Zopax Tablets: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Addiction, Price
Zopax is a brand of alprazolam in South Africa produced by Cipla. Zopax is used for the short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety or anxiety linked with depression. It is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance. Zopax works by attaching to a receptor in your brain called the GABA-A (gamma-aminobutyric acid-A) receptor. When Alprazolam binds to this receptor, it has a calming effect on the brain. For anxiety disorders, Alprazolam is often prescribed because it can help relieve anxiety symptoms quickly.
However, other anxiety medications and talk therapy are better long-term choices for treating anxiety because Alprazolam has side effects, risk of overdose, and the potential for dependence. These other treatments may take a few weeks to take effect though. So Alprazolam and other benzodiazepines are sometimes used as a “bridge” until other treatments can have a chance to work. For treating insomnia and behavioral therapy, other medications are generally preferred over Alprazolam.
What form(s) does Zopax come in?
Zopax comes as a tablet, an extended-release tablet, an orally disintegrating tablet (a tablet that dissolves quickly in the mouth). The 5 variants of Zopax includes:
- Zopax 0.25 mg tablet which contains 250 mcg alprazolam.
- Zopax 0.5 mg tablet which contains 500 mcg alprazolam.
- Zopax 1.0 mg tablet which contains 1 mg alprazolam.
- Zopax 2.0 mg tablet which contains 2 mg alprazolam.
- Zopax XR controlled-release tablets
Is Zopax safe?
Genuine Zopax pill is safe to use especially those obtained with a prescription from a registered Pharmacy. Med safety does not recommend buying Zopax pills or any other brand of alprazolam from online pharmacies as they could be laced with fentanyl which can result in overdose and instant death. In the 12-month period, more than 100,000 Americans died of overdoses, up almost 30 percent from the 78,000 deaths in the prior year, according to provisional figures from the National Center for Health Statistics.
How is Zopax taken?
A person should take Zopax by mouth as a doctor directs. The dosage will be based on the following factors:
• why the person is taking it
• their age
• how their body responds to the treatment
The recommended dose of Zopax for adults also varies depending on its use. The starting dose for excessive anxiety is 0.25 mg taken 2 or 3 times a day. This is gradually increased until anxiety is controlled and side effects are minimized. Elderly patients may be started at a lower dose of 0.125 mg taken 2 or 3 times a day. The usual maximum dose is 3 mg daily.
The starting dose for panic attacks is 0.5 mg to 1 mg at bedtime or 0.5 mg taken 3 times daily. The dose is then gradually increased until there are no more panic attacks.
A doctor may gradually increase the dosage of Zopax until the drug works effectively for the person. People should closely follow their doctor’s instructions to reduce the risk of side effects.
If a person has used this medication regularly for a long time or in high dosages, withdrawal symptoms can occur if they suddenly stop taking it. To prevent this, a doctor may reduce the dosage of Zopax gradually.
What happens if I miss a dose of Zopax?
If a person misses a dose of Zopax, they should take the missed dose as soon as they remember. However, they should skip the missed dose if it is almost time for their next scheduled dose. They should not take extra to make up for the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose on Zopax?
Symptoms of a Zopax overdose include:
• tiredness
• confusion
• impaired coordination
• diminished reflexes
• coma
Death has occurred in association with overdoses of Zopax by itself, as it has with other benzodiazepines.
If an overdose of Zopax occurs, a person needs emergency medical attention. Somebody should call 911 or Poison Control at 800-222-1222.
What are the possible side effects of Zopax?
Zopax may cause serious side effects including:
• depressed mood,
• thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself,
• racing thoughts,
• increased energy,
• unusual risk-taking behavior,
• confusion,
• agitation,
• hostility,
• hallucinations,
• uncontrolled muscle movements,
• tremor,
• convulsions (seizure), and
• pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest
Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.
The most common side effects of Zopax include:
• drowsiness,
• feeling tired,
• slurred speech,
• lack of balance or coordination,
• memory problems, and
• feeling anxious early in the morning
Tell the doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of Zopax. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088
What medications may interact with Zopax?
If your doctor has directed you to use Zopax, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions, health risks, and side effects, and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of this drug or any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.
Severe Interactions of Zopax include:
• itraconazole
• ketoconazole
• sodium oxybate
• tipranavir
Serious Interactions of Zopax include:
• carbamazepine
• cimetidine
• clarithromycin
• erythromycin base
• erythromycin ethylsuccinate
• erythromycin lactobionate
• erythromycin stearate
• idelalisib
• itraconazole
• ivacaftor
• ketoconazole
• nefazodone
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• saquinavir
• valerian
Zopax has moderate interactions with at least 264 different drugs.
Minor interactions of Zopax include:
• brimonidine
• ciprofloxacin
• esomeprazole
• eucalyptus
• fleroxacin
• gemifloxacin
• green tea
• levofloxacin
• lithium
• moxifloxacin
• norfloxacin
• ofloxacin
• omeprazole
• rifabutin
• sage
• vinpocetine
• zolpidem
This document does not contain all possible interactions of this drug with other drugs. Therefore, before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the medications you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list of drugs with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your doctor if you have health questions or concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions about Zopax
Q: How long does it take to feel the effects of Zopax?
Zopax is taken by mouth and is readily absorbed into the bloodstream. You should start feeling the effects of Zopax in under an hour. The medication reaches peak concentrations in the bloodstream in one to two hours following ingestion.
People who take Zopax will often build up a tolerance. For these people, it may take longer to feel the sedative effects of Zopax or the sedation may not feel as strong.
