GG249 is a white, rectangular, multi-scored tablet containing alprazolam 2 mg. Current DailyMed labeling describes the pill as debossed GG 249 on one side and plain on the reverse. Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine used for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder and is federally classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance.

GG249 is sometimes called a “white Xanax bar,” but that wording can blur an important distinction. GG249 is generic alprazolam, not a brand-name Xanax tablet. It contains the same active medication, alprazolam, while the GG249 imprint identifies a particular generic product.

Because counterfeit tablets can reproduce pharmaceutical markings, the imprint can identify the expected legitimate product but cannot verify the contents of a pill obtained from an unknown or unlicensed source.

GG249 Pill Identification

Imprint GG 249
Drug Alprazolam
Strength 2 mg
Color White
Shape Rectangular
Score Multi-scored; DailyMed lists four pieces
Reverse side Plain
Route Oral
Drug class Benzodiazepine
DEA schedule Schedule IV
Prescription required? Yes
Label context DailyMed identifies Sandoz labeling for GG249

What Is the GG249 Pill?

GG249 is an immediate-release alprazolam tablet. Alprazolam belongs to the benzodiazepine class, which decreases central nervous system activity through GABA-A receptor effects.

Current U.S. labeling indicates alprazolam for the acute treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in adults and for the treatment of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, in adults.

The medication can be clinically useful but also has substantial safety concerns. FDA-required boxed warnings address misuse, abuse, addiction, physical dependence, withdrawal, and the potentially fatal effects of combining benzodiazepines with opioids.

Is GG249 Xanax?

GG249 contains alprazolam, which is the active ingredient in Xanax. The correct pharmaceutical description is alprazolam 2 mg. “Xanax” is a brand name.

Generic drugs can use different imprints and appearances. That means two tablets can contain the same active drug and strength while looking different. For pill identification, the imprint should be matched to an official label rather than relying only on slang names such as “white bar.”

What Does GG249 Look Like?

DailyMed describes the 2 mg tablet as white, rectangular, and multi-scored, with GG 249 debossed on one side and a plain reverse side.

The score lines are part of the physical description. They should not be treated as a personal instruction to change a dose. How a prescribed tablet should be taken or divided is determined by the prescription and clinician or pharmacist instructions.

Who Makes GG249?

DailyMed product labeling for GG249 identifies Sandoz in the product information. Manufacturer and labeler information can change over time as generic products are marketed, repackaged, or distributed, so the current prescription bottle remains the best source for identifying who supplied an individual patient’s medication.

The more durable identification facts are the imprint, active ingredient, strength, shape, and official product labeling.

How Strong Is GG249?

GG249 contains 2 mg of alprazolam. Standard immediate-release alprazolam tablets are available in lower strengths as well, so 2 mg represents the highest strength among the commonly labeled immediate-release tablet strengths.

That does not mean 2 mg is appropriate for a particular person or situation. Benzodiazepines can produce significant sedation, coordination problems, memory impairment, and dependence. A pill-identification article should identify the strength without converting it into personal dosing advice.

How Long Does Alprazolam Last?

DailyMed reports that oral alprazolam reaches peak plasma concentration in approximately 1 to 2 hours. In healthy adults, the mean elimination half-life is about 11.2 hours, with a reported range that varies considerably between individuals.

A half-life describes drug elimination, not exactly how long a person will feel sedated or how long a drug test will remain positive. Older age, liver impairment, and interacting medications can change alprazolam exposure.

Common Side Effects of GG249 / Alprazolam

Commonly reported alprazolam effects include:

  • Drowsiness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Impaired coordination
  • Memory impairment
  • Confusion or slowed thinking
  • Dry mouth

These effects can impair driving and other activities requiring coordination and full alertness.

Why Does Alprazolam Have a Boxed Warning?

The FDA’s benzodiazepine boxed warning emphasizes that the risks go beyond ordinary drowsiness. Benzodiazepines can be misused, can lead to addiction, can produce clinically significant physical dependence, and can cause dangerous withdrawal if stopped too quickly.

The warning also addresses the combination of benzodiazepines with opioids. When both drug classes depress the central nervous system at the same time, the risk of profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death increases.

