Medication-info.com Search Menu

Alprazolam Extended-Release: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

Updated:
Facts
Status:
Prescription (Rx) Controlled substance Schedule IV Boxed warning
Strength:
0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg
Brand names:
Drug class:
Active ingredient:
Similar drugs:

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed · About this document

Patient information: uses, side effects, how to take - Alprazolam Extended-Release

What is the most important information I should know about alprazolam XR?

  • Alprazolam XR is a benzodiazepine medicine. Taking benzodiazepines with opioid medicines, alcohol, or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, breathing problems (respiratory depression), coma and death. Get emergency help right away if any of the following happens:

    • shallow or slowed breathing
    • breathing stops (which may lead to the heart stopping)
    • excessive sleepiness (sedation)

  • Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how taking alprazolam XR with opioids affects you.

  • Risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction. There is a risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction with benzodiazepines including alprazolam XR which can lead to overdose and serious side effects including coma and death.

    • Serious side effects including coma and death have happened in people who have abused or misused benzodiazepines, including alprazolam XR. These serious side effects may also include delirium, paranoia, suicidal thoughts or actions, seizures, and difficulty breathing. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you get any of these serious side effects.
    • You can develop an addiction even if you take alprazolam XR as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
    • Take alprazolam XR exactly as your healthcare provider prescribed.
    • Do not share your alprazolam XR with other people.
    • Keep alprazolam XR in a safe place and away from children.

  • Physical dependence and withdrawal reactions. Alprazolam XR can cause physical dependence and withdrawal reactions.

    • Do not suddenly stop taking alprazolam XR. Stopping alprazolam XR suddenly can cause serious and life-threatening side effects, including unusual movements, responses, or expressions, seizures, sudden and severe mental or nervous system changes, depression, seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear, an extreme increase in activity or talking, losing touch with reality, and suicidal thoughts or actions. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you get any of the following symptoms.
    • Some people who suddenly stop benzodiazepines, have symptoms that can last for several weeks to more than 12 months, including anxiety, trouble remembering, learning, or concentrating, depression, problems sleeping, feeling like insects are crawling under your skin, weakness, shaking, muscle twitching, burning or prickling feeling in your hands, arms, legs or feet, and ringing in your ears.
    • Physical dependence is not the same as drug addiction. Your healthcare provider can tell you more about the differences between physical dependence and drug addiction.
    • Do not take more alprazolam XR than prescribed or take alprazolam XR for longer than prescribed.

What is alprazolam XR?

  • Alprazolam XR is a prescription medicine used to treat panic disorder, with or without a fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment (agoraphobia).
  • Alprazolam XR is a federal controlled substance (C-IV) because it contains alprazolam that can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep alprazolam XR in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away alprazolam XR may harm others and is against the law. Tell your healthcare provider if you have abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines or street drugs.
  • It is not known if alprazolam XR is safe and effective in children.
  • Elderly patients are especially susceptible to dose related adverse effects when taking alprazolam XR.
  • It is not known if alprazolam XR is safe and effective in the treatment of panic disorder for use longer than 8 weeks.

Do not take alprazolam XR if:

  • you are allergic to alprazolam, other benzodiazepines, or any of the ingredients in alprazolam XR. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in alprazolam XR.
  • you are taking antifungal medicines including ketoconazole and itraconazole

Before you take alprazolam XR, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have or have had depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior
  • have liver or kidney problems
  • have lung disease or breathing problems

  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

    • Taking alprazolam XR late in pregnancy may cause your baby to have symptoms of sedation (breathing problems, sluggishness, low muscle tone), and/or withdrawal symptoms (jitteriness, irritability, restlessness, shaking, excessive crying, feeding problems).
    • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you are pregnant during treatment with alprazolam XR.
    • There is a pregnancy registry for women who take alprazolam XR during pregnancy. The purpose of the registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. If you become pregnant during treatment with alprazolam XR, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Psychiatric Medications. You can register by calling 1-866-961-2388 or visiting https://womensmentalhealth.org/research/pregnancyregistry/.

