Xanax Alternatives, Treatments, & Solutions

Doctors prescribe Xanax for short periods of time (up to 6 weeks) due to its addictiveness. Talkspace articles are written by experienced mental health-wellness contributors; they are grounded in scientific research and evidence-based practices. Articles are extensively reviewed by our team of clinical experts (therapists and psychiatrists of various specialties) to ensure content is accurate and on par with current industry standards. Getting therapy and a practical, personalized treatment plan that fits your needs from the comfort of your home is possible. Talkspace offers an accessible, affordable way to enhance your mental well-being and take control of your anxiety. Like SSRIs, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) have a lower risk of misuse, dependence, and addiction.

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Learn more about symptoms, how long they last, and how to provide support. These coping mechanisms can teach people effective stress management techniques, potentially minimizing the need for prolonged medication use. This allows mood-regulating chemicals to stay active in the brain longer, balance emotional responses, and improve anxiety symptoms. In summary, natural alternatives offer a multifaceted approach to handling anxiety and stress. There are ways to protect your brain from alcohol, but you’re better off avoiding it completely or significantly reducing your consumption if you’re trying to reduce anxiety. Cutting back or eliminating caffeine can serve as a natural approach to reducing anxiety, making it a lifestyle alternative to medications like Xanax.

This approach can be particularly helpful for individuals who have found traditional CBT challenging or ineffective. Statements regarding supplement benefits have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Transparent Labs products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. A simple way to stimulate the vagus nerve is by practicing the “Valsalva maneuver.” To perform this, take a deep breath and hold it while bearing down as if you are straining to have a bowel movement. Hold this position for about seconds before gently releasing your breath. This technique can help activate the vagus nerve and enhance parasympathetic activity, thus alleviating anxiety.

• These coping mechanisms can teach people effective stress management techniques, potentially minimizing the need for prolonged medication use.
• Because of this, it may be a better choice than pregabalin for use in GAD.
• From sudden bouts of panic to prolonged periods of unease, anxiety affects millions worldwide.
• While Xanax may be effective for some, the FDA warns of serious side effects and the potential for addiction while taking it.
• Several studies have explored the effectiveness of passionflower in treating anxiety.

Sleep hygiene

While the natural remedies below may not provide rapid relief on their own, they can be used in moderation to support other anxiety treatments. It’s often prescribed as a second-line or additional treatment alongside SSRIs and SNRIs to treat other mental health conditions. If your anxiety symptoms are interfering with your daily life and causing significant distress, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. Pregabalin (Lyrica) is a type of medication known as a calcium channel modulator.

Related Articles on Anxiety, or Psychiatric Medication Management

For those who have been using Xanax and are considering alternatives, it’s important to note that Can Xanax Make Anxiety Worse? Abrupt discontinuation of benzodiazepines can lead to withdrawal symptoms and potentially worsen anxiety. Z-drugs, such as zolpidem (Ambien) and eszopiclone (Lunesta), are primarily prescribed for insomnia but can also help with anxiety-related sleep disturbances.

Practice mindfulness and meditation

Nothing in this article is intended to diagnose or treat any condition, including guaranteeing prescription medication of any kind or dosage. Not all providers on Klarity Health prescribe all medications, particularly medications that are controlled substances. TMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate parts of your brain that regulate your mood. Therapists may use TMS to treat generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder. Lexapro (escitalopram) is another SSRI that treats anxiety and depression.

As a result, nerve cell activity is more strongly suppressed, leading to feelings of sedation, relaxation, and a reduction in anxiety. Thankfully, research shows that improving either one can also relieve the other. Make time to get a full 7 to 9 hours per night and follow the same sleep schedule every day. To fall asleep, practice anxiety-relieving breathing and mindfulness techniques. There are several prescription drugs that are Xanax alternatives, including other benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and more.

