some interesting, perhaps relevant studies on xanax
Neuropsychobiology. 1990-1991;23(3):124-8. Links
Neuroendocrine and monoaminergic responses to acute administration of alprazolam in normal subjects.Zemishlany Z, McQueeney R, Gabriel SM, Davidson M.
Psychiatry Service, Bronx, VA Medical Center, N.Y.
The effect of a single dose (3 mg) of alprazolam on plasma cortisol, growth hormone (GH), prolactin, norepinephrine (NE) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG) was studied in 10 healthy males. Alprazolam and placebo were administered orally in a crossover design and blood was sampled for 24 h. In comparison to placebo, alprazolam significantly reduced plasma cortisol levels and raised plasma GH levels. Prolactin levels were elevated by 100% from 2 to 8 h after alprazolam administration. The robust increase in prolactin levels is less consistent with previously reported data on traditional benzodiazepines. Plasma NE levels following alprazolam were lower than following placebo administration only at one time point, and MHPG concentrations were not affected. The lack of change in NE and MHPG levels suggests that the acute effect of alprazolam in normal subjects is not mediated via the central noradrenergic system.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2006 Dec 9; [Epub ahead of print] Links
Alprazolam induced conformational change in hemoglobin.Maitra S, Saha B, Santra CR, Mukherjee A, Goswami S, Chanda PK, Karmakar P.
Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India.
Alprazolam (ALP) is a widely prescribed sedative and antidepressant benzodiazepine group of drugs. The wide uses of this drug lead us to investigate its possible interaction with hemoglobin (Hb). Spectrophotometric and spectofluorimetric studies showed strong binding of ALP with Hb. Circular dichroic spectra showed that alpha-helical structure of Hb-subunits has been largely changed. On ALP treatment partial pressure of O(2) is increased in the blood indicating release of O(2) from erythrocytes. Further, the binding of ALP-induced conformational changes in Hb resulting in larger Hb particle size was demonstrated by dynamic light scattering experiment. Thus, the present study unambiguously raises question of danger of random usage of ALP, which binds with and changes the function of Hb.
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this study, just popped up and its rather disturbing especially with increased RBC's in AAS users
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