GG249 and Opioids

Alprazolam should not be casually combined with opioid pain medications or illicit opioids. The interaction is serious enough to appear in the boxed warning.

Counterfeit pills make this issue harder to recognize. A person may believe a tablet is alprazolam when an illicitly manufactured pill contains fentanyl or another opioid. That can create an opioid exposure the person did not knowingly choose.

GG249 and Alcohol

Alcohol is another central nervous system depressant. Combining it with alprazolam can intensify sedation, impairment, and breathing-related risk. FDA safety guidance for benzodiazepines advises patients not to drink alcohol with these medications.

Even when a person has previously used either substance alone, their combined effects can be unpredictable and more dangerous.

Can GG249 Cause Addiction?

Yes. Alprazolam can be misused and can contribute to a benzodiazepine use disorder. Warning signs can include taking more than intended, repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut down, craving, continued use despite harm, or seeking pills from multiple nonmedical sources.

Addiction should be distinguished from physical dependence. A person can become physically dependent while following a prescription, especially with continued exposure.

GG249 Withdrawal and Seizure Risk

Current alprazolam labeling warns that abrupt discontinuation or rapid dosage reduction after continued use can precipitate acute withdrawal reactions that may be life-threatening. Seizures are among the most serious potential complications.

Reported withdrawal features include anxiety, insomnia, panic symptoms, tremor, nausea, headache, irritability, increased heart rate, sensory disturbances, muscle pain and stiffness, and in severe cases seizures.

A person who has been taking alprazolam regularly should not copy a generic online taper. The safest reduction plan depends on the person’s exposure, medical history, concurrent substances, and response to dose changes.

GG249 vs. 2090 V

GG249 and 2090 V answer nearly the same drug-strength question but differ in how the tablets are identified.

GG249 White rectangular multi-scored tablet; GG 249 on one side; reverse side plain
2090 V White oblong multi-scored tablet; 2090 on one side; V on the reverse
Drug Both are alprazolam
Strength Both are labeled 2 mg
Schedule Both are Schedule IV
Why separate pages? Users identify pills by imprint; the manufacturer/label context and physical markings differ

If a prescription refill changes from one imprint to another, that can happen when a pharmacy changes generic suppliers. The pharmacist can verify whether the new tablet matches the prescription.

Why GG249 Has Its Own Identification Page

GG249 and 2090 V both point to alprazolam 2 mg, but the search intent is not identical. Someone holding a tablet marked GG249 needs to verify that exact imprint, shape, reverse side, and label context. Collapsing every 2 mg alprazolam tablet into one generic “white Xanax bar” description would make pill identification less precise.

The overlap belongs in comparison sections and internal links. The identification facts should remain imprint-specific so readers can distinguish one approved generic product from another and recognize when a tablet does not match the expected description.

Overdose and Withdrawal Are Different Emergencies

Alprazolam overdose and alprazolam withdrawal can both be serious, but they present for opposite reasons. Overdose follows excessive central nervous system depression and may involve severe drowsiness, loss of coordination, coma, or breathing problems, especially with other depressants. Withdrawal can occur when a dependent person suddenly stops or sharply reduces exposure and may involve severe anxiety, agitation, tremor, or seizures.

Someone who is unresponsive or breathing abnormally needs emergency evaluation. A dependent person who is trying to stop alprazolam also needs medical guidance because a sudden change can create a different type of medical risk.

Can GG249 Be Fake?

Yes. Counterfeit medicines can be designed to resemble approved prescription tablets. FDA states that counterfeit products may contain the wrong ingredients, incorrect amounts of an active ingredient, no active ingredient, or other harmful substances.

Buying “Xanax bars” through social media, messaging apps, dealers, or unsafe online pharmacies is especially risky because the seller’s description does not establish what is in the tablet.

What Do the Score Lines Mean?

The score lines are part of the tablet’s physical identification. On a 2 mg alprazolam tablet they can make the tablet look like a segmented “bar,” which is one reason the slang term is common. The lines should not be treated as a do-it-yourself dosing guide. Whether a prescribed tablet should be divided, and how much alprazolam a person should take, depends on the prescription and the clinician’s instructions.

It is also unsafe to assume that a scored counterfeit tablet contains an even amount of drug in each segment. Illicitly manufactured pills do not have the same quality controls as approved pharmaceutical products.