  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Alprazolam XR passes into your breast milk.

    • Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take alprazolam XR.
    • Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with alprazolam XR.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Taking alprazolam XR with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well alprazolam XR or the other medicines work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

How should I take alprazolam XR?

  • See “What is the most important information I should know about alprazolam XR?”
  • Take alprazolam XR exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much alprazolam XR to take and when to take it.
  • If you take too much alprazolam XR, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
  • Swallow alprazolam XR tablets whole. Do not crush, chew or break alprazolam XR.

What are the possible side effects of alprazolam XR?

Alprazolam XR may cause serious side effects, including:

  • See “What is the most important information I should know about alprazolam XR?”
  • Seizures. Stopping alprazolam XR can cause seizures and seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).
  • Mania. Alprazolam XR may cause an increase in activity and talking (hypomania and mania) in people who have depression.

  • Alprazolam XR can make you sleepy or dizzy and can slow your thinking and motor skills.

    • Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how alprazolam XR affects you.
    • Do not drink alcohol or take other drugs that may make you sleepy or dizzy while taking alprazolam XR without first talking to your healthcare provider. When taken with alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness or dizziness, alprazolam XR may make your sleepiness or dizziness much worse.

The most common side effects of alprazolam XR include:

  • sleepiness
  • trouble saying words clearly (dysarthria)
  • problems with memory
  • problems with coordination
  • changes in sex drive (libido)
  • constipation
  • nausea

These are not all the possible side effects of alprazolam XR. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store alprazolam XR?

  • Store alprazolam XR at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C)
  • Keep alprazolam XR and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about the safe and effective use of alprazolam XR.

  • Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide.
  • Do not use alprazolam XR for a condition for which it was not prescribed.
  • Do not give alprazolam XR to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.
  • You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about alprazolam XR that is written for health professionals.

What are the ingredients in alprazolam XR?

Active ingredient: alprazolam

Inactive ingredients: lactose, magnesium stearate, colloidal silicon dioxide, and hypromellose. In addition, the 1 mg and 3 mg tablets contain D & C yellow No. 10 and the 2 mg and 3 mg tablets contain FD&C blue No. 2.

For more information, call Viatris at 1-877-446-3679 (1-877-4-INFO-RX).

GREENSTONE® BRAND

Distributed by:

Greenstone LLC

Morgantown, WV 26505 U.S.A.

© 2025 Viatris Inc.

GST:MG:ALPRXR:R1

This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Revised: 2/2025

About this document

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed · Application number: NDA AUTHORIZED GENERIC 021434 · View the label on DailyMed

Revision date stated in the text: February 2025

Found a mistake? Write to us via the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Drug information for Alprazolam Extended-Release

Rx or OTC
Prescription (Rx), Controlled substance?
  • This drug is available only with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
  • This drug is a controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act.
  • Rx
Controlled substance Schedule IVSchedule IV: low potential for abuse relative to Schedule III.
Boxed warning Yes – this drug has a boxed warning (also called a black box warning), the strongest warning of the FDA.
Drug class Benzodiazepine
Active ingredient Alprazolam
Dosage form Tablet, extended release
Route Oral
Marketing status listed in the FDA NDC Directory
Company (applicant) UPJOHN
FDA approval NDA AUTHORIZED GENERIC 021434NDA authorized generic Approved January 17, 2003
Reference listed drug This is the reference listed drug (RLD) that generics are compared with.
Therapeutic equivalence (TE) code ABCodes starting with A mean the FDA rates the drug therapeutically equivalent to its reference drug (Orange Book).
Generics Xanax XR with the same TE code
Manufacturers 4 labelers list this drug on DailyMed
Packages (NDC)
Package
0.5 mg – 60 in 1 bottle NDC 59762-0057-1
1 mg – 60 in 1 bottle NDC 59762-0059-1
2 mg – 60 in 1 bottle NDC 59762-0066-1
3 mg – 60 in 1 bottle NDC 59762-0068-1

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed, data as of October 31, 2026. FDA data (DailyMed, Orange Book, Drug Shortages, enforcement reports). Not a substitute for the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.