What Is Xanax Used For? -- An Overview
Xanax® (
alprazolam) is a prescription medication that is used for the treatment of the following conditions:
Xanax and Anxiety
Xanax is approved to treat
generalized anxiety disorder (
GAD). Most people experience feelings of anxiety before an important event, such as a big exam, business presentation, or first date. Generalized
anxiety disorder 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. Having this disorder means always anticipating disaster, often worrying excessively about health, money, family, or work. Sometimes, however, the source of the worry is hard to pinpoint. Simply the thought of getting through the day provokes
anxiety symptoms.
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. Often, people dealing with the shock of an unexpected death of a loved one or other traumatic event experience the symptoms of anxiety, and Xanax can help people get through such times.
In many people,
depression and anxiety often come hand in hand. Xanax is also useful for treating anxiety associated with depression.
