Citalopram, trade name Celexa, and Cipramil are antidepressant drugs of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It has U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to treat major depression, and is prescribed off-label for a number of anxiety conditions.
Alprazolam, trade name Xanax, is a potent short-acting drug of the benzodiazepine class. It is primarily used to treat moderate to severe anxiety disorders e.g., social anxiety disorder and panic attacks, and is used as an adjunctive treatment for anxiety associated with moderate depression. It is available in an instant-release and an extended-release form, Xanax XR, preparation, both of which are available under several generic names. Alprazolam possesses anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, and amnestic properties.
Alprazolam has a fast onset of symptom relief within the first week. Recreational use and addiction has led to Alprazolam becoming the most misused benzodiazepine in the United States. However, the majority of prescribed users do not develop a substance abuse disorder. Tolerance to the therapeutic effects of alprazolam is controversial with one view being that alprazolam is ineffective with long-term use and the other view being that tolerance to the therapeutic effects does not occur. A physical dependence commonly occurs as a result of alprazolam treatment, typically associated with a withdrawal and rebound symptoms making it necessary for a gradual reduction in dosage to minimize withdrawal effects when discontinuing completely. Withdrawal symptoms similar in character to those noted with sedative-hypnotics such as alcohol have occurred following discontinuance of benzodiazepines, including alprazolam. The symptoms can range from mild dysphoria and insomnia to a major syndrome that may include anxiety, abdominal pain, muscle cramps, vomiting, depression, sweating, and tremors and in rare cases seizures, suicidal ideas or suicide itself.
Both of these drugs can be used together as work to combat similar issues, many doctors prescribe both these drugs together, to complement each other.
Alprazolam, trade name Xanax, is a potent short-acting drug of the benzodiazepine class. It is primarily used to treat moderate to severe anxiety disorders e.g., social anxiety disorder and panic attacks, and is used as an adjunctive treatment for anxiety associated with moderate depression. It is available in an instant-release and an extended-release form, Xanax XR, preparation, both of which are available under several generic names. Alprazolam possesses anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, and amnestic properties.
Alprazolam has a fast onset of symptom relief within the first week. Recreational use and addiction has led to Alprazolam becoming the most misused benzodiazepine in the United States. However, the majority of prescribed users do not develop a substance abuse disorder. Tolerance to the therapeutic effects of alprazolam is controversial with one view being that alprazolam is ineffective with long-term use and the other view being that tolerance to the therapeutic effects does not occur. A physical dependence commonly occurs as a result of alprazolam treatment, typically associated with a withdrawal and rebound symptoms making it necessary for a gradual reduction in dosage to minimize withdrawal effects when discontinuing completely. Withdrawal symptoms similar in character to those noted with sedative-hypnotics such as alcohol have occurred following discontinuance of benzodiazepines, including alprazolam. The symptoms can range from mild dysphoria and insomnia to a major syndrome that may include anxiety, abdominal pain, muscle cramps, vomiting, depression, sweating, and tremors and in rare cases seizures, suicidal ideas or suicide itself.
Both of these drugs can be used together as work to combat similar issues, many doctors prescribe both these drugs together, to complement each other.
