Expert: Dr. Ravindra Bhaskar Ghooi - 8/22/2009

Question
I am on Pristiq for depression and to hopefully alleviate my horrendous panic/anxiety attacks that had escalated due to the death of a loved one. The Pristiq has helped but I am still having a panic attack every few weeks or so and am taking a Alprazolam tablet (0.25mg) only when I have the attack.   My doctor is always reluctant to renew my prescription but I'm in fear of being without them as I am unable to control the panic attacks without them.  Is the Alprazolam such a dangerous drug? are there any substitutes that do the same thing?

Answer
Hi Linda,
Alprazolam is a scheduled drug, and it can be habit forming. It is probably for this reason that your doctor is not ready to prescribe it. Otherwise the drug is an excellent one for short term use. If you are taking the drug once in a while, even once a week there is no harm in doing so. But as I said it is a scheduled drug and gettig it may be a problem if you do not have a prescription. I do not have an answer about it.
Ravi Ghooi