Focused phobias are a fear of one particular thing or several things; in other words, when you are exposed to your phobia, you have fear or anxiety. Part 3. Know what it is. Xanax is a type of sedative. It does this by binding to receptors in your brain, stimulating production of GABA. GABA is a naturally occuring neurotransmitter that reduces the activity of neurons to which it binds.
Understand what Xanax is prescribed for. Most often, Xanax is prescribed for anxiety. You may also have it prescribed for panic disorder, though sometimes doctors are reluctant to prescribe it for this condition, as you often get panic attacks when you are relaxed. Xanax can get you through a crisis, such as a stressful exam or difficult meeting.
The correct dosage will get your anxiety out of your way so you can focus properly. It treats the symptoms, not the cause. Xanax is not a cure for an anxiety disorder. Talk with your doctor about what treatments can help you in the long term. Know why your doctor might be reluctant to prescribe Xanax. Xanax can become addictive over time. Kirsten Thompson, MD. Kind of, but not entirely! Xanax belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines, which are used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.
Xanax helps increase a brain chemical called GABA, which helps promote a calm and relaxed state of mind. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. It's not a good idea to go off Xanax all at once. You should wean yourself off this drug under the guidance of a doctor.
If you don't, you may end up with withdrawal symptoms, such as tremors, sweating, nervousness, and even seizures. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Xanax can temporarily ease anxiety and stop panic attacks, allowing you to get rid of your anxiety short-term so you can handle a situation without stress getting in your way.
It will not cure an anxiety disorder. If you thinking that you or someone you know may be addicted to Xanax and is manipulating their doctor or therapist to have it prescribed to them, call an addiction hotline or find other means of assistance immediately. Do not use alcohol or other CNS depressants while taking Alprazolam, as Alprazolam itself is a CNS depressant and simultaneous use of more CNS depressants increases their effect leading to side effects including tachycardia, arrhythmia, muscle weakness, coma, acute blood toxicity, and liver failure.
These are very serious complications which often result in death. Do not eat grapefruits or drink grapefruit juice while taking Alprazolam. This may increase the amount of the active ingredient entering your system and slow down its elimination. Related wikiHows How to. How to. Board Certified Psychiatrist. Expert Interview. More References About This Article. Co-authored by:. Many people, especially young adults, tend to self-medicate.
Instead of seeing a doctor, they look up symptoms in the internet and find a quick fix by getting pills from illegal sources. Consulting a doctor is your best course of action to confirm if this drug is the right medication for you. It is possible to be prescribed Xanax if you have the following conditions. Anxiety disorder is often diagnosed when you experience excessive and persisting worry for a situation that is yet to happen.
You anticipate a bad outcome especially for an important event. There are often feelings of severe discomfort, uneasiness, distress and in many cases, physical symptoms like chest pains, shortness of breath, trembling, etc. Anxiety disorders can be caused by past emotional experiences or current life situations. For example, people who have been abused or bullied can experience anxiety when in social settings. However, it is normal to feel anxious once in a while so taking a pill may not always be the best first line of action.
A medical professional will be able to help you correctly diagnose if your anxiety episodes need to be treated with medication.
Unlike anxiety where you worry about an imminent event that has not happened yet, panic attacks are sudden bursts of intense fear marked by physical symptoms. These are often triggered by external stressors and can come without warning.
Sometimes, panic disorders can be mistaken for a heart attack which can send patients to emergency rooms. Panic attacks are often associated with abrupt onset of fear because of what is currently taking place. The trigger is like an alarm that was set off to make you panic. As an academic psychiatrist who treats people with anxiety and trauma , I often hear questions about a specific class of medications called benzodiazepines.
I also often receive referrals for patients who are on these medications and reluctant to discontinue them.
There has been increasing attention into long-term risks of benzodiazepines, including potential for addiction, overdose and cognitive impairment. The overdose death rate among patients receiving both benzodiazepines and opioids is 10 times higher than those only receiving opioids, and benzo misuse is a serious concern.
Benzodiazepines are a class of anti-anxiety medications, or anxiolytics, that increase the activity of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter, a molecule that helps brain cells, or neurons, communicate with each other. GABA receptors are widely available across the brain, and benzodiazepines work to reduce anxiety by enhancing GABA inhibitory function.
The benzo family includes diazepam, or Valium; clonazepam, or Klonopin; lorazepam, or Ativan; chlordiazepoxide, or Librium; and the one most commonly known to the pop culture, alprazolan, or Xanax, among others. Different benzos have similar effects, but they differ in strength, how long it takes for them to work and half-life, a measure of how long the drug stays in your system.
For example, while diazepam has a half-life of up to 48 hours, the half-life of alprazolam can be as short as six hours. This is important, as a shorter half-life is linked with higher potential for addiction and dependence. That is one reason physicians typically are not excited about prescribing Xanax for long periods of time.
When benzos were introduced to the market in the s, there was excitement as they were considered safer compared to barbiturates , which had been used to treat anxiety. By the s, benzos made it to the list of the most highly prescribed medications. Other doctors may take a variety of factors into consideration before recommending a specific medication.
Always ask your doctor why they recommend the medication they did and if other options might be more appropriate for you.
All medications have the risk of potential side effects. Some medications have more, or worse, side effects than others. Make sure you know what to expect so you can make an informed decision about whether the potential risks are worth the potential benefits. Some medication for anxiety particularly antidepressants must build up in your system for several weeks before you notice relief from your symptoms.
Ask your doctor what it might look like when the medication starts to kick in and how long that might take. How long will you need to take this medication? A few weeks?
A few months? A few years? As needed? The answer will vary depending on your symptoms, health history, and the medication prescribed. Your doctor may want to adjust the dosage of your medication or switch you to something different based on your results and side effects. While any physician can prescribe medication for anxiety with limitations on what online doctors can prescribe , psychiatrists are the true experts.
Read: How to Speak to an Online Psychiatrist. However, you must see a doctor in person for anxiety medications that are classified as controlled substances. Online doctors cannot prescribe benzodiazepines, such as Xanax. That said, online doctors can prescribe antidepressants, which are the first line of treatment for anxiety and have been proven to be highly effective.
They also have less side effects and risk factors than benzodiazepines.
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