Alprazolam, xanax, bars. The drug goes by many names. And is becoming a very popular drug to use on the street. It is being sold on the black market and a lot of teens are using it. And can be very dangerous, especially when combined with other drugs especially central nervous system depressants. Which is also what alprazolam is. But more specifically it is in the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. Sharing this name with drugs like diazepam, clonazepam, etc.
The drugs medical effects are to treat things like anxiety, depressive disorder and insomnia. The drug is also being sold wrongly to patients by many doctors who wanna make a quick buck although that is becoming less common in more recent years.
The appeal to people who use the drug recreationally is when you have a low tolerance a high dose causes extreme sedation and calmness, sometimes euphoria but that is much less common. On the street the drug is sold in either 1 or 2 milligram bars. Something else that appeals to the younger crowd is the short duration of the drug. Although that also depends on the dosage. Not to mention the price of the drug is relatively cheap at 5 dollars per tablet.
Now on to the science :)
Alprazolam's exact mechanism of action is unknown. However, it is presumed to work by enhancing the effects of the body's GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid). GABA is the nervous system's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, found in the brain and spinal cord. GABA tells the neurons that it contacts to slow down or stop firing, and this has a general calming and quieting effect on the brain. Alprazolam and other benzodiazepines enhance the activity of already existing GABA. Contrary to popular belief, they do not increase the nervous system's biological synthesis of GABA.
Dosage:
Alprazolam typically comes in four different strengths: 0.25 mg (white), 0.5 mg (peach), 1.0 mg (blue), 2.0 mg (white), although generic brands can be other dosages as well. An extended-release version (Xanax XR) is also available, in capsules of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 milligrams. An average adult dose is typically 0.5-3 mg per day, with a maximum dosage of 4 mg daily. Tolerance develops very quickly; those who take it on a daily basis may find they need to increase their dosage in order to get the same effects.
That being said, the drug only has its recreational effects at very high doses. And by very high doses I mean 2000ug. Which in retrospect it is not a very high dose but then again the drug is active in micrograms making it relatively dangerous.
Price:
Street price is often US$5 per 2 mg tablet (2004). The 0.5 peach tablets are rarely seen on the black market, and the 0.25 tablets are even rarer. Prescription prices vary depending upon location, insurance, generic or brand, etc.
On to the ratings for recreational and medical use safety,
I give it a 6 out of 10.
Mainly due to the potential for abuse I make the rating a lot lower.
As for recreational safety I give it also a 6 out of 10. This is because the drug on the street you know what you're getting. You can measure your dose. And you are able to monitor what you're taking. Though users must take extreme caution because of the potential for addiction. And that it is still easy to over do the drug. As always I HIGHLY advise against the use of all potentially dangerous drugs and that I do not condone any drug use in any way shape or form. I will not be posting any chemistry information anymore, mainly because most people reading this are probably not chemistry majors. Unless I am told to do so in the future I will not be doing such.
http://www.erowid.org/pharms/alprazolam/alprazolam.shtml
The topic for tomorrow Will be on psilocybin containing mushrooms.
