Posted by yxibow on December 28, 2006, at 12:26:43
In reply to Re: REAL benefit from Xanax XR vs. Xanax IR, posted by jealibeanz on December 28, 2006, at 5:11:52
> I know the responses I have received indicate that XR is just a marketing ploy, which is an idea I can accept, but does this means its use is of no benefit?
I mentioned the only benefit above if Xanax is the only thing that happens to work for you, it eliminates some of the interdosal issues by taking it once a day. At the same time I still don't believe a drug that has such an immediate release as Xanax should be, for lack of a better way of saying it, wasted on a 24 hour cycle when it has better use as a PRN medication for breakthrough serious anxiety situations rather than a less subtle agent like clonazepam. But as I said, if it is the only agent that "works", then thats about the use of it.
> There are lotttssss of types of medicines that come in ER,XR,or SR versions. While consumers are bothered by the cost, these medications usually are beneficial, since patients only have to take medication once or twice a day, and the serum drug level is more constant.This is true for some agents -- but they are deliberately timed when either a patent runs out or the original agent fails its marketing.
The one that I can think of that has had medically valid uses in any recent time is Wellbutrin SR, but not necessarily XR. Wellbutrin by itself runs a higher risk of seizure disorders in even non-epileptic patents but SR tends to smooth out that. XR is probably not necessary for that and was a patent extender because there was already SR generic formulations anyhow, but it might have decreased that risk slightly more. SR with a small dose of any AED though would probably be about the same.
> Back Xanax XR... did you find that you were disappointed because it didn't last as long as the company claims? This happens frequently with any extended-release type drug.
>
> Did it not provide anxiety relief? I've heard that many have to increase the dose above the companies recommended equivalent dosing.
>
> Lastly, did you know that Xanax XR's patent ran out? There's now generic alprazolam XR manufatured by a few companies.
Most all, if not as you say all, benzodiazepines have long ran out their patents. There hasn't been much new benzodiazepine research on the market because there are a gamut of agents that have worked successfully for as long as nearly 50 years.I think there should be more original research on agents other than the (mostly) 1,4 benzodiazepines that exist, further understanding their attachments to GABA-BZ and creating less habituating compounds.
Still, there are those who are purists or who think that the "original" is best, and some for example spend extra money for the "original" Klonopin, first approved nearly 32 years ago, still manufactured in some smaller runs I guess, even though it is available generic from about a dozen companies.
In the irony of the FDA's growing resentment and restrictions on importation, if one takes a look at their bottles of OTC medication like generic loratadine (Claritin), they're likely to see "manufactured in India" (which has several generic firms including Mr. Reddys) or generic Zantac (which is made in Canada sometimes).-- tidings
poster:yxibow
thread:716854
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061224/msgs/716945.html