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What is Generic Xanax®?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Generic Xanax® is a pharmacological equivalent of the brand-name drug Xanax® which is available at a lesser cost. Doctors may recommend generic Xanax® for patients who cannot afford Xanax®, or who have insurance policies which will only pay for brand name drugs if the generics are proved ineffective.

The generic name for Xanax® is alprazolam. This drug was developed in the 1960s by the company now known as Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and it was approved in 1976 for use in the treatment of panic disorders and branded as Xanax®. The drug is used today to treat a wide variety of anxiety and panic disorders, and in addition to being available in short acting dosages, it is also available in an extended release version. Generic Xanax® is available in a number of dosages, in both regular and extended release versions.

A pharmacist will usually provide generic drugs unless the brand name is specified on the prescription.
A pharmacist will usually provide generic drugs unless the brand name is specified on the prescription.

As with other generic drugs, generic Xanax® must be pharmacologically equivalent to the brand name drug, containing the same active ingredients and acting in the same way on the body. It is also held to the same quality standards as the brand name drug, and is available by prescription only. As a general rule, when a doctor writes a prescription for alprazolam, the pharmacist will fill it with the generic version of the drug, unless the prescription specifies that Xanax® or another brand name version of the drug should be used.

Recurring nightmares are a symptom of Xanax withdrawal.
Recurring nightmares are a symptom of Xanax withdrawal.

For patients who need anti-anxiety drugs in the long term, using generics can save a substantial amount of money if they are paying out of pocket for prescriptions. Insurance companies may also insist on the use of generics to save costs. If alprazolam is not effective for a patient, a doctor may recommend that the patient try Xanax®, usually after adjusting the dosage and controlling for other factors which could be interfering with the effectiveness of a drug.

Generic medications can be purchased at a reduced cost.
Generic medications can be purchased at a reduced cost.

This benzodiazepine is prone to abuse, which is a concern for the medical community in many regions of the world. Whether generic or branded, the drug can be addictive, and some people use it recreationally. For this reason, access to the drug is tightly controlled, and patients are usually informed that they should not share their prescriptions with others. Some doctors have also raised concerns about counterfeit versions of generic Xanax® which may be sold to people who want the drug for recreational use or to patients who are trying to find low cost prescriptions. Patients can avoid counterfeit drugs by using the services of a reputable pharmacy to fill prescriptions.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

donasmrs

Generic versions of Xanax are supposed to be the same as Xanax, but from my experience, they're not. I've used several different types of generic Xanax over the past few years and they don't seem to work the same. One seemed to work faster for me than another generic but the side effects were greater. My sister has used both generic Xanax and the Xanax brand and claims that the Xanax works better.

I'm not sure if everyone responds to drugs differently or if the medications are slightly different. Most of us use generic Xanax because we can't afford the actual brand. But it's unfortunately if the generic versions do not work as well.

burcinc

@turquoise-- It depends on what the doctor has written in your prescription. If he wrote "alprazolam," the generic name of Xanax, then the pharmacist will fill the generic version. The doctor has to specify "Xanax" if that is to be filled. You should call your doctor and the pharmacist to make sure that you were given the right medication.

Although technically they are the same thing, some people prefer the brand name rather than the generic drug. The advantage of generic Xanax is that it costs less than regular Xanax.

turquoise

My doctor told me that he is prescribing me Xanax. But after I got home from the pharmacy, I noticed that the medication I was given is generic, not Xanax. Are people usually given generic Xanax regardless of what is prescribed?

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    • A pharmacist will usually provide generic drugs unless the brand name is specified on the prescription.
      By: mangostock
      A pharmacist will usually provide generic drugs unless the brand name is specified on the prescription.
    • Recurring nightmares are a symptom of Xanax withdrawal.
      By: sebra
      Recurring nightmares are a symptom of Xanax withdrawal.
    • Generic medications can be purchased at a reduced cost.
      By: Tyler Olson
      Generic medications can be purchased at a reduced cost.
    • Xanax® is also marketed and sold under the generic name alprazolam.
      By: LoloStock
      Xanax® is also marketed and sold under the generic name alprazolam.
    • Xanax is commonly prescribed to treat anxiety.
      By: nyul
      Xanax is commonly prescribed to treat anxiety.
    • Generic Xanax is a highly-addictive drug.
      By: JJAVA
      Generic Xanax is a highly-addictive drug.
    • Some prescription drug plans may cover the cost of the generic, alprazolam, but not the name brand drug.
      By: JackF
      Some prescription drug plans may cover the cost of the generic, alprazolam, but not the name brand drug.