Xanax works by slowing down the central nervous system, Xanax should be taken with care with medications that do the same thing. When Xanax is taken with certain other medications, the rate of side effects may increase greatly, and the action of either medication may be increased or altered.
Certain medications can cause an undesirable build-up of Xanax in the body, this increases the addictive properties. To many times it is already to late by the time they have read this portion or the description. Ask your doctor’s advice about combining Xanax with any of the following:
- Alcohol – Xanax should not be mixed with alcohol, it increases the risk of overdose and fatal toxicity.
- Agenerase (amprenavir)
- Any medication which may cause drowsiness
- Antibiotics (esp. macrolide antibiotics) like azithromycin, biaxin, clarythromycin, or erythromycin
- Antihistamines like Tavist or Benadryl
- Adalat, Procardia (nifedipine)
- Antabuse (disulfiram)
- Antiseizure medication like Cerebyx (fosphenytoin), Dilantin (phenytoin), or Tegretol (carbamazepine).
- Benzodiazepines of any other type, such as Valium (diazepam), Halcion (triazolam), Restoril (temazepam), Librium (chlordiazepoxide), Tranxene-SD (clorazepate), Paxipam (halazepam), ProSom (estazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam)
- BuSpar (buspirone) – Can result in oversedation.
- Cardene (nicardipine)
- Cordarone (amiodarone)
- Desyrel (trazodone) – Risk of additive CNS depression.
- Diflucan (fluconazole)
- Ergotamine derivatives
- Grapefruit juice
- Kava kava – Do not take this herb while taking Xanax.
- Lanoxin (digoxin)
- MAO inhibitors such as the antidepressants Nardil or Parnate.
- Narcotic analgesics of any kind, like Darvon (propoxyphene), Darvocet (propoxyphene, acetaminophen), Demerol (meperidine), Codeine, Percocet (oxycodone, acetaminophen), Vicodin (hydrocodone, acetaminophen), Vicoprofen (hydrocodone and ibuprofen) or OxyContin (oxycodone) may accelerate central nervous system or respiratory depression when taken with Xanax. Also, Xanax may decrease the effectiveness of these medications as pain relievers.
- Norflex (orphenadrine) – Risk of oversedation.
- Neoral, Sandimmune (cyclosporine)
- Nicotine – Heavy smoking may reduce the effectiveness of your treatment.
- Nizoral (ketoconazole) – Xanax should not be mixed with this antifungal medication.
- Oral contraceptives – May increase the effects of Xanax.
- Prilosec (omeprazole) – May increase the effects of Xanax.
- Rescriptor (delavirdine)
- Rifamate (isoniazid), Rifater (rifampin), or Mycobutin (rifabutin)
- Sedatives like Fioricet (butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine), Fiorinal (butalbital, aspirin, and caffeine), Phenobarbitol, Seconal, or other barbiturates
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Celexa (citalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), or Zoloft (sertraline).
- Serzone (nefazodone)
- Skeletal muscle relaxants such as Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine), Skelaxin (metaxalone), Soma (carisoprodol), or Robaxin (methocarbamol) may cause oversedation in combination with this medication.
- Sleep medication like Ambien (zolpidem), Sonata (zaleplon), or over the counter sleeping pills should be used with Xanax only as, and if, advised by your doctor.
- Sporanox (itraconazole) – Xanax should not be mixed with this antifungal medication.
- Street drugs – Marijuana may increase sedative effects from Xanax.
- St. John’s Wort – Do not take this herb while taking Xanax.
- Tagamet (cimetidine)
- Tranquilizers such as Haldol (haloperidol), Mellaril (thioridazine), or Thorazine (chlorpromazine) may cause oversedation.
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil (amitriptyline), Asendin (amoxapine), Anafranil (clomipramine), Pertofrane or Norpramin (desipramine), Sinequan (doxepin), Tofranil (imipramine), Aventyl or Pamelor (nortriptyline), Vivactil (protriptyline), and Surmontil (trimipramine), may increase the risk of side effects from Xanax.
- Valerian – Do not take this herb while taking Xanax.
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