To combat these feelings, many turn to medications like Xanax, a widely prescribed drug that offers temporary relief. At Sober Sidekick, we’re committed to guiding individuals on their path to wellness. We believe in the strength of community, the power of knowledge, and the potential for recovery and growth. Remember, every step taken towards understanding and managing anxiety or medication dependence is a step closer to a brighter, more balanced future. Rooted in a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors, it’s a condition that can drastically reduce one’s quality of life. But what amplifies its impact is its deceptive nature; it often remains cloaked, concealed behind daily stresses, making diagnosis and treatment a challenge.
My #2 Xanax OTC Alternative – Phenibut
- Yoga also incorporates mindfulness and has shown to be effective at relieving anxiety.
- Fortunately, there are a variety of other options if you don’t want to or can’t take Xanax.
- OTCs are easily accessible and readily available in most areas or by ordering online.
- Xanax is highly addictive, has a high risk of abuse, can come with many harsh reactions — and can be incredibly difficult to stop taking.
- Physical activity triggers the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural mood elevators.
Kratom is a plant based substance that comes from the Coffee family, and has been used by people in the Southeast Asian region to help improve mood, give you energy, and lower anxiety. By clicking the “Check Insurance Coverage” button and submitting this form, I affirm that I have read and agree to this Site’s Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. I consent to receive SMS text messages to my cell number provided above for notifications, alerts, and general communication purposes including promotions from a paid advertiser. I understand that I am not required to provide my consent as a condition of purchasing any products or services. I understand that I can opt-out of receiving text messages at any time by responding with STOP.
Get helpful tips & strategies for better mental health delivered right to your inbox. If you’d like to ease off of Xanax in favor of a safer alternative, that is always an option. Just make sure you speak with a licensed professional to help you as it is unsafe to stop abruptly. A licensed provider can support you and help ensure you’re taking the necessary precautions.
Magnesium
The exact way through which this herb produces anxiolysis is not well otc substitute for xanax understood. Although both are fast-acting, when comparing Ativan vs. Xanax, Ativan takes longer to start its action. Alprazolam has a half-life of 11.2 hours with side effects including dizziness, Akathisia, drowsiness, lightheadedness, and others. On the other hand, when comparing Xanax vs. Ativan, the half-life of Alprazolam is slightly shorter than that of Ativan, i.e., 12 hours. Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine drug in the class of allergy medications but also has some sedating and anxiolytic effects.
The Benefits of Natural Alternatives to Xanax
Fick has been a physician for more than 30 years, and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa. Dr. Samuel Lee is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in a spiritually-based mental health discipline and integrative approaches. He graduated with an MD at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and did a residency in psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He has also been an inpatient adult psychiatrist at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital and the primary attending geriatric psychiatrist at the Auerbach Inpatient Psychiatric Jewish Home Hospital. In addition, he served as the general adult outpatient psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente. His specialty is in natural healing techniques that promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
It’s a complex condition that requires understanding, compassion, and professional guidance. Anxiety is an invisible yet potent force, shaping the lives of millions around the globe. For many, medication serves as a refuge from the relentless grip of worry and panic.
- Probiotics can help restore balance to the gut microbiome, reducing inflammation and its detrimental effects on your mental health (55).
- Our residential center has been focusing on this patient population and these types of benzodiazepine transitions for nearly 2 decades.
- It may take several weeks for SSRIs and SNRIs to alleviate anxiety symptoms, and they should be taken consistently to maintain effectiveness.
- Luckily, there are safer Xanax replacements and alternatives out there.
- Propranolol is an oral medication for high blood pressure, angina, migraine, and more.
- Most of the REAL effects come from the juice that’s located in the center of the plant, which virtually no supplement contains.
Natural Alternatives To Alprazolam
Canadian scientist David Suzuki describes one such chemical that is now banned in the US but not elsewhere, called Triclosan. Triclosan is used in thousands of common household products like bedsheets, garbage bags, toys, and even hand sanitizer and mouthwash. This chemical does not easily degrade but does easily pass through human skin. It is suspected of endocrine disruption, which means it may interfere with hormones and neurotransmitters.
Non-Addictive Alternatives to Xanax
However, it’s still not recommended to experiment with these remedies without consulting a specialist as they may cause allergy or other unpredictable effects. The reason why this herb is said to alleviate anxiety is that it increases serotonin and decreases cortisol. Increasing serotonin levels is the fundamental underlying principle that is used with antidepressants. So, the fact that ashwagandha can do this naturally is potentially beneficial for anxiety sufferers. Valium also has a similar mechanism of action and is prescribed for the same conditions as other benzodiazepines such as Alprazolam. The half-life gap of Valium vs. Xanax is very big; Valium has a longer half-life, i.e., 48 hours, but it starts its action slightly faster.
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (antidepressants) that treat anxiety
According to prior research, Phenibut is a central depressant and analog of the inhibitory neurotransmitter y-aminobutyric acid, which is a fancy technical term for GABA. Realistically speaking, it was literally somewhere in the range of 2 – 3 hours for the full effects to kick in. I first tried Phenibut XT by itself to gauge it’s effectiveness, dosing with 2 capsules, which is about 1 gram.
