Alprazolam
Pronunciation:al-PRAY-zoh-lam (also pronounced al-PRAZ-oh-lam)
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number:28981-97-7
Formal Names:Alplax, Frontal, Solanax, Tafil, Trankimazin, Xanax, Xanor, Zotran
Type:Depressant (benzodiazepine class).Seepage 21
Federal Schedule Listing:Schedule IV (DEA no. 2882)
USA Availability:Prescription
Pregnancy Category:D
Uses.This calming and sleep-inducing substance is probably the most fre-
quently prescribed drug in the benzodiazepine class. Alprazolam is used
mainly to help persons suffering from panic attacks and other anxiety disor-
ders, but it is not recommended for posttraumatic stress disorder. The com-
pound can dramatically lessen premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and is routinely
given to women of child-bearing age. Improvement of PMS is not invariable,
however, and two careful experiments yielded results showing little benefit.
Theoretical reasons and results from a rat experiment suggest that alprazolam
may help maintain bone mass. That action may be especially important to
athletes and elderly women, who commonly suffer loss of bone mass—an
affliction making breakage easier. The drug has been tested as an asthma
treatment with encouraging results, though reasons for success are unclear.
Some researchers believe the drug has potential in diabetes control. In an
experiment measuring alprazolam’s pain-relieving properties, the drug re-
duced the severity but not the frequency of chronic tension headaches. The
compound has antidepressant and anticonvulsant properties, has been used
to treat ringing in the ears and to alleviate tremors and catatonia, and has
been found useful in easingalcoholwithdrawal symptoms in alcoholics. A
rat study suggests that alprazolam may also have a place in treatingcocaine
addiction. Measurements find the drug worsens snoring but improves quality
of sleep (at least for the snorers).
Drawbacks.Motorists have suffered accidents attributed to drowsiness from
alprazolam. Experiments show that the drug reduces startle response in hu-
mans, which may mean drivers are less alert or respond less vigorously to
situations. Case reports tell of alprazolam (alone and in combination with
other medicine) causing the skin to become extra sensitive to sunlight. The
compound may produce jaundice.