Generic Xanax dosage should be individualized for maximum beneficial effect. The dosages given below will meet the requirements of most of the patients but there might be a few people for whom a different dose would be advised. Xanax is a proven medication for the treatment of anxiety and panic disorders but because every individual is different the effects of Xanax varies from person to person.

Anxiety Disorders and Transient Symptoms of Anxiety

For the treatment of anxiety disorders the initiation should be made with a dose of 0.25 to 0.5mg, three times a day. In order to maximize the effects the dose can be increased to a daily dose of 4mg after three to four days.

But it must be remembered that the lowest possible effective dose should be employed. The duration of treatment should be kept to a minimum. The longer the medication is used the more the risk of dependence would increase.

In elderly patients, or in patients with specific medical conditions like with advanced liver disease or debilitating, the dose is usually started at 0.25mg, two to three times a day. This can be increased gradually if required and tolerated.

If side effects occur at the recommended starting dose, the dose may be lowered.

Panic Disorder

When generic Xanax is used for the treatment of panic disorders the usual successful dose is greater than 4mg a day. In fact the mean dose employed for the treatment of panic disorders is 5 to 6mg. Some times patients even require as much as 10mg a day to achieve successful response.

But this does not mean that therapy should be started on a high dose. The start should always be on a low dose so that the risk of adverse response can be minimized in patients who are sensitive. The dose can be increased at intervals equal to at least 5 times the elimination half-life. This is about 11 hours in young patients and almost 16 hours in elderly patients. The dose can be increased till substantial reduction of panic attacks takes place, intolerance occurs, or the maximum recommended dose has been reached.

Periodic reassessment and consideration of dosage reduction is advised in patients who are receiving doses which are greater than 4mg a day. It has been found that patients who are treated with doses of greater than 4mg a day for three months are able to reduce to 50% of their total maintenance dose without apparent loss of clinical benefit.

The usage of Xanax should not be stopped suddenly. Rather in all patients a gradual reduction of dosage should be practiced. Although there is no specific discontinuance schedule, it is advised that the daily dose should be reduced by no more than 0.5mg every three days. In fact in some patients an even slower rate may be employed.

The above mentioned dosage of generic Xanax should be used as a broad guideline and is not meant to substitute a doctor’s instructions. Only a doctor will be able to prescribe the correct individual dose for generic Xanax.