Alprazolam

Alprazolam is a popular prescription benzodiazepine intended for patients suffering from panic attacks and a number of other related conditions. Your health care provider must be aware of any other drugs you are taking at the moment to make sure they do not interact with alprazolam. The following ones need to be reported as they are likely to cause interactions: nicardipine, antihistamines, ergotamine, diltiazem, antidepressants, seizure medications, oral contraceptives, clarithromycin, erythromycin, cyclosporine, sedatives, sertraline, antifungals, sleeping pills, nifedipine, isoniazid, medications for mental illness, propoxyphene, amiodarone, cimetidine, tranquilizers, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. If you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications, as well as supplements or vitamins, your doctor also needs to know about any of them. You are also supposed to talk about any health problems you have or used to have, for example lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease, glaucoma, and depression. Some of these medical problems may require a dose adjustment or special tests to establish the safety of taking alprazolam. Side effects are possible when taking alprazolam and you need to be aware of their possibility. The following mild side effects have been reported by people taking alprazolam – especially at the beginning of the treatment: changes in appetite, changes in sex drive, tiredness, talkativeness, irritability, difficulty urinating, drowsiness, weight changes, light-headedness, and dry mouth. In most cases your symptoms will be mild and will go away on their own, but more serious side effects are also possible, although quite rare. Make sure you call your doctor immediately if you get any of the following serious reactions possible resulting from taking alprazolam improperly: problems with coordination, memory problems, hallucinating, yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe skin rash, seizures, and confusion. It’s very important that you continue taking this medicine in exact accordance with the instructions your doctor provided. You may be started on a lower dose first, and it swill need to be increased every 3-4 days depending on the reaction to this drug. Never share your alprazolam with other people and store it in some dark cool place.