Xanax: one of the most prescribed drugs

[Madre]

Xanax: one of the most prescribed drugs​

Xanax, also known as alprazolam, is a prescription medication commonly used to manage anxiety disorders and panic attacks. It's also often abused due to its calming effects. In 2020, it was the 37th most-commonly-prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 16 million prescriptions. However, alprazolam remains a somewhat controversial drug that is currently under scrutiny for its potential to become addictive. Despite the concerns, xanax remains a popular drug whose success rate is a testament to its pharmacology. In this article, we explore the pharmacology behind the famed xanax and its impact on the body and mind.

Mechanism of action​

Xanax belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. Like other benzodiazepines, it works primarily by altering the production of neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that carry messages between neurons, helping to control critical brain functions such as mood, anxiety, and stress.
The drug stimulates the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which calms down the brain activity responsible for anxiety and promotes relaxation. Xanax binds to the benzodiazepine receptors in the brain, which increases the chance that GABA will bind to the same receptor. When GABA is present in the central nervous system, it reduces the activity of cells responsible for anxiety and other stress-related feelings in humans.
By enhancing GABA activity in the central nervous system, alprazolam ensures that the nerve activity in those areas slows down, resulting in a calming effect that is observable both physically and emotionally within 30 minutes to an hour of ingestion.

Uses of alprazolam​

Xanax is primarily used to manage symptoms of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder. It can also be prescribed to manage symptoms of anxiety that are related to other conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and depression. Xanax is typically prescribed in low doses and for a short period of time, as prolonged use can lead to dependence and other complications.

Short-term effect of xanax​

Like other benzodiazepines, xanax induces a range of effects that are observable within a short period. The effects typically start within minutes to an hour of taking the drug and last for several hours. These are physical effects of the drug:
Sedation: xanax depresses activity in the central nervous system and causes drowsiness and blurred vision.
Muscle relaxation: the drug reduces muscle stiffness and tension, resulting in a feeling of relaxation throughout the body.
Impaired coordination: xanax sometimes results in slurred speech or difficulty walking and may impair cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and concentration.
On the psychological side, the drug is highly effective in calming anxiety and tension. Other common psychological effects include:
Anxiety relief: one of the reasons people take xanax is to manage their anxiety, and it is an excellent anxiolytic drug.
Euphoria: some users report feelings of extreme elation and happiness after taking the drug.
Impaired Memory: xanax hinders short-term memory formation and might lead to forgetfulness or difficulty remembering things that have happened. (blackout)

Long-term effects of xanax​

Long-term use of xanax comes with several potential implications, particularly they relate to the user's physical and mental health. There are some physical problems alprazolam can increase:
Respiratory depression: in large doses, xanax depresses the respiratory system and can lead to respiratory arrest and suffocation if taken in excess.
_Withdrawal: users may get overly dependent on the drug, experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as panic attacks when they stop taking it. _
Tolerance: over time, the body may build a tolerance to xanax, meaning the drug has less of an effect, requiring higher doses for the effects to last.
Regular use of xanax, particularly when consumed in high doses, can cause mental impairment and disrupt cognitive function in the long run. Extended use may lead to addiction and withdrawal symptoms that are even more severe.

Xanax interactions​

Xanax interacts with other drugs and substances in the body, leading to unexpected side effects. Some substances with which alprazolam interacts negatively include:
Alcohol: consuming alcohol with xanax can result in increased sedation and drowsiness. This combination can be lethal, leading to complications such as respiratory depression.
Other central nervous system depressants: such as barbiturates, opioids, and hypnotics, can potently interact negatively with xanax, leading to severe respiratory suppression and possible overdose.
Opioids: combining alprazolam with opioids can produce dangerous levels of respiratory depression, leading to coma or death.

Abuse & addiction​

Xanax is frequently abused due to its calming and sedative effects. The recommended alprazolam dosages depend on an individual's age, weight, and health status, amongst other variables. Some people may take larger doses than prescribed, or take it more frequently than recommended, in order to achieve a stronger high. This can lead to addiction and other complications.
Though xanax is legal with a prescription, the black market is aflame with counterfeit pills that often contain unsafe and life-threatening ingredients. It's also important to avoid drinking alcohol or taking other drugs while using alprazolam, as this can increase the risk of adverse effects and overdose.

