Xanax (alprazolam)

What is Xanax

Xanax (alprazolam) is an antianxiety medication,belonging to a drug class known as benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. It works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA). Xanax is used for the management of anxiety disorder, for short-term relief of anxiety symptoms, and panic disorder.

The chemical name of alprazolam is 8-Chloro-1-methyl-6-phenyl-4H-s-triazolo [4,3-α] [1,4] benzodiazepine.

The structural formula is represented below:

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption
Following oral administration, alprazolam is readily absorbed. Peak concentrations in the plasma occur in 1 to 2 hours following administration. Plasma levels are proportionate to the dose given; over the dose range of 0.5 to 3.0 mg, peak levels of 8.0 to 37 ng/mL were observed. Using a specific assay methodology, the mean plasma elimination half-life of alprazolam has been found to be about 11.2 hours (range: 6.3?26.9 hours) in healthy adults.

What is the usual dosage?

The information below is based on the dosage guidelines your doctor uses. Depending on your condition and medical history, your doctor may prescribe a different regimen. Do not change the dosage or stop taking your medication without your doctor's approval.

Anxiety Disorders and Temporary Symptoms of Anxiety
Adults: The usual starting dose is 0.25-0.5 milligrams (mg), taken three times a day. If necessary, your doctor may increase your dose every 3-4 days, up to a maximum of 4 mg per day taken in divided doses. However, because the risk of dependence may increase with more frequent doses and longer length of treatment, your doctor will frequently assess if you are receiving the lowest possible effective dose of Xanax.

What should I avoid while taking Xanax?

• Do not increase, decrease, or stop taking Xanax without first talking to your doctor.
• You should not drink alcohol while taking Xanax. You should also not drive a car or operate heavy machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
• Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while you are being treated with Xanax.
• Avoid cigarette smoking while taking Xanax, because cigarette smoke significantly decreases the amount of Xanax in your blood.

Anxiety during a steroid cycle

During the intake of some steroids or ancillaries, anxiety or panic attacks may occur.This is especially true if the user is administering stimulants or using steroids such as Trenbolone. The stimulant effect is favorable during intense training sessions to push the athlete to complete fatigue in the gym but later at night when rest is desired this same effect may interrupt sleep or cause excessive anxiety in addition to panic attacks. Common ways to reduce night time anxiety include withholding stimulants 6 or more hours before retiring, avoiding carbohydrates during the last meal of the day, using over the counter sleep aids and using relaxation techniques before bed time. If none of these fully mitigate anxiety then Xanax may be a last resort option.

Xanax maybe habit forming so its use should be administered as infrequently as possible at the lowest effective dose as possible. Using Xanax infrequently will reduce the chances of building a tolerance to the medication and is therefore my recommendation. I find that a single dose of 0.5mg-1mg of Xanax in healthy males about 45-60 minutes before bedtime is ideal. This should provide a solid 6-8 hours of a relaxed state. Most users report waking up in the morning without a drugged feeling and without any anxiety. I find that using Xanax 2-3 nights per week is ideal to avoid addiction and allow for restful sleep. A first time healthy male user may consider .05mg Xanax on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening to make up for any lost rest during the week. Once the steroid cycle is over that has caused the anxiety, discontinue using Xanax to avoid dependence.

References

• https://www.drugs.com/xanax.html
• https://www.pdr.net/drug-summary/Xanax-XR-alprazolam-1874
• https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-9824/xanax-oral/details