• This action makes you feel calm and helps reduce nervousness and muscle spasms.
• This neurotransmitter is involved in learning and memory and increases levels of glutamate, which may help restore neural pathways disrupted in depression and anxiety.
• Benzos can be effective for managing severe anxiety and panic disorders, but they may not be suitable for individuals with a history of addiction or a family history of addiction.
• Other antidepressant medications used to treat anxiety not listed here include Lexapro (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), and buspirone.
• This rapid action can be especially helpful in acute anxiety situations.

Alprazolam, the active ingredient in Xanax, is a benzodiazepine first marketed in 1981. It works by modulating gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). They correct brain chemical (neurotransmitter) deficiencies that cause the symptoms of anxiety.

Working with a therapist generally involves regular talk therapy sessions where you discuss your feelings, problem-solving strategies, and coping mechanisms to help with your condition. However, there are non-medication strategies for treating anxiety that actually have sufficient scientific research backing up their effectiveness. If you want to explore trying antidepressants or another kind of medication to treat your anxiety symptoms, take Talkiatry’s quick online assessment. You will be matched with one of our psychiatrists, who can work with you to decide what treatment path makes sense for you. Xanax works by binding to specific receptors in the brain that are sensitive to GABA and enhancing GABA’s effect on them. In other words, it boosts the power of that brake pedal, making it even more effective at calming down the activity of neurons.

Light Exercise

You will want to discuss all of your options with your psychiatric provider, who can make recommendations and adjustments based on your unique needs. Alcohol can also intensify the side effects of benzodiazepines, so it’s important to avoid drinking while using them. On top of that, Xanax can increase the risk of life-threatening problems when used in conjunction with certain other medications.

They work by keeping serotonin — a mood-regulating neurotransmitter — active in the brain longer to stabilize mood and gradually alleviate anxiety symptoms. Unlike Xanax —  which provides quick, alternative to xanax short-term relief — SSRIs are meant for long-term anxiety management. However, using the medication long-term can lead to dependency, withdrawal, and other harmful side effects. There are other safe options for managing anxiety that may work better for you.

How Do I Choose an Alternative to Xanax?

Two studies about PanX products for anxiety have been published, but these are suspect.One of the studiesonly included eight patients and used highly subjective non-validated end-points. Hydroxyzine for anxiety is often poorly tolerated because it is very sedating and causes dry mouth. People taking hydroxyzine should not use drugs or alcohol and should not drive a vehicle while taking the medication. Hydroxyzine (brand name Vistaril) is an antihistamine drug usually used for the treatment of environmental allergies and itchiness. RedBox Rx makes receiving medication treatment for anxiety easy and affordable.

Whether it’s walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, dancing, or weightlifting, personal preference plays a crucial role in adherence. Yoga also stimulates the production of endorphins, which can lead to a reduction in stress and anxiety (67). The best way to know if you’re on the right track is by using the EmWave2 device. Deep breathing exercises, on the other hand, stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which counteracts stress and promotes relaxation (63). Deep breathing exercises, sometimes referred to as diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing, have been practiced across various cultures and traditions as a method to calm the mind. There are various forms of meditation, including mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), transcendental meditation, and loving-kindness meditation.

Clinical trials have shown strong results in controlled settings, but whether the drug will deliver the same benefits in a variety of real-world scenarios remains to be seen. “Treatment of anxiety prior to a medical …ne combination drug.” Journal of Depression and Anxiety, 2018. “Treatment of acute anxiety episodes in patients using a fast-acting beta blocker – scopolamine combination drug.” Annals of Depression and Anxiety, November 16, 2017. The usual hydroxyzine dosage for anxiety (for treating GAD) is 50 mg per day, divided into four doses of 12.5 mg. They are chemically similar, work the same way and have a similar side effect profile. Themain differenceis that gabapentin has a more favorable risk-to-benefit ratio than pregabalin for the treatment of GAD.

Some analysts have tempered expectations, particularly following a trial in sciatica patients that failed to demonstrate a significant advantage over placebo. Also, suzetrigine has thus far only been shown to work in acute pain settings — and it is in the chronic pain arena where the need for safer, non-opioid alternatives is most pressing. While the FDA’s approval of suzetrigine has been met with enthusiasm in many quarters, some experts caution that its impact remains uncertain.