Unusual Xanax Side Effects

The Production of Mania and Rage As the above observations confirm, reactions to Xanax and other benzodiazepines can reach psychotic proportions. As noted in the 1996 edition of Drug Facts and Comparisons, the BZs in general can cause serious psychiatric problems, including "psychosis." They can disrupt central nervous system function, producing, among other things, "disorientation... confusion... delirium.... euphoria... agitation." A special Precautions section notes "Paradoxical reactions," including "excitement, stimulation and acute rage" and "hyperexcited states, anxiety, hallucinations..." Mania, a psychosis, is a special danger in regard to Xanax. The Drug Facts and Comparisons (p. 1440) makes a specific reference to Xanax in this regard, stating that "Anger, hostility and episodes of mania and hypomania have been noted with alprazolam." The fact that mania is a particular risk with Xanax is generally recognized. As another example, Maxmen and Ward's Psychotropic Drug Fast Facts (1995, p. 287) states that "manic reactions" are "Most often reported with alprazolam." It also states that "rage reactions" and "violent episodes" have especially been observed with Xanax and Valium. Yet another example is The Handbook of Psychiatric Drug Therapy (Third edition, 1995, p. 177) by Hyman, Arana, and Rosenbaum. It singles out Xanax to observe "Increased impulsiveness, euphoria, and frank mania have been reported with alprazolam." Drug Facts and Comparisons, Psychotropic Drug Fast Facts and the Handbook of Psychiatric Drug therapy are intended for ready reference for physicians for the purpose of alerting them to adverse drug reactions they need to be aware of. That all three indicate that mania and uncontrollable rage are special problems with Xanax confirms my own clinical observations that this medication is more apt than many others to produce these hyper-excited, aggressive psychotic states. The FDA's "Safety Review and Evaluation of Clinical Data" by J. Knudsen (1989) for Xanax for panic disorder once again highlighted its tendency to produce mania. It included a review of Xanax-induced mania from the literature. It described several cases of mania produced in the panic disorder clinical studies and offered two tables described 14 cases of hypomania and one of mania. Several attacks developed during the first week of treatment at relatively small doses.

Just want people to be aware that this could happen.