THE NEED FOR EXTENDED-RELEASE MEDICATIONS

Because of their relatively short duration of action, most benzodiazepine anxiolytics require multiple daily dosing (two to four times per day) to maintain a consistent therapeutic benefit. The need for multiple daily doses can lead to interdose anxiety or brief periods of excessive side effects. These difficulties can both precipitate and exacerbate poor compliance with prescribed regimens. A new extended-release formulation of alprazolam (alprazolam XR) consistently maintains drug concentrations within the therapeutic range during a 12- to 24-hour duration of action. The potential advantages of alprazolam XR include improved compliance, less interdose anxiety, and a reduced risk of side effects.