Focus on Pharma:Xanax Very Commonly Prescribed

Xanax was reportedly found in the newly-departed vocalist Whitney Houston's possession.Alprazolam,the generic name for Pfizer's Xanax,has become one of the top ten most-prescribed psychiatric medications.
Although the regular form of Xanax is now off-patent and inexpensive as a generic prescription,Pfizer still has a patent for Xanax XR,the extended release form,which is less addictive.Xanax XR is four to five times more expensive than the regular form.Carefully managed,treatment with Xanax is widely successful and only 1% of patients abuse the drug.
Xanax is a fast-acting pill that takes effect within an hour or two.It is indicated for Panic disorder and Generalized anxiety disorder,or GAD,as well as Social anxiety disorder,and is also prescribed to relieve nausea during chemotherapy.It is related to Valium and is an anxiolytic of the benzodiazepine class of psychotropic drugs.
As well as calming anxiety,Xanax also has sedative properties.It is the latter effect that makes it so dangerous in combination with alcohol,in itself a sedative.Together,the two substances can easily interfere with the breathing mechanism,resulting in death.
According to Pfizer,Xanax causes a central nervous system depressant activity varying from mild impairment all the way to hypnosis.Alcohol should generally not be used during treatment.
Xanax has been clinically shown to be effective for up to four weeks.After taking the drug for a few weeks,the body develops tolerance for its sedative effect.It is there that the relatively small number of patients with addictive tendencies may get into trouble with it as they need to take more and more pills to get that effect.
Withdrawal symptoms may occur if treatment with Xanax is halted abruptly.
Pfizer(PFE)