• Acute treatment of generalized anxiety disorder:
    • PO 0.25mg TDS
    • May increase dose every 3-4 days
    • Max: 4 mg/day
    • Start 0.25mg PO BD/TDS in elderly or debilitated patients
    • Taper dose by no more than 0.5 mg/day every 3 days to discontinue

Tablet:

  • 0.25mg
  • 5mg
  • It is best not to take this medication with a high-fat meal because absorption may be slowed

Benzodiazepine

It binds receptors at several sites within the CNS including the limbic system and reticular formation. The effects may be mediated through GABA receptor system. Increase in neuronal membrane permeability to chloride ions enhances the inhibitory effects of GABA and the shift in chloride ions causes hyperpolarization (less excitability) and stabilization of the neuronal membrane.

  • Drowsiness
  • Fatigue
  • Impaired coordination
  • Irritability
  • Amnesia
  • Appetite changes
  • Confusion
  • Dysarthria
  • Dizziness
  • Impaired concentration
  • Xerostomia
  • Libido changes
  • Urinary retention
  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Sialorrhea
  • Hypotension
  • Rash
  • Diplopia
  • Elevated LFTs
  • Disinhibition
  • Incontinence
  • Hypersensitivity to components
  • Avoid abrupt withdrawal
  • <18 years
  • Atazanavir
  • Chloramphenicol
  • Cisapride
  • Clarithromycin
  • Itraconazole
  • Ketoconazole
  • Lopinavir/Ritonavir
  • Mifepristone
  • Nelfinavir
  • Saquinavir
  • Voriconazole

                                   Drug Status

Availability Prescription only
Pregnancy Category D
Breastfeeding Not recommended
Schedule Controlled
BRAND STRENGTH FORMULATION PACK SIZE MANUF LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE/DISTR
Alzolam 0.25mg Tablet 100’s Sun Pharma Sun Pharma
Alzolam 0.5mg Tablet 100’s Sun Pharma Sun Pharma
Atrest 0.25mg Tablet 30’s Centaur Pharma Sai Pharma
Atrest 0.5mg Tablet 30’s Centaur Pharma Sai Pharma
Calmex 0.5mg Tablet 100’s Cosmos Ltd Cosmos Ltd
Poex 0.25mg Tablet 100’s Biopharma Ltd Biopharma Ltd
Poex 0.5mg Tablet 100’s Biopharma Ltd Biopharma Ltd
Xanax 0.5mg Tablet 30’s Pfizer Labs Pfizer Labs