Xanax
® (
alprazolam) is a prescription medicine licensed for the treatment of
anxiety and
panic disorder. It belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines.
Xanax has many benefits. Some of the drug's effects in the body include:
- Reducing anxiety
- Causing sleepiness
- Relaxing muscles
- Stopping seizures
- Impairing short-term memory.
All benzodiazepines can have these effects to some degree, depending on the specific benzodiazepine that is being taken. They work in the brain by enhancing the effects of
gamma-aminobutyric acid (
GABA), a chemical that is naturally calming. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain. This is why Xanax and other benzodiazepines are known as mild tranquilizers, sedatives, or central nervous system depressants (CNS depressants).
(Click Xanax to learn more, including information about the drug's specific uses, dosing guidelines, and potential side effects.)
