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Infant Ingested Xanax Tablet. Should I Be Worried?

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Posted on Tue, 21 May 2013
Question: My 13 month old ingested a half of a 2mg Xanax.... I was only able to retrieve a wet half of the Xanax .. I'm not 100% if the Xanax she found was already half or whole...I have been monitoring her for an hour and a half. I'm sure she ingested some just not sure how much. She's unsteady with her walking & and very drowsy. She usually takes a nap in the afternoon at 3pm.... If she ingested at 12:45pm is it okay for her to still stay on schedule for her nap and what other symptoms should I be watching for? Very Scared for my baby girl please help
doctor
Answered by Dr. Achuo Ascensius (5 hours later)
Hello,
thanks for the query.

I understand completely how you feel and i encourage you to be strong. The active substance of xanax is alprazolam which belongs to group of drugs called benzodiazepines and which are are used as a psychoaffective drugs. Alprazolam possesses anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, skeletal muscle relaxant, anticonvulsant, and amnestic properties. These properties could be severe in case of over dose with deterioration of breathing and nervous functions that could be fatal.
Alprazolam peaks in blood about one to two hours after ingestion and the half life is about 6 to 27 hours with an average of 11 hours. One to two hours following the ingestion is very important in the follow-up as the drug peaks in blood and over dose effects are likely to occur then. In case of over dose which is the main fear, you will observe;
-the child will be in a persistent sleepy state or in coma not responding to pain stimulus and with shallow breathing associated with reduced breathing rate (which is the main thing to watch out i.e. respiratory suppression).

However, a quick reflex to do is to rush the child to the ER for a gastric lavage and for monitoring during the period that the drug is suppose to be in blood i.e. 12 to 24 hours so that in case if any complications immediate attention should be given.

Hope this answers your query. If you have more query i will be ready to answer. Best regards and wish the best to your baby.


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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Achuo Ascensius

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 1040 Questions

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Infant Ingested Xanax Tablet. Should I Be Worried?

Hello,
thanks for the query.

I understand completely how you feel and i encourage you to be strong. The active substance of xanax is alprazolam which belongs to group of drugs called benzodiazepines and which are are used as a psychoaffective drugs. Alprazolam possesses anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, skeletal muscle relaxant, anticonvulsant, and amnestic properties. These properties could be severe in case of over dose with deterioration of breathing and nervous functions that could be fatal.
Alprazolam peaks in blood about one to two hours after ingestion and the half life is about 6 to 27 hours with an average of 11 hours. One to two hours following the ingestion is very important in the follow-up as the drug peaks in blood and over dose effects are likely to occur then. In case of over dose which is the main fear, you will observe;
-the child will be in a persistent sleepy state or in coma not responding to pain stimulus and with shallow breathing associated with reduced breathing rate (which is the main thing to watch out i.e. respiratory suppression).

However, a quick reflex to do is to rush the child to the ER for a gastric lavage and for monitoring during the period that the drug is suppose to be in blood i.e. 12 to 24 hours so that in case if any complications immediate attention should be given.

Hope this answers your query. If you have more query i will be ready to answer. Best regards and wish the best to your baby.


-