Alprazolam

Alprazolam, also known under the trade-names Xanax and Niravam, is a short-acting drug in the benzodiazepine class used to treat severe anxiety disorders and as an adjunctive treatment for anxiety associated with depression.

Alprazolam was first synthesized by Upjohn (now a part of Pfizer) and is marketed under various trade names. Its patent (#3,987,052) was filed on October 29, 1969, granted on October 19, 1976 and expired in September 1993.