The Psych Central website lists Xanax as the top-selling psychiatric medication in the United States, as of 2010. Health care professionals wrote more than 44 million prescriptions for this benzodiazepine drug in 2009. Approved for panic disorder, Xanax reduces feelings of anxiety and prevents the onset of convulsions. The drug also promotes sleep onset and causes muscle relaxation. According to the information website Rx List, Xanax contains one active ingredient and several inactive ingredients.
Active Ingredient
Xanax tablets contain an active ingredient called alprazolam available in 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00 mg doses. Invented by Upjohn/Pfizer in 1976, Xanax successfully treated panic disorder in initial clinical trials. Since then, doctors have prescribed alprazolam for a broad variety of anxiety and sleep disorders. New uses for Xanax appear each year. For example, a 2010 study in the "Medical Science Monitor" reveals that Xanax improves subjective ratings of tinnitus, or a persistent ringing in the ears.
Alprazolam remains a controversial drug despite its effectiveness. A 2008 review in "Prescrire International" recommends avoiding such sleeping pills at all costs. The articles points out that traditional hypnotic medications like Xanax cause dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal effects. Alprazolam intake may also produce daytime sleepiness, memory loss, and cancer risk. The paper recommends other treatments which reduce anxiety and enhance sleep without causing adverse reactions.
Administrating Xanax using alternative forms of delivery may address these criticisms. A 2000 paper in the journal "Psychopharmacology" demonstrates the effectiveness of incorporating alprazolam into a liquid diet. This route of administration produced reliable, stable, and effective levels of the drug in animal tests. Human studies, unfortunately, have not yet explored this option.
Inactive Ingredients
Xanax tablets also include docusate sodium, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, sodium benzoate, corn starch, cellulose, and lactose. Pfizer combines these inactive ingredients with alprazolam for several reasons. First, they keep all of the constituents together in a stable structure. Second, they act as a protective coating for increased durability. Third, they ensure that the Xanax looks physically appealing. Fourth, they hide the smell and taste of alprazolam. Fifth, they make the drug easier to swallow. Finally, they extend the shelf life of Xanax, ensuring safe shipping and storage.
Cosmetic Ingredients
Pfizer also adds two different food colors to Xanax tablets. The 0.50 mg dose of alprazolam includes the dye FD&C Yellow No. 6. This dye, also called Sunset Yellow, makes the 0.50 mg dose golden in color. Sunset Yellow can cause an allergic reaction in some people and may cause cancer when consumed in large amounts. The 1 mg dose of alprazolam contains FD&C Blue No. 2. That dye, also known as Indigotine, makes the 1 mg dose blueish in color. The human body does not readily absorb this blue dye. Indigotine, therefore, causes no known side effects.
References
- Psych Central: Top 25 Psychiatric Prescriptions for 2009
- Rx List: Drug Description for Xanax
- "Medical Science Monitor"; The Effects of Alprazolam on Tinnitus: A Cross-Over Randomized Clinical Trial; M. M. Jalali et al.; November 2009
- "Prescrire International"; Sleep Complaints: Whenever Possible, Avoid the Use of Sleeping Pills; Anonymous; October 2008
- "Psychopharmacology"; A Comparison of Plasma Alprazolam Concentrations Following Different Routes of Chronic Administration in the Sprague-Dawley Rat: Implications for Psychotropic Drug Research; K. H. Skelton et al.; July 2000
