Alprazolam addiction

Ciraulo DA, Nace EP Benzodiazepine treatment of anxiety or insomnia in substance abuse patients. Am J Addict 9 276—284, 2000 Ciraulo DA, Barnhill JG, Greenblatt DJ, et al Abuse liability and clinical pharmacokinetics of alprazolam in alcoholic men. J Clin Psychiatry 49 333—337, 1988a... 

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Schweizer E, Patterson W, Rickels K, et al Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a once-a-day, sustained-release preparation of alprazolam for the treatment of panic disorder. Am J Psychiatry 150 1210-1215, 1993 Seivewright N Benzodiazepine misuse by illicit drug misusers. Addiction 96 333—334, 2001... 

Another consideration in the choice of benzodiazepine is their potential for abuse. Individuals with addictive disorders prefer certain agents to others. Agents with rapid onset of action, such as diazepam or alprazolam, demonstrate higher abuse potential because of their reinforcing effects. Those with slower onset of action, such as chlor-diazepoxide, oxazepam, and halazepam, are less likely to be abused. This consideration may be relevant in an outpatient setting or for patients with a history of benzodiazepine or other substance abuse. ... 

The CNS contains a wide variety of neurotransmitters and high concentrations of receptors. Mechanisms of action of many drugs are often complex combinations of receptor-based actions. Some of the most widely used (and abused) drugs are hypnotics/sedatives, for treatment of insonmia. Barbiturates such as amylo-barbitone have been used for many years, but suffer from side-effects and are addictive. Thiopentone sodium salt (sodium pentothal), however, is very useful as a short-acting intravenous anaesthetic. The benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax), are safer drags for insomnia and also can be used for treatment of anxiety and muscle spasms. Zolpidem (Ambien) is a newer and more selective hypnotic. 

In treatment-resistant cases, benzodiazepines, either long-acting (diazepam, clonazepam, and chlordiazepoxide) or short-acting (alprazolam, oxazepam, and lorazepam) may be used when the patient does not have a history of addictive behavior. Also, they can be combined with SNRIs/SSRIs in the first weeks of treatment before the onset of the therapeutic effects of the latter. Benzodiazepines as monotherapy may not be as robust as assumed. Among patients responding to treatment, less than two-thirds will go into remission, and a number of studies have indicated, despite early improvements in anxiety symptoms, that the effect of benzodiazepines may not be different from placebo after 4-6 weeks of treatment. 

COD, ketamine, MA, MO, alprazolam. CZE-sweep-UV Sweeping buffer (phosphate 75 mM, pH 2.5 Phosphate buffer (75 mM, pH 2.5) and methanol 20-50 ng/mL Urine samples from addicts [112]... 

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