الفهرس 
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Abstract
Alprazolam (ALP)
Alprazolam (ALP) trade name Xanax is a potent short-acting drug of the benzodiazepines class. It is primarily used to treat moderate to severe anxiety disorders (e.g. social anxiety disorder and panic attacks. Also, it is used as an adjunctive treatment for anxiety associated with moderate depression.
Benzodiazepines comprise a large group of psychoactive drugs that are massively used in human pharmacotherapy for their anxiolytic and hypnotic anticonvulsant properties (González-Pardo et al., 2006; Mandrioli et al., 2008).
Since its introduction in 1960s, ALP became one of the most used drugs in the USA and is currently the most often prescribed psychoactive drug. Also, it is believed to be fairly safe and is used extensively in the treatment of generalized anxiety, panic attacks with or without agoraphobia and depression (Bandelow et al., 2002).
Daily doses of 0.75 – 4 mg are effective for generalized anxiety, while daily doses of 6–9 mg have been used for phobic and panic disorders (Michaud et al., 1999).
1. 1. Medical uses
Alprazolam is recommended for the short-term treatment (2-4 weeks) of severe acute anxiety. Anxiety arises when an individual is involved in a situation which is subjectively relevant and anticipated as threatening, ambiguous, uncontrollable, unpredictable and novel (Huppmann and Hellhammer, 1978). Also, anxiety is particularly common among women of reproductive age (Howell et al., 2001). Brawman-Mintzer (2001) stated that alprazolam is one of the most often prescribed drugs for those women.