II. Indications
III. Pharmacokinetics
- Half Life: 12-15 hours
IV. Dosing: Alprazolam Immediate Release
- Start: 0.25 to 0.5 mg orally 2 to 3 times daily
- Reduced Dose: 0.25 mg twice daily (elderly, severe liver disease)
- May titrate as needed every 3 to 4 days
- Maximum Daily Dose
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: maximum 4 mg/day in divided doses
- Panic Disorder: maximum 10 mg/day in divided doses
- Stopping
- Taper dose by 0.5 mg every 3 days
V. Dosing: Alprazolam Extended Release (XR)
- Start: 0.5 mg to 1 mg orally once daily
- Typical: 3 to 6 mg orally once daily
- Maximum: 10 mg/day
VI. Dosing: Equivalent Dosing (for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal)
- Valium = Dose x10
- Phenobarbital = Dose x30
VII. Precautions
- Very difficult to wean due to addictive potential
- Avoid if Chemical Dependency history
VIII. Safety
- Pregnancy Category D
- Avoid in Lactation
- Schedule IV Controlled Substance
- No significant active metabolites
IX. Drug Interactions
X. Resources
XI. References
- (2019) Med Lett Drugs Ther 61(1578): 121-6
- (2020) Presc Lett, Resource #361206, Appropriate Use of Benzodiazepines
- Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster Miami, p. 55
- Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia
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Related Studies
| alprazolam (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing) | ||
| ALPRAZOLAM 0.25 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.02 each |
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| xanax (on 11/23/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing) | ||
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