Trankimazin: uses and side effects of this anxiolytic
Trankimazin is one of the anxiolytic drugs which is consumed more frequently. It is a benzodiazepine of immediate action that is used for the treatment of acute states of anxiety, among other conditions.
We will see in this article what trankimazin is and how it works, as well as its main side effects and contraindications.
- Related article: "Types of psychotropic drugs: uses and side effects"
What is Trankimazin and what is it for?
Trankimazin is the commercial name of a psychopharmaceutical called "alprazolam". This same drug is in some places known as Xanax. It is an anxiolytic type medicine, that is, it is used for the treatment of symptoms of anxiety and crisis of anguish .
The latter include different physiological reactions that occur constantly and whose control escapes the will of the person. Specifically, it is prescribed for the treatment of clinical conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder and in some phobias such as social phobia.
In the same way, Trankimazin is used for the treatment of adaptive and in the case of depressive disorders that present comorbidity with anxiety disorders. In the same sense, it is prescribed for the treatment of anxiety states that accompany medical treatments, such as the case of chemotherapy .
But it does not only have anxiolytic effects. Being a drug with hypnotic properties, the Trankimazin It works as a muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant . The above is derived from its pharmacological properties that place it in the category of benzodiazepines. We will now see how these types of drugs are defined.
Benzodiazepines
In general, anxiolytics have a depressant action in the central nervous system. At a specific level, they may have different effects depending on the type of anxiolytic in question. For example, benzodiazepines, prescribed for short-term anxiety crises, are the most recently marketed anxiolytics, which replaced barbiturates.
Previously, barbiturates were considered as the main medicine to treat anxiety symptoms, however, they have been gradually replaced due to the large number of adverse effects they cause.
Among the drugs that have replaced barbiturates is Trankimazin, a benzodiazepine whose action is immediate; that is to say, acts quickly in the central nervous system , and for that reason, its effects are of short duration (they can last between 12 and 24 hours).
The latter has represented an advantage over other anxiolytics, because by acting with speed in the body, the need to take large amounts of the drug is reduced. Also, having a short duration the chances of generating drug dependence are reduced .
- Related article: "Benzodiazepines (psychodrugs): uses, effects and risks"
Mechanism of action
Being a benzodiazepine, Trankimazin acts through the receptors of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The latter is one of the main neurotransmitters with inhibitory action .
When Trankimazin binds with GABA receptors, this inhibitory action is potentiated, generating sedative or anxiolytic effects in the central nervous system. Therefore, this drug is considered an agonist of benzodiacepin receptors.
In other words, the Trankimazin reduces neuronal activation of some areas of the brain where GABA receptors are present; especially in the limbic system, which is the region associated with anxiety states.
- Maybe you're interested: "Types of neurotransmitters: functions and classification"
Contraindications
Trankimazin is contraindicated in the case of people who have the following symptoms:
- Narrow angle glaucoma .
- Alterations of respiratory tract.
- Myasthenia (autoimmune neuromuscular disease that generates weakness in voluntary skeletal muscles).
- Renal or hepatic insufficiency .
It is also recommended to suspend its use during pregnancy and lactation, due to the probability that this drug is transmitted in the placenta and in breast milk. It is also recommended to avoid the use of heavy machinery and take precautions when driving, for its sedative effects.
Side effects
Although benzodiazepines have reduced the possibility of suffering adverse effects as well as developing drug dependence (with respect to barbiturates), these medications still include the possibility of experiencing secondary manifestations.
In this sense, the main adverse effect caused by the trankimazin is drowsiness, fatigue and sedation accompanied by severe headaches and dizziness . Therefore, it can cause a decrease in alertness, and an alteration of attention or concentration. In the same line, the trankimazin can generate difficulties to retain information in the short term, that is, it can cause some memory problems.
Physiologically, side effects include vomiting, nausea, blurred vision, hypotension, tremors, urinary incontinence and altered libido. Other more serious but less frequent effects are sudden mood swings, hallucinations, suicidal ideation, aggression or irritability, and intraocular pressure. In the same sense and as it can happen with other psychotropic drugs, there is the possibility of developing paradoxical effects (contrary to what would be expected) as agitation, hyperactivity, restlessness or elevated anxiety states.
On the other hand, it is advisable to reduce your intake gradually, to avoid a withdrawal syndrome or a sudden return of previous manifestations of anxiety. Likewise, an excessive intake of this medication can have as a consequence overdose with cardiorespiratory insufficiencies.
Bibliographic references:
- Trankimazin tablet 0.5 mg (2015). Vademecum Retrieved October 23, 2018. Available at //www.vademecum.es/equivalencia-lista-trankimazin+tablet+0.5+mg-espana-n05ba12-es_1.
- Stevens, J.C. and Pollack, M.H. (2005). Benzodiazepines in clinical practice: consideration of their long-term use and alternative agents. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry; 66 (2): 21-7.
