Fasting Study of Alprazolam Extended-Release Tablets 3 mg to Xanax XR® Tablets 3 mg

Single-Dose Fasting In Vivo Bioequivalence Study of Alprazolam Extended-Release Tablets (3 mg; Mylan) to Xanax XR® Tablets (3 mg; Pharmacia & Upjohn) in Healthy Volunteers

The objective of this study was to investigate the bioequivalence of Mylan's alprazolam 3 mg Extended-release tablets to Pharmacia & Upjohn's Xanax XR® 3 mg tablets following a single, oral 3 mg (1 x 3 mg) dose administered under fasting conditions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1. Age: 18 years and older. 2. Sex: Male and/or non-pregnant, non-lactating female.

  1. Women of childbearing potential must have negative serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) pregnancy tests performed within 14 days prior to the start of the study and on the evening prior to each dose administration. If dosing is scheduled on weekends, the HCG pregnancy test should be given within 24 hours prior to dosing of each study period. An additional serum (beta-HCG) pregnancy test will be performed upon completion of the study.

  2. Women must practice abstinence or be using an acceptable form of contraception throughout the duration of the study. No hormonal contraceptives or hormonal replacement therapies are permitted in this study. Acceptable forms of contraception include the following:

     1. intrauterine device in place for at least 3 months prior to the start of the study and remaining in place during the study period, or
     2. barrier methods containing or used in conjunction with a spermicidal agent, or
     3. surgical sterilization

  3. Women will not be considered of childbearing potential if one of the following is reported and documented on the medical history:

     1. postmenopausal with an absence of menses for at least one (1) year, or
     2. bilateral oophorectomy with or without a hysterectomy and an absence of bleeding for at least 6 months, or
     3. total hysterectomy

  4. During the course of the study, from study screen until study exit - including the washout period, women of childbearing potential must use a spermicide containing barrier method of contraception in addition to their current contraceptive device. Males must also use a spermicide containing barrier method of contraception to prevent the pregnancy of their sexual partners. These stipulations should be documented in the informed consent form.

     3. Weight: At least 60 kg (132 lbs) for men and 24 kg (106 lbs) for women and all subjects within 15% of Ideal Body Weight (IBW), as referenced by the Table of "Desirable Weights of Adults" Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 1999 (See Part II ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF BIOEQUIVALENCE PROTOCOLS).

     4. All subjects should be judged normal and healthy during a pre-study medical evaluation (physical examination, laboratory evaluation, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV tests, 12-lead ECG, and urine drug screen including amphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoid, cocaine, opiate, phencyclidine, and methadone) performed within 14 days of the initial dose of study medication.

     Exclusion Criteria:

• 1. Institutionalized subjects will not be used. 2. Social Habits:

  1. Use of any tobacco products within 1 year of the start of the study.
  2. Ingestion of any alcoholic, caffeine- or xanthine-containing food or beverage within 24 hours prior to the initial dose of study medication.
  3. Ingestion of any vitamins or herbal products within 7 days prior to the initial dose of the study medication.
  4. Any recent, significant change in dietary or exercise habits.
  5. A positive test for any drug included in the urine drug screen.
  6. History of drug and/or alcohol abuse. 3. Medications:

  1. Use of any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications within 14 days prior to the initial dose of study medication.

  2. Use of any hormonal contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy within 3 months prior to study medication dosing.

  3. Use of any medication known to alter hepatic enzyme activity within 28 days prior to the initial dose of study medication.

     4. Diseases:

  1. History of any significant chronic disease and/or hepatitis.
  2. Acute illness at the time of either the pre-study medical evaluation or dosing.
  3. A positive HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C test. 5. Abnormal and clinically significant laboratory test results:

  1. Clinically significant deviation from the Guide to Clinically Relevant Abnormalities (See Part II ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF BIOEQUIVALENCE PROTOCOLS).

  2. Abnormal and clinically relevant ECG tracing. 6. Donation or loss of a significant volume of blood or plasma (> 450 mL) within 28 days prior to the initial dose of study medication.

     7. Subjects who have received an investigational drug within 30 days prior to the initial dose of study medication.

     8. Allergy or hypersensitivity to alprazolam, other benzodiazepines, lactose, magnesium stearate, colloidal silicon dioxide, hypromellose or D & C Yellow No. 10.

     9. History of difficulties in swallowing, or any gastrointestinal disease which could affect the drug absorption.

     10. History of acute narrow angle glaucoma 11. Consumption of grapefruit or any grapefruit containing products within 7 days of drug administration.