alprazolam prescribing guidelines

T H E R o Y A LA U S T R A L I A N
C o L L E G Eo F
G E N E R A LP R A C T I T I O N E R S
THE ROYAL
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND
COLLEGEOF PSYCHIATRISTS
ALPRAZOLAM PRESCRIBINGGUIDELINES
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Alprazolam is a short-acting drug in the benzodiazepine class of medications. It is
used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks. It is usually taken two to four times
a day. Alprazolam is sometimes used in the treatment of depression and agoraphobia.
Alprazolam may cause drowsiness and affect alertness. Ideally it should only be taken for
short periods of time such as 2 to 4 weeks. Benzodiazepines are very effective for treating
acute symptoms,butif short acting benzodiazepines such as alprazolarn are used long
term, the intended effect diminishes with tolerance, there is a high risk of the development
of dependency, and the rapidly fluctuating blood levels may exacerbatethe symptoms of
anxiety disorder.
"Benzodiazepines act more rapidly than antidepressants but are more likely to cause
physical dependencies, and such adverse effects as somnolence, ataxia, and memory
problems. Antidepressants and benzodiazepines are sometimes used in combination
initially with a slow taper from the benzodrazepine after the antidepressant becomes
effective".l
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Alprazolam, like other benzodiazepines, acts on the central nervous system (CNS). The
effects of alprazolam are increased when combined with other central nervous system
depressants such as methadone and other opiate related medications.
"Major clinical issues occur with the concurrent use of benzodiazepines and opiates.
Benzodiazepines and opiates used together increase the risk of fatal overdose and
similarly the use of methadone and benzodiazepines increasesthe risk of sedation." 2
The mortality and harm that is associatedwith abuse of opioids prescribed in the
community is an important emerging issue and associated with that abuse is the
concurrent abuse of alprazolam (Alprax@, Kalma@, Xanax@ and Zamhexal@). There are
also indications that harm levels in the use of this drug are increasing in line with the
steadily increasing medical use of opioids.
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the treatment of
Alprazolam is approved on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
panic disorders where other treatments have failed or are inappropriate'.3
Consideration needs to be given to whether the patient is suffering from panic disorder
and not a generalised anxiety disorde4 or from anxiety symptoms generally, including
those associatedwith drug abuse. Whilst isolated panic attacks are common, panic
disorder is uncommon. It is quoted as affecting2to 3% of the population in a L2 month
period and is 2to 3 times more prevalent in women than men
1
The Merck Manual 18'hEdition, 2006, Page 1.677:
2
National Comorbidity Project - Comorbidity of mental disorders and substanceuse; National Mental Health Strategy; National Drug Strategy.
3
S"h"d.rl" of Pharmaceutical Benefits August 2006 - Psycholeptics; Alprazolam
"The initial approachfor the prophylaxis of panic disorder should include psychological
measures such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). While these will suffice for
somepatients,otherswill need drugs as well. Somepatientsinitially do not relateto a
psychologicalapproachand cannotuse CBT. They should be commencedon a first line
pharmacologicaldrug, with CBT added later if possible. Regardingeffectiveness,
the
number needed-to-treatto get one personpanic free is 3 for CBT and 5 for medication.
Pharmacotherapyfor panic disorder may need to be continuedfor 6 to 12 months in the
first instance"a
First line therapy is statedto be "newer antidepressantsparticularly paroxetineand
sertraline".5 Benzodiazepinesare listed as secondline therapy along with tricyclic
antidepressantsand MAOI's.
The bi-national Committeeof PsychotropicDrugs and Other PhysicalTreatment
(COPDOPT)take the view that there is some,be it small, evidence-basedsupport for the
use of alprazolamfor short periods. In using it considerationshould be given to the fact
that:
.
the enduring benefit is small
.
cognitive and motor side-effects of long term use must be considered
the relatively greater development of tolerance and problems with withdrawal
'
in patients using
short acting agents such as alprazolam.
In the caseof drug abuse very careful consideration needs to be given to the use of
benzodiazepines, with diazepam being a preferred treatment for anxiety associated
with drug withdrawal. Ideally such patients should be referred to an Alcohol and Drug
specialist/services.
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Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data suggest that alprazolamprescribing in Tasmania
is approximately 700% higher than the national average. Similarly the use of opioids in
Tasmania is approximately 50% higher than the national average. The reported use of
intravenous alprazolam in conjunction with methadone to achieve a "heroin" like high is
of particular concern.6 In Tasmania there is an illicit drug problem associatedwith legally
prescribed drugs and very little heroin. The practice of intravenously injecting alprazolam
with methadone presents a very serious risk of overdose.
Consistent with other jurisdictional arrangements, alprazolam is listed as a declared
restricted substance under the Tasmanian Poisons (Declared Restricted SubstancesOrder
1990). This requirement means that prescriptions dispensed in Tasmanian must be
written by prescribers registered in Tasmania. It also places other conditions on its supply
by the dispensing pharmacist as a declared restricted substance. Possessionexcept in
accordancewith a legal prescription is illegal and prescribers cannot prescribe this for
drug dependent persons receiving Schedule 8 medications unless they are the holder
of an authority issued under 522 of the Alcohol and Drug DependencyAct 1968 for those
medications.
(Refer- DHHS - Legalrequirements
for theprescribingof Alprazolam)luly 2007
4
5
6
TherapeuticGuideline:PsychotropicYersion 5 Melbourne 2003,Page 176
TherapeuticGuideline:PsychotropicYersion 5 Melbourne 2003,Page 176
R Bruno; Tasmanian Drug Trends 2006 - Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) NDARC
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z
Legal rcqufuements
for the prescribingof alprazolam
Cunent Regul atory St ah,ts
Alprazolam is listed as a declared restricted substanceunder the Tasmanian Poisons (Declared
RestrictedSubstanceOrder 1990)commonly referred to as a S4D.This requires:
.
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.
.
.
o
Prescriptions dispensedin Tasmaniamust be written only by prescribersregisteredin
Tasmania.
Repeatinterval must be stated on prescriptions.
Prescription is valid for 5 months from date of writing.
No emergencysupply by a pharmacist without a prescriber's authority.
Possessionwithout authority is illegal unlessin accordancewith a legal prescription.
Patients declared as drug dependent can only be prescribed an S4D by their authorised
opioid prescriber.
Changes as of L September 2007
All the above requirements remain and in addition:
.
.
o
.
All prescriptions dispensed for alprazolamwill be added to the currently required monthly
reporting of dispensedschedule8 substancesfrom Tasmanianpharmacies.(Note:
alprazolam remains S4D)
The prescribing of alprazolam for more than 4 weeks in conjunction with any opioid will
require the prescriber to obtain an authority to prescribe. Authorities will be issued in a
similar manner to the opioid authorities.
,\lprazolam prescribing to patients receiving a pharmacotherapywill not be legally
authorised unless endorsedby the Clinical Director of the Alcohol and Drug Services.This is
also a requirement of the TasmanianPharmacotheraPyPolicy.
Prescriberswill be notified not to prescribe alprazolamif a patient is already under the care
of another medical practitioner who is also prescribing benzodiazepinesandlor opioids.
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Departmentof Health andHuman Services
Tasmania
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