Important Alprazolam Drug Interactions

Alprazolam is metabolized primarily through the CYP3A pathway. Current labeling warns that strong CYP3A inhibitors can substantially increase alprazolam exposure and the risk of adverse effects. Examples listed in labeling include drugs such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, and clarithromycin.

This is one reason a pill-identification page cannot answer whether a particular person can safely take alprazolam. Prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, and some other substances can change sedation or alprazolam blood levels. A pharmacist or prescriber should review the complete medication list.

Who May Be More Sensitive to Alprazolam?

Older adults and people with certain liver or respiratory problems can be more sensitive to benzodiazepine effects. Current labeling also warns about respiratory risk in patients with impaired respiratory function. Falls, confusion, and excessive sedation can become more consequential in vulnerable patients.

If a person becomes unusually difficult to wake, develops abnormal breathing, or has a marked change in mental status after taking alprazolam, that should not be dismissed as ordinary sleepiness.

Can You Overdose on GG249?

Alprazolam overdose can cause severe drowsiness, confusion, loss of coordination, reduced reflexes, and coma. Fatal outcomes are especially associated with polysubstance use involving other depressants such as opioids and alcohol.

An unresponsive person, someone with abnormal or slowed breathing, or someone suspected of taking an unknown counterfeit pill needs emergency medical help.

What Should You Do With an Unknown GG249 Pill?

If it was legitimately prescribed to you but differs from your prior refill, contact the dispensing pharmacy. If it did not come from a licensed pharmacy or the source is uncertain, an imprint match is not enough to prove the contents.

Controlled medications should be stored securely and should never be shared with another person.

When to Seek Help for Alprazolam Use

Medical assessment is appropriate when someone is escalating alprazolam use, obtaining tablets outside medical care, mixing benzodiazepines with alcohol or opioids, experiencing withdrawal between doses, or finding it difficult to stop.

Because benzodiazepine withdrawal can be medically dangerous, detox centers or other medically supervised services may be appropriate for some people. Others may be treated in outpatient settings depending on the severity and pattern of use.

Frequently Asked Questions About GG249

What is GG249?

GG249 is the imprint on a white rectangular alprazolam 2 mg tablet identified in DailyMed labeling.

Is GG249 a Xanax bar?

It is generic alprazolam 2 mg and may be called a “bar” informally. It is not a brand-name Xanax tablet.

Is GG249 controlled?

Yes. Alprazolam is a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Is GG249 the same as 2090 V?

Both are labeled alprazolam 2 mg, but the tablets have different imprints, shapes, reverse-side markings, and product-label contexts.

Can GG249 cause withdrawal?

Yes. Continued alprazolam use can cause physical dependence, and abrupt discontinuation can trigger serious withdrawal reactions, including seizures.

Can a counterfeit pill have GG249 printed on it?

Yes. Counterfeit manufacturers can copy prescription imprints. Pills obtained outside licensed pharmacy channels cannot be authenticated from appearance alone.

Sources

Part of the Benzodiazepines resource silo

Continue exploring Benzodiazepines

Follow the topic in sequence or browse the full Benzodiazepines resource hub.

About This Article
Evidence-based sourcesSources verified August 15, 2026

Editorial standard

Rehabs.Today resource articles are written for educational and treatment-navigation purposes. For medical and drug-safety claims, we prioritize current primary or authoritative references such as FDA and DailyMed labeling, CDC, SAMHSA, NIH/NCBI resources, and peer-reviewed research when appropriate. Important limitations, uncertainty, and differences between population-level evidence and individual medical advice are stated where they matter.

How to use this information

This article provides general educational information. It is not a diagnosis, prescription, personalized taper, or substitute for advice from a physician, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare professional. Do not start, stop, combine, or change a prescribed medication solely because of information on this page.

Emergency information

If someone cannot be awakened, is breathing slowly or abnormally, or may be experiencing an opioid overdose, seek emergency medical help immediately and give naloxone if it is available.

Treatment-directory transparency

Some Rehabs.Today articles link to treatment directories and provider resources. Those links are for navigation and do not replace independent medical assessment. Medical claims in the article should be evaluated from the cited evidence, not from whether a treatment provider is linked.