Q: How long does it take for the effects of Zopax to wear off?
One way to find out how long a drug will last in the body is to measure its half-life. The half-life is the time it takes for half of the drug to be eliminated from the body.
Zopax has an average half-life of roughly 11 hours in healthy adults. In other words, it takes 11 hours for the average healthy person to eliminate half of the dose of Zopax. However, it’s important to note that everyone metabolizes medications differently, so the half-life will vary from person to person. Studies have shown that the half-life of Zopax ranges from 6.3 to 26.9 hours, depending on the person.
It takes several half-lives to fully eliminate a drug. For most people, Zopax will fully clear their body within two to four days. But you will stop “feeling” the sedative effects of Zopax before the drug has actually fully cleared your body. This is why you may be prescribed Zopax up to three times per day.
Q: How long does Zopax stay in your system?
Studies have shown that the half-life of Zopax ranges from 6.3 to 26.9 hours. It is important to realize that half-life is a figure that is an estimate of the time it takes for the concentration or amount in the body of that drug to be reduced by exactly one-half (50%). After four to five half-lives, 97% of a drug has cleared from the body, and the drug is no longer considered to be having any effect. However, this does not mean that it won’t be detectable by a drug test, as this depends on how specific and sensitive the drug test is.
If we use the average half-life of Zopax, which is 11.2 hours, then the following is estimated for a 1mg dose of Zopax:
- 11.2 hours after administration, 0.5mg remains
- 22.4 hours minutes after administration, 0.25mg remains
- 33.6 hours after administration, 0.125mg remains
- 44.8 hours after administration, 0.063mg remains
- 56 hours after administration, 0.0315mg remains.
In theory, we can see that after 56 hours (2.3 days), almost all the original Zopax dose (slightly less than 97%) has been eliminated in people whose Zopax half-life is 11.2 hours. However, in some people, the half-life of Zopax is 26.9 hours. In these people, it will take approximately 134.5 hours (5.6 days) for almost 97% of a dose of Zopax to be eliminated.
Q: What does Zopax withdrawal feel like?
Zopax has a high potential to be a habit-forming drug. Symptoms of withdrawal typically begin two to seven days after your last dose. They can last two to eight weeks.
If you take Zopax, don’t stop it without talking to your doctor first. Some withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous. You need to follow a program with your doctor’s supervision to taper off the high doses and ultimately quit entirely.
Symptoms of withdrawal include:
• sleep problems and insomnia
• restlessness
• nervousness
• aggression
• poor concentration
• suicidal thoughts
• worsened anxiety or panic attacks
• depression
• seizures
Your doctor can administer medication to help ease these symptoms and prevent further complications.
Can you drink alcohol while taking Zopax?
Taking Zopax with alcohol will intensify the side effects of both substances. Researchers don’t know exactly why this happens. It likely has to do with the chemical interactions between Zopax and alcohol in the body.
A 2018 animal study suggests the presence of ethanol, the main ingredient in alcoholic drinks, can increase the maximum concentration of alprazolam in the bloodstream.
In turn, this can cause both an enhanced high or “buzz” as well as enhanced side effects. The liver also needs to work harder, since it breaks down both alcohol and Zopax in the body.
Zopax vs Xanax which is stronger?
Zopax and Xanax both contain the same active ingredient (alprazolam) as a result, Zopax XR side effects are the same as Xanax XR side effects while Zopax 2mg is equivalent to Xanax 2mg, none is stronger than the other at the same dose.
What is the price of Zopax?
Zopax is cheaper than Xanax and can be purchased in retail pharmacies. The average price of Zopax with a prescription is $3.6 per tablet or $110 for a supply of 30 tablets, depending on the pharmacy you visit. Prices are for cash-paying customers only and are not valid with insurance plans.
Addiction To Zopax (Alprazolam)
Zopax is a powerful Benzodiazepine, it is extremely addictive when used long-term, making Zopax addiction and abuse a serious concern. Alprazolam is the number one prescribed psychiatric medication in the United States. 70% of teens with a Zopax addiction get the drug from their family’s medicine cabinet.
Tolerance to Zopax develops quickly, requiring the user to take more of the drug to achieve the desired effects. Someone with a Zopax addiction may take up to 20 or 30 pills per day. If the user decides to stop taking Zopax, they may experience withdrawal effects such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and tremors. The onset of withdrawal symptoms is a sign that a physical dependence has developed. The development of tolerance and withdrawal are indications of addiction.
Once a Zopax addiction has taken hold, daily responsibilities such as school, work, or family are ignored as energy is redirected toward drug-seeking behavior.
Other behavioral signs of Zopax addiction include:
- Continued use of Zopax even though it is contributing to personal difficulties.
- Inability to stop using Zopax despite the desire to.
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.
- Obsessing about obtaining and using Zopax.
- Loss of control over the amount of Zopax being consumed.
- Legal problems that are the result of using Zopax.
- Risk-taking behaviors, such as driving while under the influence of Zopax.
If a user wishes to stop taking Zopax after dependence on the drug has formed, it is not recommended to quit “cold turkey” or without medical supervision. The symptoms of Zopax withdrawal are similar to those of alcohol or Barbiturate withdrawal, and the severity of the symptoms can vary. If convulsions occur, withdrawal from Zopax can be deadly.
Normally, the withdrawal process involves slowly reducing the dosage of Zopax and eventually switching the user to a long-acting form of the drug for a period of time. The gradual taper of this drug helps to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
