Skip to main content
Get Matched with a Provider
Medication

Xanax (alprazolam)

Xanax is a psychiatric medication available by prescription only. It belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines and is commonly used to treat anxiety-related disorders.

Learn About Xanax Treatment

Connect with a psychiatric clinician—online or in person—for a comprehensive evaluation. If appropriate, they may discuss whether a treatment like alprazolam (Xanax), a short-term option for acute anxiety, could be considered within a carefully monitored care plan.

Schedule an appointment with a Psychiatric Clinician

What Conditions Does Xanax Treat?

FDA-Approved Uses:

How Psychiatric Medication Prescription Decisions Are Made

1

Find a psychiatric clinician who meets your needs

Option 1

Search our psychiatrist directory to find a qualified provider

Provider Directory

Option 2

Locate a nearby clinic to schedule your initial appointment

Locations Directory
2

Meet 1:1 for a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation

During your first session, a psychiatric clinician will evaluate your symptoms, medical history, and treatment goals. If appropriate, they may discuss whether medication—including benzodiazepines like alprazolam (Xanax)—could be considered. Treatment decisions like this should always prioritize safety, clinical best practices, and your individual needs.

3

Begin treatment and ongoing monitoring

Once a personalized treatment plan is established, your provider will monitor your response to any prescribed medication and adjust the plan as needed. If medication is part of your care, then, if clinically appropriate, your provider may handle prescription renewals online during or after regular follow-ups as clinically appropriate in accordance with LifeStance treatment protocols.

230+ Insurances Accepted

Aetna
Anthem/Empire BCBS-Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross-Medicare, Anthem/Empire BCBS, Anthem BCBS, Anthem BCBS-Medicare
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield-Medicare
Evernorth (Cigna), Evernorth (Cigna) (HealthPartners), Evernorth (Cigna)-Medicare
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield-Medicare, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Highmark Blue Shield-Medicare, Highmark Blue Shield
Kaiser Permanente Washington-Medicare, Kaiser Permanente (Southeast), Kaiser Permanente (Southeast)-Medicare, Kaiser Permanente Washington, Kaiser Permanente (SoCal), Kaiser Permanente (Northwest), Kaiser Permanente (Northwest)-Medicare
Medicare
Optum, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, UnitedHealthcare-Medicare
Providence Health Plan, Providence Health Plan-Medicare
Quartz, Quartz-Medicare
Quest Behavioral Health
Regence BlueCross BlueShield-Medicare, Regence BlueCross BlueShield
View All Accepted Insurances
Struggling with Stress or Anxiety?

Struggling with Stress or Anxiety?

Everyone’s experience with anxiety is different. A psychiatric clinician can help you find the right treatment path—whether that includes Xanax (alprazolam) or another option that fits your needs.

Psychiatric Clinician Directory

FAQs About Xanax

Yes. Xanax is a benzodiazepine with a high risk of dependence. It can be habit-forming, especially when used long-term or at higher doses. Even when taken as prescribed, tolerance can develop quickly, and stopping suddenly may cause withdrawal symptoms. Use should be short-term and closely monitored by your psychiatric clinician.

Not without the approval of your prescribing psychiatric clinician. Xanax can interact with many drugs, especially those that depress the central nervous system—such as opioids, sleep aids, and alcohol. These combinations can lead to serious side effects, including slowed breathing, or overdose, or even death.

Both Xanax (alprazolam) and Ativan (lorazepam) are benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety. Xanax may tend to work more quickly, but its effects wear off faster, which can lead to the return of anxiety between doses. Both medications carry similar risks of dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal.

No. Xanax is not recommended for long-term use due to the risk of dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal. For chronic anxiety, long-term treatment plans often focus on therapy and non-addictive medications like SSRIs.

Yes. Regular follow-up appointments are important to monitor how well the medication is working, check for side effects, and watch for signs of dependence. Medication like Xanax is typically used for short term relief and your provider will likely recommend a gradual taper once your symptoms are under control.

Costs vary. As of this publication, generic Xanax (alprazolam) often costs $10–$30 per month. Similarly, brand-name Xanax (1mg) may have an average retail price of $337.13 for a 30-day supply. However, the actual cost can vary widely based on several factors like geographic location and pharmacy.

If you have insurance, your out-of-pocket cost will depend on your plan type (e.g., commercial, Medicare, Medicaid) and may include a copay or coinsurance.

