Alprazolam (Sandoz)™

For more information about CMIs and how to read them, please visit How to read Consumer Medicine Information (CMI).

Anxiety ,Short-term symptomatic treatment of anxiety including treatment of anxious patients with some symptoms of depression. ,Panic disorder ,The treatment of panic disorder with or without some phobic avoidance, and for blocking or attenuation of panic attacks and phobias in patients who have agoraphobia with panic attacks. ,The diagnostic criteria for panic disorder in DSM-III-R are as follows: ,The panic attacks (discrete periods of intense fear or discomfort), at least initially, are unexpected. Later in the course of this disturbance, certain situations (e.g. driving a car or being in a crowded place) may become associated with having a panic attack. These panic attacks are not triggered by situations in which the person is the focus of others' attention (as in social phobia). ,The diagnosis requires four such attacks within a four week period, or one or more attacks followed by at least a month of persistent fear of having another attack. ,The panic attacks must be characterised by at least four of the following symptoms: dyspnoea or smothering sensations; dizziness, unsteady feelings or faintness; palpitations or tachycardia; trembling or shaking; sweating; choking; nausea or abdominal distress; depersonalisation or derealisation; paraesthesiae; flushes (hot flashes) or chills; chest pain or discomfort; fear of dying; fear of going crazy or of doing something uncontrolled. ,Note. Attacks involving four or more symptoms are panic attacks; attacks involving fewer than four are limited symptom attacks. ,At least some of the panic attack symptoms must develop suddenly and increase in intensity within ten minutes of the beginning of the first symptom noticed in the attack. ,The panic attack must not be attributable to some known organic factor, e.g. amphetamine or caffeine, intoxication, hyperthyroidism. ,The efficacy of alprazolam in conditions where the above criteria are not met has not been established. The risk versus benefits of alprazolam use in milder disorders, which do not meet the above criteria, has not been evaluated. Although current evidence supports the long-term clinical effectiveness of alprazolam in panic disorder, the continuing use of alprazolam needs to be weighed against the difficulties that can occur with dependence and discontinuation. ,The results of a long-term study in patients taking alprazolam (ie. beyond three months) suggest that many patients continue to benefit from alprazolam therapy and that alprazolam efficacy is maintained for up to eight months. ,The physician should periodically reassess the usefulness of the drug for each patient. ,A comparative study of alprazolam and placebo in the treatment of panic attacks in patients with panic disorder involved 543 patients over an eight week period. Alprazolam was significantly more effective than placebo in reducing the total number of panic attacks (p < 0.0001); at week 4, 46.8 percent of alprazolam patients had achieved zero total panic attacks when compared to 27.1 percent of placebo patients. ,Panic disorders are often severe, chronic illnesses that cause a high level of work and social disability, increased substance abuse and potentially increased morbidity and mortality. ,Psychological and social factors are important in the pathogenesis of panic attacks, either acting alone or in combination with biological factors. Prolonged pharmacological therapy may be used as an adjunct to psychosocial therapy in the treatment of patients with panic disorders.

Source: ARTG

• Shelf lifetime is 36 Months
• Store below 25 degrees Celsius

Source: ARTG

Non-composite pack

This medicine contains one component only.

Component

• Tablet
• Oral
• Alprazolam Sandoz 1 mg tablet is blue, biconvex, round, scored on one side.

Source: ARTG

These medicines require authorisation for prescription from your doctor. It is Schedule 8: Controlled Drug.?What is the medicines and poisons schedule?

All medicines and poisons in Australia are categorised by how they are made available to the public. Medicines with a low safety risk are usually less tightly controlled than medicines with a higher safety risk. This system is called ‘scheduling’. You can read more about the scheduling of medicines as well as the different scheduling categories on our Scheduling of medicines and poisons information page.

• 10

Source: ARTG

This medicine is not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Talk to your pharmacist about how much it will cost.

Source: PBS

For the active ingredient: Alprazolam

If you are over 65 years of age, there may be specific risks and recommendations for use of this medicine. Please discuss your individual circumstances with your pharmacist, doctor or health professional. For more information read our page on medication safety for older people.

Source: AHT

For the active ingredient: Alprazolam

You should seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist about taking this medicine. They can help you balance the risks and the benefits of this medicine during pregnancy.

Source: AHT

If you experience a side effect from this medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Or report it directly to the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration).

You can report side effects to your doctor, or directly at Report an adverse event or safety problem (Opens in new tab)

Source: ARTG

Healthdirect medicines information is not intended for use in an emergency. If you are suffering an acute illness, overdose, or emergency condition, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

Reasonable care has been taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation. This information is not intended to substitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be exclusively relied on to manage or diagnose a medical condition. Please refer to our terms and conditions (Opens in new tab).