Alprazolam: uses and side effects of this anti-anxiety drug

This type of benzodiazepine is widely used against anxiety disorders and other problems.

Probably many of the people reading this article will know or have heard of the drug it refers to. And it is alprazolam, one of its best known trade names being Trankimazinis one of the most common psychotropic drugs in the treatment of anxiety, one of the most common mental problems in the population.

Throughout this article we are going to see, among other aspects, what type of substance it is, its mechanism of action and some of its main uses.

Alprazolam: type of substance and main characteristics

Alprazolam is a medicine with psychoactive properties or psychotropic drug that is classified within the anxiolytics.substances used to treat anxiety and its manifestations. Within the anxiolytics, it is part of the benzodiazepines, being one of the most popular types of psychotropic drugs and consumed by the population (being much safer, effective and with fewer side effects than their predecessors the barbiturates).

In the specific case of alprazolam we are faced with an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine, which means that it needs less time to be taken.This means that it needs less time to start to take effect in the organism compared to a long-acting one, but at the same time its effects are maintained for less time than the latter, and vice versa in the case that we compare it with a short-acting one.

Its duration is approximately 12 to 24 hours. This duration of effect is advantageous, since it generates a lower probability of dependence and addiction to the drug. less likelihood of dependence and addiction to the substance. and fewer doses are needed to cause a prolonged anxiolytic effect, in addition to ensuring that the medication does not take too long to take effect.

Mechanism of action of this benzodiazepine.

As with the other benzodiazepines, the main mechanism of action of alprazolam is based on its interaction with gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABAone of the main inhibitory neurotransmitters of the central nervous system.

Alprazolam acts as an agonist of this neurotransmitter in the GABA A receptors, favoring its action in such a way that it hinders the realization of action potentials by neurons. In other words, they reduce neuronal activation in certain areas of the brain. This action is carried out predominantly on the limbic system (highly activated in anxiety) and the cerebral cortex.

Disorders and problems it is used for

Alprazolam is an effective psychotropic drug that has been found to have multiple indications, especially in the field of anxiety. Some of the best known and most common are the following.

Anxiety disorders

The main indication of alprazolam is its use in anxiety disorders. Among them we frequently find panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) and generalized anxiety disorder.

2. Adaptive disorders

Adaptive disorders, those in which there is some type of symptomatology derived and explainable from the experience of a specific event or psychosocial stress, are also often treated with alprazolam and other benzodiazepines.

3. Depression

Although it is not its priority use, alprazolam has sometimes been used in depressive disorders, especially in those with high anxiety or with mixed anxious-depressive symptomatology. However, this application should be evaluated and applied with great caution in patients with suicidal ideation and suicidal ideation. in patients with suicidal ideations and severe depressionsbecause it can enhance the symptomatology.

4. Social phobia

One of the indications of alprazolam is found in patients suffering from social phobia, helping to reduce the level of anxiety at the prospect of exposure to other people.

5. Chemotherapy

Alprazolam has also been shown to be useful in the treatment of of usefulness in the treatment of the discomfort and anxiety generated by chemotherapy in patients in patients who must undergo it because of some type of tumor.

Alprazolam side effects and risks

The use of alprazolam can be very useful in the treatment of various symptomatology, especially with regard to anxiety. However, it is a psychopharmaceutical that can generate different adverse effects, so its use must always be indicated and supervised by the physician.

Among them, the most common are the presence of drowsiness and sedation, occasionally together with headache and dizziness.. Concentration and attention are impaired. Nausea and vomiting, fatigue, blurred vision, hypotension, urinary incontinence, tremors, or sexual disturbances may also occur. Much less common are adverse reactions such as increased intraocular pressure, confusion, hallucinations, irritability, agitation or aggressiveness.

Another adverse effect to take into account is that the consumption of alprazolam and other benzodiazepines can cause occasional memory problems, both retrograde and anterograde. It can generate difficulties in remembering previous information, or make it difficult to learn new ones.or make it difficult to learn new information. It can also be found that sometimes suicidal ideations can appear. In rare cases, paradoxical reactions also occur, i.e. reactions contrary to those expected after administration of the treatment (restlessness, anxiety, agitation, etc.).

In addition to these symptoms, it should be borne in mind that benzodiazepines are substances with addictive potential, and there is a risk of acquiring dependence on them. In the case of alprazolam this risk exists, although it is lower than that of short-acting benzodiazepines. It is also essential to bear in mind that the consumption of psychotropic drugs should not be stopped abruptlyThere is a possibility of withdrawal syndrome or even rebound anxiety.

Similarly, there is a risk of overdose, which can lead to cardiorespiratory arrest or failure. These overdoses can sometimes be treated with flumazenil.

Contraindications

The use of alprazolam is not recommended for all types of patients; there are circumstances that may make this psychotropic drug contraindicated. One such circumstance is in patients with narrow-angle glaucomaOne of them is in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma, as well as in those who suffer from respiratory tract alterations or respiratory insufficiency, as it may be dangerous for them. It is also contraindicated in myasthenia.

Likewise, it should not be consumed during pregnancy and lactation. Likewise neither those patients with renal or hepatic insufficiency should consume this medicine, or the doses should be very low, or the doses should be very high.The doses should be carefully adjusted taking into account such insufficiency.

Bibliographic references:

• Gómez, M. (2012). Psychobiology. Manual CEDE de Preparación PIR.12. CEDE: Madrid.
• Salazar, M.; Peralta, C.; Pastor, J. (2011). Manual de Psicofarmacología. Madrid, Editorial Médica Panamericana.
• Stevens, J.C. & Pollack, M.H. (2005). Benzodiazepines in clinical practice: consideration of their long-term use and alternative agents. J Clin Psychiatry; 66 (Suppl 2):21-7.