Xanax typically begins to take effect within 15 to 30 minutes, with peak effects typically occurring around 1 to 2 hours after you take it. Because it often acts quickly, it’s sometimes prescribed for acute anxiety or panic attacks.

No. Xanax is not approved for use in children under 18. Its safety and effectiveness have not been established for pediatric patients, and it carries increased risks of side effects in this age group.

There are many substances and medications that should not be taken with Xanax, including opioids, alcohol, sleep aids, or other sedatives. These combinations can be dangerous and increase the risk for overdose.

Some prescription medications, including certain antifungals, antibiotics, antivirals, and antidepressants, can also interact with Xanax and increase side effects. You should avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Always ask your prescribing psychiatric clinician before combining Xanax with any other substance or medication.

Xanax can cause drowsiness, slowed reaction time, impaired coordination, and mental fogginess, especially when you first start it or after a dose change. These effects can make driving or operating heavy machinery risky, even with low doses, so anyone who may have Xanax in their system should avoid driving or engaging in tasks that require full alertness. If you feel sedated, dizzy, or mentally foggy, wait until those effects wear off. Combining Xanax with alcohol, opioids, or other sedatives is dangerous and greatly increases the risk of serious harm or overdose.

You should never start or stop taking Xanax suddenly without consulting a psychiatric clinician first. Abrupt discontinuation can lead to withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, agitation, or tremors (and in severe cases, seizures, delirium, psychosis, or death).

The safest way to stop Xanax is to taper slowly under medical supervision. Your provider will create a personalized plan to gradually reduce your dose of medication.

Weight gain is not a common side effect of Xanax, but it can occur in some individuals. Changes in appetite, decreased activity due to sedation, or emotional eating related to anxiety relief may contribute. However, it’s not typically considered a direct or significant weight-gain medication. If you notice weight changes while taking Xanax, discuss it with your doctor to rule out other causes or consider alternative treatments.

Weight loss is also not a typical side effect of Xanax, but it can happen in some people. In rare cases, Xanax may reduce appetite, cause nausea, or lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, which might contribute to unintentional weight loss. Anxiety itself can also affect eating habits, making it hard to separate the cause. If you experience unexpected or significant weight loss, consult your healthcare provider.

photo of LifeStance provider Joshua Nathan, MD

Medically Reviewed By:

Joshua Nathan, MD
View Profile
Dr. Joshua Nathan, a Board-Certified Psychiatrist, and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, sees stigma – from others and from ourselves - as the biggest challenge in mental illness treatment. He encourages people to not judge themselves on whatever problems they are facing, and he helps them feel safe to open up and allow for healing. Dr. Nathan takes joy in helping people with mental health concerns and values the trust patients place in him. Dr. Nathan treats adults struggling with mood and bipolar disorders, depression, ADHD, anxiety challenges such as panic disorder, agoraphobia, OCD, PTSD, and more. He listens to each person’s story, observes how they are faring, and shares his understanding of what is happening, so there is a basis for starting or continuing treatment. He considers medications as one tool among many for healing and recovery in mental health. During treatment, Dr. Nathan uses an eclectic framework for understanding mental illness and coping. Trained in psychoanalysis, he finds that existential understanding helps many people reduce suffering, but cognitive-behavioral techniques are more practical in helping people move forward. Thus, he typically employs a combination of theories and techniques, guided by the patient's problems, needs, and experiences. He is also an Official ADHD Evaluator for the National Football League. Dr. Nathan earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a medical doctorate from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and completed postgraduate residency training at Brown University. He works with adults of all ages, but has a special fondness for working with young and middle-age adults.

References

  1. Drugs.com [Internet]. Alprazolam prices, coupons, copay cards & patient assistance; c2000–2025 [updated date unknown; cited 2 Sept 2025]. Available from: https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/alprazolam#oral-tablet-0-5-mg

  2. Drugs.com [Internet]. Xanax prices, coupons, copay cards & patient assistance; c2000-2025 [updated date unknown; cited 2 Sept 2025]. Available from: https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/xanax

In 2007, the FDA released a black box warning that antidepressants were correlated to the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults (ages 18–24) during short-term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric conditions. Gibbons et. al (2007) also published a study that found no evidence of antidepressant treatment increasing the risk of suicide attempts among its patients (ages 18-65+). The main message is that there is an inherent relationship between depression and suicidality so close monitoring of antidepressant-treated patients (especially children, adolescents, and young adults) is always necessary. For a comprehensive overview of these medications’ uses and risks, see the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug label.