. a b Stahl SM (June 2000). Essential psychopharmacology: neuroscientific basis and practical application (2nded.). Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. pp.501–502. ISBN 0-521-64154-3. OCLC 43051626. Tampi RR, Muralee S, Weder ND, Penland H, eds. (2008). Comprehensive Review of Psychiatry. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer/ Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health. p.226. ISBN 978-0-7817-7176-4. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017 . Retrieved 13 March 2016. Klein E (2002). "The role of extended-release benzodiazepines in the treatment of anxiety: a risk-benefit evaluation with a focus on extended-release alprazolam". The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 63 (Suppl 14): 27–33. PMID 12562116. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017 . Retrieved 18 July 2017. The use of Xanax without a prescription can be harmful to a person’s health for many reasons. Some people use the medicine for recreational purposes for its sedating and calming effect. At times, the drug can also be preferable by users for its “high” or euphoric effect.

a b c "Drug Abuse Warning Network, 2006: National Estimates of Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits" (PDF). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2012 . Retrieved 13 February 2012. In Australia, alprazolam was originally a Schedule 4 (Prescription Only) medication; however, as of February 2014, it has become a Schedule 8 medication, subjecting it to more rigorous prescribing requirements. [124] [125] [126]

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you use Xanax during pregnancy, your baby could be born with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, and may need medical treatment for several weeks. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries. Xanax side effects