Alprazolam: Indications

The main medical uses for alprazolam include:

• Alprazolam is FDA-approved for the short term treatment (up to 8 weeks) of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia. Alprazolam is very effective in preventing moderate to severe anxiety, essential tremor, panic attacks and other types of convulsive behaviors. Physicians who elect to prescribe alprazolam for longer than 8 weeks should be aware that continued efficacy has not been systematically demonstrated beyond 8 weeks use as tolerance to alprazolam’s effects may occur after 8 weeks and necessitate discontinuation or physician-directed dose escalation.[10] However, long-term maintenance therapy on alprazolam is not unheard-of in the medical community, and, if a genuine therapeutic need exists, benefits must be weighed against risks.
• Alprazolam is recommended for the short-term treatment (2-4 weeks) of severe acute anxiety. Alprazolam should only very rarely be used for longer periods of time — the body becomes rapidly tolerant to the drug’s effects, which may translate to decreased efficacy.[11][12] Decreased efficacy can lead to dose escalation, and the use of high doses puts the patient at higher risk for withdrawal if the drug is discontinued suddenly.
• However, in 1992 Romach and colleagues reported that dose escalation was not a characteristic of long-term alprazolam users, and the majority of patients indicated that alprazolam continued to be effective.[13] A 2003 study did not support the hypothesis that long-term use of benzodiazepines frequently results in notable dose escalation.[14]In a 1-year follow-up study of patients with panic disorder continuing treatment with clonazepam, 90% maintained a positive response without developing significant tolerance. In a 2.5-year follow-up study of alprazolam therapy, little evidence of tolerance emerged

Related posts

• Alprazolam: Physical dependence and withdrawal (0)
• Alprazolam: History (0)
• Alprazolam (0)
• Substance Abuse and Panic Disorder (0)
• Panic Disorder: Occurrence (0)

Comments

• Recent Posts

  • Anxiety and Anxiety Attacks
  • Have You Discovered The Cause Of Your Anxiety
  • Finding The Effective Treatment For Your Anxiety Disorder
  • When Anxiety Medications Fail
  • ANXIETY: Counseling and Treatment-From Huntley, Cary and Rolling Meadows

• Categories

  • Articles
  • Books
  • Constructs
  • Medication
  • Mental Disorders
  • Psychotherapies
  • Psychotherapists
  • Substance related disorders
  • Uncategorized

• Psychotherapy In News

  • Vets Get Ecstasy to Treat Post-Traumatic Stress September 2, 2010
    Two psychiatric experts think the way to treat troops returning home with PTSD: Have them undergo intensive psychotherapy while they're rolling on ecstasy.
  • SJC backs doctor on patient confidentiality September 3, 2010
    Investigations of potential physician misconduct do not trump the law protecting confidentiality between psychotherapists and patients, the state's highest court ruled yesterday, siding with a doctor who defied a subpoena for patient treatment records despite concerns he might be overprescribing pain medication. Physician - Physicianâpatient privilege - Health - Psychotherapy - Medicine
  • Research and Markets: Emotion-Focused Cognitive Therapy - A New Focus in Psychotherapy August 31, 2010
    DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c76e1e/emotionfocused_co) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new book "Emotion-Focused Cognitive Therapy" to their offering. Emotion Focused Cognitive Therapy argues that it is time for a new focus in psychotherapy based on emotion, and presents an innovative ...
  • Weird but true September 3, 2010
    A guy in Oregon dialed 911 for room service. Mark Eskelsen called cops from his home hot tub to say he needed a towel, hot chocolate with marshmallows -- and a hug. He's looking at a stretch in jail, where perhaps he can now get his hug from fellow...
  • Does Hypnosis Really Work? September 3, 2010
    It depends on you

• 
  

• Tag Cloud

  psychoanalysis anxiety clinical depression anxiety disorders sigmund freud anxiety disorder generalized anxiety disorder social phobia depression major depressive disorder karen horney panic disorder adhd alprazolam bipolar disorder depressed mood panic attacks social anxiety disorder neurosis bipolar major depression attention deficit hyperactivity freud alcoholism depressive episodes major depressive episode mood disorder attention deficit hyperactivity disorder obsessive compulsive disorder antidepressants

• Psychotherapy Links

  • CIGNA.com Services - Provider Delegation
  • The Mind Body Awareness Project
  • Narativ.cz
  • Positive Psychology: A More Direct Route to Happiness? - Psychiatric Times
  • LES FONDEMENTS
  • Jeffrie G. Murphy: Main
    Before Forgiveness
  • Before forgiving: cautionary views ... - Google Books
  • Carl Rogers : On Becoming a Person
    These passages are from "On Becoming a Person", a collection of essays by Carl Rogers published in 1961.
  • Private Practice Network
  • Review: mindfulness-based therapies effective for anxiety and depression -- -- Evidence-Based Mental Health