Objectives Know the principles of medication use in the elderly Identify potentially inappropriate medications for older adults Select appropriate medication. Alprazolam is a prescription medication indicated for the treatment of anxiety disorder (a condition corresponding most closely to the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual [DSM-III-R] diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder), or the short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety. XANAX ® alprazolam tablets, USP. DESCRIPTION. XANAX Tablets contain alprazolam which is a triazolo analog of the 1,4 benzodiazepine class of central nervous system-active compounds. Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peen). It affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with anxiety. Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression. Description Alprazolam is classified as a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are sedative-hypnotic drugs that help to relieve nervousness, tension, and other anxiety symptoms by slowing the central nervous system. Alprazolam Side Effects: Are They Too Much For You? Not unlike any other anxiety medicine on the market, the social anxiety medication, Alprazolam (Xanax), has some side effects that commonly occur. Despite years of warnings about the hazards of prescribing benzodiazepines in the elderly, these drugs continue to be used at a higher rate than what is considered appropriate in older Americans. By mouth. For Adult. 250–500 micrograms 3 times a day, increased if necessary up to 3 mg daily, for debilitated patients, use elderly dose. For Elderly In addition to the relatively common (ie, greater than 1%) untoward events enumerated in the table above, the following adverse events have been reported in association with the use of Alprazolam Tablets: seizures, hallucinations, depersonalization, taste alterations, diplopia, elevated bilirubin, elevated hepatic enzymes, and jaundice. Alprazolam, sold under the trade name Xanax among others, is a short-acting benzodiazepine. It is most commonly used in short term management of anxiety disorders, specifically panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Other uses include chemotherapy-induced nausea, together with other treatments. GAD improvement occurs generally.