Conclusion​

Xanax is a potent drug that remains a favorite among doctors and patients worldwide due to its effectiveness. However, it’s easy to become overly dependent on this drug, and ongoing misuse and abuse may result in severe side effects such as addiction, muscle weakness, and even death. Responsible usage of the drug, standardized dosages, proper use of prescriptions, and avoiding interactions with other drugs and substances is currently the best way to avoid such adverse outcomes.
The use of alprazolam, even if prescribed by a doctor, has serious risks of getting a terrible withdrawal syndrome. Positive effect of the drug don’t worth its potential risk.

 

[Gordon Ramsay]

Xanax can be a useful drug to many but also frightening to see it's effect when being used in the wrong hands

 

[cubesquare]

I keep a stock of benzodiazepam's at all times.
I have Diazepam and Alprazolam and they are here ONLY as trip killers.
I know people who have been hooked on Xanax and seen firsthand how dangerous quitting that addiction can be, so they are treated with massive respect here.

But they do serve a superb functional purpose.

Have someone who had too many shrooms or is super freaked out on LSD? 0.25mg alprazolam and 20 minutes later they aren't a danger to themselves any more.

I prefer the alps because their duration is only 6 hours so no slow down the following day like you get with diazepam which can take as long as 24 hours to clear your system

 

[Gordon Ramsay]

Interesting approach and I think so too, that if not handled correctly those substances can do much harm to ones being.

I am not consuming benzos or psychadelics so it is lukily not required for me to have those on hand for this purpose.
I always thought that Nalaxone is used for cases like this but I would figure that an OD from psychadelics has other risks than the ones Nalaxone can tackle, correct?

 

[cubesquare]

Psychedelics don't often carry physical danger, mostly just anxiety/thought loops/bad trips that create panic, fear and unhappiness that can lead to self harm or accidental harm.
Benzo's directly counter most psychedelic action and remove anxiety so the bad trip elements go away.

Nalaxone is to treat opioid overdoses, not the same at all. It doesn't work to reduce anxiety or to stop the receptors used by most psych's. It is targeted very directly at opioid receptors and breathing functions.

 

[Gordon Ramsay]

I understand it better now Thank you a lot for your explenation!

 

[SoldadoDeDrogas]

Like they say, noone has ever died from too much weed - the same is true for psilocybin lsd and others. It is the mental state of the user that becomes dangerous - so the idea then becomes trying to calm them down.
I can't speak on the toxicity of "research chemicals" but I'm sure it wouldn't be good to ingest 10g of say... 2C-B.

Nalaxone aka Narcan or I think Nyxoid in EU essentially binds to the opiate receptors indefinitely for a period of time thus blocking any opiate use or neutralizing any existing usage by pulling off whatever drug is occupying the receptor. Basically, they cancel each other out. In my experience if you had ingested naloxone prior to trying to use an opiate/opioid to get high, for a period of time the drugs will essentially just pass through you because they can't out wrestle the naloxone for control of those receptors. Though the drug may be in your blood, Naloxone has a tighter grip. However, if naloxone is used to treat an overdose of opiates, because they cancel each other out, the user brought back to consciousness from overdose can then use opiates again and possibly overdose. Now the user who has overdosed on opiates and is brought back by naloxone - depending on how much naloxone is used, will start to go through withdrawals (if they are a habitual/daily user) because naloxone, though having a tighter grip on the receptor, provides no euphoria or sedation, its like a blank munition - it goes bang! but there is no impact.

I don't know the EXACT science, for example, say the user who overdosed, is then brought back with naloxone, the size of the dose of naloxone is how much it will counteract the opiate used to induce unconsciousness.
From counteracting the depressed breathing and unconscious to eventually removing enough opiates to precipitate withdrawals. I don't know if enough naloxone can then be used to block any forthcoming opiate use by occupying EVERY receptor. In theory, I believe that's how it WOULD work. They have Vivitrol which are injections (and pills) of time released naloxone, active for 30 days, which is used to mitigate opiate AND alcohol use aswell. I remember learning alcohol can bind to EVERY receptor, so that would make sense. Sorry I digress.

Anyway, I find diazepam/alprazolam and other benzos very useful in countering the negative effects of stimulants (coke, meth, etc.) it helps with psychosis/hallucinations but won't stop it. Opiates help in a similar fashion to calm, but don't stop psychotic behavior. Certain pharms like quetiapine, olanzipine do the best to help with this. Benzos are also very helpful to users going through opiate withdrawals.

Benzos and alcohol is probably one the most dangerous yet subtle chemical interactions I can think of. Does anybody know of a substance that will counteract the benzos receptors in this case? In the same way as naloxone would work for countering an opiate?