Are you wondering what the right dosage of alprazolam pills is for your anxiety or panic disorder? Xanax is the brand name for the generic drug alprazolam, a typically fast-acting prescription tablet, that comes in dosage forms of 0.25mg to 2mg. Alprazolam is an effective treatment for panic disorder and anxiety symptoms and starts working within an hour of ingestion. It is a prescription medication, hence, to ensure safe usage and effective treatment it’s important to only take alprazolam pills under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
Typical dosages
Doctors usually recommend lower doses of alprazolam pills to give your body the time to adjust to benzodiazepines. Then they’ll adjust it over time monitoring your tolerance, to reach the amount that’s right for you. Most doctors ultimately prescribe the lowest dosage for the desired treatment, to ensure patient safety. You will be prescribed your dosage based on your conditions and the severity of your symptoms rather than your body weight.
Dosage for panic disorder
The typical starting dosage of Xanax for panic disorder is 0.5 mg of alprazolam pills. You need to take it three times per day, whether you take it on an empty stomach or with food is your choice. Your doctor can also recommend lower dosages and increase them depending on your body’s response to the drug.
They know the best fit for you and will adjust your dose with time to make the best out of the treatment. Your doctor is more likely to increase it by no more than 1 mg every 3 to 4 days.
Dosage for generalized anxiety disorder
The starting dosage of alprazolam pills for generalized anxiety disorder is 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg. You can take the pills three times per day, with a glass of water. Doctors can prescribe your lower doses, and increase it slowly depending on your tolerance and response to the drug.
They may adjust your dose every 3 to 4 days until they find the best dosage that fits you without giving any adverse effects. However, the maximum daily dosage of alprazolam is 4 mg, split into three doses.
Children’s dosage
This medication is highly sensitive and is thus not approved to be used for children by the FDA. However, doctors may prescribe Xanax for some off-label usage in certain children after trying other safer options to no avail.
Dosage for Long-term Treatment
Alprazolam pills are not meant for long-term usage. They are rather short-term treatments for every condition, and should not be treated as a cure. Even the lowest dose of the medication should be taken for the shortest time possible.
Even if the medication is effective for long-term usage, it might not be safer for longer than 10 weeks for panic disorder. And for GAD it’s better to use the drug for less than 4 months.
Missed dose
If you end up missing a dosage of alprazolam, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s nearly time for your next dose, just take the next dose as directed and scheduled. You should not take extra doses to make up for the missed dose. But if you keep missing your dose due to your busy schedule, you can utilize a medication reminder, by setting an alarm or using a timer. Try downloading a reminder app on your phone, so that you don’t forget about your doses.
Therefore, while using alprazolam pills it’s crucial to follow the prescribed dosage and not exceed the recommended amount of Xanax, as misuse or overuse can lead to dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. Don’t stop using alprazolam abruptly as it can lead to rebound anxiety, seizures, withdrawal symptoms, and other serious side effects.
