Xanax for Anxiety

Xanax^® (alprazolam) is a prescription medicine that belongs to a class of medications known as benzodiazepines. While healthcare providers primarily prescribe Xanax for anxiety, the medicine is also approved for the treatment of panic disorder.

Xanax is approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The condition is much more than the normal anxiety that people experience from day to day. It's chronic and fills one's day with exaggerated worry and tension, even though there is little or nothing to provoke it. Anxiety symptoms can vary from person to person and often include:

Feeling shaky, jittery, or nervous
Feeling tense, fearful, or apprehensive
Avoiding certain places or activities because of fear
A pounding or racing heart or trouble catching your breath
Unexplained sweating or trembling
Fear of losing control, going crazy, or dying.

In addition to treating generalized anxiety disorder, Xanax can also be used short-term to treat anxiety symptoms due to other causes, such as stressful events. The medication is also useful for treating anxiety associated with depression.

(Click Xanax Uses for more information about using this drug for anxiety, to learn about other uses of Xanax, and to find out how the product works.)