ALPRAZOLAM

(al PRAY zoe lam) Brand: Niravam, Xanax, Xanax XR

What is the most significant information I must know about alprazolam?

• Do not use alprazolam if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn child.

• Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to alprazolam or to another benzodiazepines, such as chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), or oxazepam (Serax).

• Till you take alprazolam, speak your doctor if you have asthma or another breathing problems, glaucoma, kidney or liver malady, a history of alcoholism, or a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or addiction to drugs or alcohol.

• Do not drink alcohol while taking alprazolam. This medicine can magnify the effects of alcohol.

• Alprazolam may be habit-forming and should be used only by the face for whom it was prescribed. Hold the medicine in a secure seat where others can't get to it.

What is alprazolam?

• Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peen). Alprazolam affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and reason anxiety.

• Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression.

• Alprazolam may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking alprazolam?

• It is dangerous to try and purchase alprazolam on the Internet or from vendors external of the United States. Medications distributed from Internet sales may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy. Samples of alprazolam purchased on the Internet have been found to contain haloperidol (Haldol), a potent antipsychotic drug with dangerous side effects. For more information, contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or visit www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide.

• You must not take alprazolam if you have:

· narrow-angle glaucoma;

· if you are also taking itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral); or

· if you are allergic to alprazolam or to another benzodiazepines, such as chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), or oxazepam (Serax).

• To create certain alprazolam is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have any of these conditions:

· asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary mess (COPD), or another breathing problems;

· glaucoma;

· kidney or liver malady (especially alcoholic liver disease);

· a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior; or

· a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

• Alprazolam may be habit forming and must be used only by the face for whom it was predesigned. Never share alprazolam with other face, especially somebody with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Hold the medicine in a seat where others can't get to it.

• FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use alprazolam if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn child. Alprazolam may also reason addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother takes the medicine during pregnancy. Use effective birth control, and speak your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

• Alprazolam can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using alprazolam.

• The sedative effects of alprazolam may recent longer in older adults. Accidental falls are general in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while you are taking alprazolam.

• Do not give this medicine to anyone under 18 years old.

How must I take alprazolam?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results.

• Do not crush, chew, or interrupt an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill intact. It is specially made to release medication slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would reason too many of the drug to be released at one time.

• Measure the liquid form of alprazolam with a particular dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• Do not swallow the orally disintegrating tablets intact. Let it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing.

• Contact your doctor if this medication seems to stop working as well in treating your panic or anxiety symptoms.

• You may have seizures or withdrawal symptoms when you stop using alprazolam. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using alprazolam.

• Hold track of the amount of medication used from every new bottle. Alprazolam is a drug of abuse and you must be aware if anyone is using your medication improperly or without a prescription.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of alprazolam can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, loss of balance or coordination, feeling light-headed, and fainting.

What must I avoid while taking alprazolam?

• Do not drink alcohol while taking alprazolam. This medicine can magnify the effects of alcohol.

• Alprazolam may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with alprazolam and lead to unwanted side effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit commodity with your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of alprazolam?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger;

· confusion, hyperactivity, agitation, hostility, hallucinations;

· feeling like you might pass out;

· urinating smaller than normal or not at all;

· chest pain, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

· uncontrolled muscle movements, tremor, seizure (convulsions); or

· jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· drowsiness, dizziness, feeling weary or irritable;

· blurred vision, headache, memory problems, trouble concentrating;

· sleep problems (insomnia);

· swelling in your hands or feet;

· muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination, slurred speech;

· upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea;

· heighten sweating, dry mouth, stuffy nose; or

· appetite or weight changes, loss of interest in sex.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect alprazolam?

• Till using alprazolam, speak your doctor if you regularly use another medicines that create you sleepy (such as cool or allergy medication, another sedatives, narcotic pain medication, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medication for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by alprazolam.

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· birth control pills;

· cimetidine (Tagamet);

· cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);

· dexamethasone (Cortastat, Dexasone, Solurex, DexPak);

· ergotamine (Cafergot, Ergomar, Migergot);

· imatinib (Gleevec);

· isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);

· St. John's wort;

· an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate), rifapentine (Priftin), or telithromycin (Ketek);

· antifungal medicine such as miconazole (Oravig) or voriconazole (Vfend);

· an antidepressant such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), or nefazodone;

· a barbiturate such as butabarbital (Butisol), secobarbital (Seconal), pentobarbital (Nembutal), or phenobarbital (Solfoton);

· heart or blood pressure medicine such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), or quinidine (Quin-G);

· HIV/AIDS medication such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva, Atripla), etravirine (Intelence), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), saquinavir (Invirase), or ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra); or

· seizure medicine such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenytoin (Dilantin), or primidone (Mysoline).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with alprazolam. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about alprazolam.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.