Author: Charles Frank

Natural Alternatives To Xanax: 3 Best OTC Xanax Alternatives That Actually Work

Meditation can be done by anyone and can provide many mental health benefits. These medications attach themselves to specific receptors in the brain, enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and depressing the central nervous system. As a result, nerve cell activity is more strongly suppressed, leading to feelings of sedation, relaxation, and a reduction in anxiety. Alcohol alters levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin and GABA.

Utilizers exhibit enhanced cognitive acuity and are capable of sustaining optimal productivity over extended periods of time. This implies that the misuse or inhalation of Xanax poses an equivalent level of risk as consuming excessive amounts of the medication. The pharmacological impact of Xanax is analogous in both oral and intranasal administration. The onset of oral Xanax medication typically takes about twenty minutes, whereas snorting the Xanax pills results in an instant effect. Notwithstanding, the medication requires up to six hours to fully instigate its therapeutic effect.

Additionally, a diet consisting of whole foods and limited sugars and caffeine has anxiety-reducing properties. In conjunction with a healthy diet, alcohol should be avoided or greatly reduced in an effort to combat symptoms of anxiety. Regular alcohol use has an effect on GABA, the neurotransmitter needed for balanced brain chemistry. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps individuals manage anxiety symptoms by addressing avoidant behaviors and safety-seeking habits that hinder correcting faulty beliefs. This process supports stress management, reducing stress-related disorders and enhancing overall mental health.

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Other antidepressant medications used to treat anxiety not listed here include Lexapro (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), and buspirone. Valium is used to treat anxiety as well as seizures and alcohol withdrawal. Many other well-known pharmaceuticals also fall within the class of benzodiazepines. They all have slightly different effects and are used to treat various mental and physical ailments.

1. The adrenal glands, responsible for releasing stress hormones, require adequate amounts of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) for proper function.
2. It has strong muscle-relaxing, sedative, and calming effects, so it is sometimes used as a pre-anesthetic before surgery.
3. The added safety of Zoloft and other SSRIs comes at the cost of requiring your patience in getting relief.
4. Omega-3 fatty acids are considered “essential fatty acids”, meaning your body cannot create them.
5. CBT promotes balanced thinking, which improves coping abilities during stressful situations [8].

Buspirone augmentation in this manner is often preferable to a benzodiazepine due to the lower abuse and sedation risk. Once again, your patience may be tested, however, since buspirone does not act as quickly as benzos. Since benzodiazepines’ duration of action is relatively short and has a litany of adverse effects, steering toward a different anxiolytic drug category may be best. A longer-lasting and a better-tolerated option may be found in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, (SSRI) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) classes. These Xanax alternatives provide a more steady action by increasing the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the spaces between nerve cells. Of course, no perfect option exists, so you should understand the detailed pros and cons.

Safer Xanax Alternatives Looking for a Better Way?

Beyond supplements and teas, lemon balm is also used in essential oil form for aromatherapy. This makes it unique, as it calms the mind without causing drowsiness, a common side effect of many anti-anxiety medications. Research indicates that lemon balm can elevate mood, ease nervousness, and counteract anxiety-related stress (9). Passion flower can be safely combined with other natural anti-anxiety remedies, amplifying its effects. Another showed that it can reduce pre-surgery anxiety, comparable to standard medications (4).

The longer-lasting effects can provide a more steady degree of anxiety relief and reduce the chance of withdrawal when stopping. Sign up for Jordan’s newsletter and join the 50,000 readers who are using his practical solutions to improve their brain function and mental health. In summary, natural alternatives offer a multifaceted approach to handling anxiety and stress. In many instances, limiting or abstaining from alcohol can be a constructive step towards managing anxiety, presenting itself as a natural lifestyle alternative to medications like Xanax. Cutting back or eliminating caffeine can serve as a natural approach to reducing anxiety, making it a lifestyle alternative to medications like Xanax. Not surprisingly, exercise is recommended by many experts as their number one piece of advice for optimal brain function and mental health.

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It is a very fast-acting drug, causing effects within an hour of taking it. Another feature to understand about SSRI use for anxiety compared to benzos is the slower onset of action. Full effectiveness for SSRIs can take six to eight weeks as opposed to a matter of hours for benzos. The added safety of Zoloft and other SSRIs comes at the cost of requiring your patience in getting relief. As modern medicine evolves, it has begun to embrace, study, and confirm the benefits of some of these age-old practices. Scientists have discovered that ingesting whole coffee fruit concentrate significantly increases brain function.

Although used to treat anxiety, trazodone may not treat panic attacks as effectively as Xanax. Halcion is a benzodiazepine medication that is primarily prescribed to temporarily treat symptoms of insomnia. This means that it doesn’t have to be taken as many times during the day, which reduces the risk of misuse and addiction. Many of Xanax’s side effects are also experienced as withdrawal symptoms after stopping Xanax too quickly.

Additionally, many patients find it extremely challenging to stop using Xanax, and benzodiazepines are among the hardest drugs to stop using. Research has established that neurotoxins collect in a person’s body throughout their lifetime, resulting in an over-stimulated nervous system. Additional factors such as an overly demanding workplace, a foundering marriage, or other stressors can overwhelm a person.

As a result, it’s a compelling natural option for those seeking relief from stress and anxiety. One of the primary ways Ashwagandha combats stress and anxiety is by regulating cortisol levels. Elevated cortisol, especially chronically, can lead to a myriad of health issues, including increased anxiety.

It’s these potential pitfalls of Xanax that lead many to search for alternatives. Over time, the body can build a tolerance to Xanax, meaning that higher doses may be required to achieve the same therapeutic effects. This includes drowsiness and dizziness, and even more severe issues like respiratory depression and memory problems (1).

It may pose a considerable risk if the individual undergoing withdrawal is not receiving significant medical support. The misuse of Xanax has the potential to cause significant adverse reactions, such as lethargy, somnolence, and impaired cognitive abilities. Moreover, as an individual develops tolerance to Xanax, the risk of overdose and seizures rises. Despite Xanax being deemed safe for short-term usage, it possesses a high potential for addiction. Upon initiation of recreational use, users gradually develop tolerance towards the drug, requiring a higher dosage to achieve the desired outcome.