Xanax is an anti-anxiety drug commonly prescribed to patients who suffer from anxiety and depression. Incorporating these natural Xanax alternatives into your lifestyle can offer a holistic approach to managing anxiety. However, it’s important to remember that what works for one person may not work for another. It may take some experimentation to find the right combination of activities and practices that suit your needs.
Fortunately, many alternative treatments that offer relief from anxiety do exist, ranging from other medications to proven non-medical strategies. In this article we’ll detail the dangers of Xanax and other ways you can treat your anxiety. While benzodiazepines aren’t classified as traditional sleeping medicine, they have a strong sedative effect that can cause sleepiness. In some cases, benzodiazepines are prescribed to individuals suffering from anxiety-related insomnia.
My Experience Taking CBD for Anxiety
- Throughout this article, we’ll detail how prescription drugs like Xanax work and further detail these five Xanax alternatives.
- Surprisingly, simply taking a multivitamin supplement can make you more resilient to stress.
- Please explore more about them on our services overview page, including IV + NAD, nebulized glutathione, art therapy, neurotransmitter rehabilitation, and many others.
- Passionflower can help to relieve restlessness and anxiety by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain.
- It was one of the first herbal remedies I took many years ago to manage my anxiety.
- In addition to personalized guidance, healthcare professionals can offer the latest evidence-based recommendations on which natural alternatives are most effective for anxiety management.
- Some people might be particularly sensitive to caffeine and experience heightened anxiety even with small amounts.
Magnesium is also involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters like GABA, which are crucial for the regulation of anxiety and mood (35). By modulating the activity of NMDA receptors in the brain, magnesium can help regulate neural excitability, preventing overstimulation and promoting calmness (32). Along with its anxiety-reducing properties, chamomile also exhibits antidepressant activity (30). Many people today are turning to Ashwagandha as a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals like Xanax. However, kava still has the potential for side effects, especially skin problems at higher doses.
Kava
Substrate scope, multicomponent examples, and mechanistic insights are discussed. I have two unfilled prescriptions sitting in my purse right now and a half-used bottle in the medicine cabinet. Anxiety has been part of my life for so long that I don’t really know who I am without it. I have obsessive-compulsive disorder and also just a high-strung, anxious nature.
The Benefits of TUDCA
While many find anxiety relief through yoga, it might not resonate with everyone. Many yoga practices activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for natural form of xanax relaxation and recovery. This counteracts the “fight or flight” stress response driven by the sympathetic nervous system (66). For beginners, guided deep breathing sessions, available through apps or online videos, can also be helpful.
Natural Xanax Supplements
It is not recommended for those with allergies to benzodiazepines, narrow-angle glaucoma, alcoholism-related liver disease, impaired hepatic or renal functions, and older or obese adults. And, it is counter-indicated for patients treating with Sporanox or Nizoral. In 2018, the FDA unanimously recommended approval for an epilepsy drug made from CBD called Epidiolex source, and it is now the first CBD medicine available in the U.S. source. Because of its FDA approval, it is now regulated and does not have any of the safety concerns that other forms of CBD carry. CBD products come in various forms, including oils, tinctures (here is a recipe to make your own), capsules, and gummies. When it comes to anxiety, many people prefer broad-spectrum CBD oil, which contains a range of cannabinoids and terpenes, but no THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
- A balanced autonomic nervous system means there’s a healthy balance between the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) responses (71).
- The anti-anxiety benefits of physical activity are more evident in people who exercise regularly.
- In contrast, what we specialize in is matching a patient’s profile with the most effective non-pharmaceutical means to resolve symptoms.
- It has a variety of interesting properties, but has been used for anxiety.
- Alprazolam is an allosteric modulator of the benzodiazepine-GABA-A-chloride ionophore receptor complex expressed in neurons of the limbic, thalamic, and hypothalamic regions of the brain.
- While you can get l-theanine from drinking tea, it’s not practical to rely on tea alone to reduce anxiety.
- GABA lowers the activity of some brain cells, promoting a sense of relaxation (2).
Evidence published in Cureus confirms the benefits of ashwagandha for anxiety and highlights its ability to promote restful sleep, enhance memory, and improve cognitive function and overall mental well-being. The biosynthesis of such BZD is still unknown and the hypothesis is favoured that they may be of plant origin. Besides diazepam (D) and its major metabolite desmethyldiazepam (DD) several other BZD (e.g. delorazepam, deschloro-diazepam, delormetazepam, isodiazepam, lormetazepam, oxazepam) could be detected. It is very unlikely that these trace amounts exert any direct pharmacological effects and at the moment only speculations upon their physiological/biological role are possible. Recently BZD-receptor binding activity equivalent to surprisingly high levels of more than 900 ng/ml was found in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with advanced hepatic encephalopathy. As long as the structure of this binding activity has not been elucidated no firm conclusions can be drawn from these findings.
And some studies suggest this combination can be particularly effective in alleviating anxiety (36-37). In some studies, the reduction in anxiety with Ashwagandha supplementation rivalled those achieved by some psychiatric drugs (24). In some research, the anxiety-reducing effects of lavender were found to be comparable to anti-anxiety medications (14).
Xanax and other benzodiazepines do not amend themselves well to rapid detox modalities. Our residential center has been focusing on this patient population and these types of benzodiazepine transitions for nearly 2 decades. Xanax has two properties that make it more prone to cause dependence and addiction. Brahmi also possesses the medicinal potential to improve your memory, attention span, and focus. The soothing effects of Chamomile could be attributed to the presence of compounds in it, such as quinones, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. You don’t need to spend any money or enroll in a class to start meditating.
Aromatherapy massage combines the therapeutic touch of massage with the healing scents of essential oils to create a powerful antidote to stress and anxiety. Essential oils like lavender, chamomile, and lemon balm are known herbal remedies for their calming properties. These oils can help relax the mind, ease tension in the body, and improve overall mood. Numerous studies show that L-theanine can simultaneously enhance mental acuity and reduce stress 6.
Many people seek alternatives to Xanax, because they’re worried about its habit-forming nature, which can be a real concern for some people. Xanax is a commonly prescribed psychiatric medication that can be safe and effective when used as directed by a doctor. But does come with a risk of misuse and serious drawbacks that can put your health at risk, which is why some prefer not to prescribe it.