3 BEST Over The Counter Xanax Alternatives UPDATED 2018 #Site Title

Some participants in these studies experienced a reduction in anxiety comparable to certain psychiatric drugs (29). Many people today are turning to Ashwagandha as a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals like Xanax. This influence can lead to feelings of calmness, relaxation, and euphoria. For instance, when paired with Valerian root, the combination can be particularly effective in treating insomnia and restlessness. 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 Best Lifestyle Alternatives to Xanax

Some studies suggest that omega-3 supplementation can reduce cortisol (a primary stress hormone) in response to stressful situations (44). Theanine also increases the production of certain neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and GABA. These neurotransmitters play a pivotal role in relaxation, mood regulation, and overall brain function (39). Studies have shown that chamomile extract can help reduce symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) (28).

Are there over-the-counter Xanax alternatives?

But even with the best natural tools at your disposal, you may still need medication or therapy to at least figure out what activates your anxiety and how to help relieve it. Some prescription anxiety medications, like Xanax, can relieve anxiety within 30 minutes. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. It’s not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional. Healthline encourages you to make any treatment decisions with your healthcare professional. Ashwagandha works by regulating cortisol (the stress hormone) levels, improving the body’s resilience to stress, and balancing other key hormones that affect mood, energy, and immune function.

Despite all the great research behind yoga, I’m personally not a big fan of it. Many yoga practices activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxation and recovery. This counteracts the „fight or flight“ stress response driven by the sympathetic nervous system (66). Lastly, breathing exercises can stimulate the release of endorphins, leading to feelings of relaxation (65).

 What you put on your plate can have a big effect on just about every aspect of health — including your anxiety.

• One of the primary ways Ashwagandha combats stress and anxiety is by regulating cortisol levels.
• Lemon balm extract and tea are often studied as treatments for anxiety symptoms, like panic attacks and stress-related eating behaviors.
• Lavender and chamomile are research-backed natural remedies that help promote calm.
• Serotonin promotes physical and mental relaxation and provides relief from stress and anxiety.
• The researchers concluded it has positive effects similar to the effects of standard anti-anxiety medications (20-22).
• Valerian can be combined with other natural remedies, such as lemon balm, to create synergistic effects, making it more potent than using it on its own.

Breathing exercises

• Set a Sleep Schedule
• Harvard Medical School researcher Datis Kharrazian, PhD, DHSc, states in his book Why Isn’t My Brain Working?
• But beyond its aromatic allure, lemon balm has a longstanding reputation in herbal medicine.
• This method offers immediate relief, especially in acute stress situations.
• These interactions can amplify the effects of benzodiazepine drugs, which can lead to dangerous outcomes, including severe drowsiness, respiratory depression, coma, and even death.
• Similarly, meditation can help reduce anxiety by supporting normal brain functions and regulating the secretion of GABA.
• While it is on the pricier side, you can try the mask risk-free for 60 days.

These alternatives include prescribed medications, OTC options, natural remedies, and therapy. Meditate

If you’re thinking about taking any herbal supplement as a treatment for anxiety, talk with your doctor or other medical professional first, especially if you take other medicines. The interaction of some herbal supplements and certain medicines can cause serious side effects. You may consider taking alternatives to Xanax if the drug’s side effects affect your quality of life.

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Recent guidelines from mental health experts emphasize the importance of a gradual reduction in prescription medications under medical supervision. Abruptly stopping a medication like Xanax can cause serious side effects, including rebound anxiety, insomnia, and even seizures in some cases. A healthcare professional can help you taper off the medication slowly while integrating natural alternatives, such as herbal supplements, amino acids, or mind-body practices, into your daily routine. This approach not only minimizes the risk of adverse effects but also maximizes the effectiveness of the natural remedies.

It’s prescribed to literally millions of Americans, and is seen as being one of the most widely used (and abused) anti-anxiety medications in existence. Naturally relaxing herbs such as hops, valerian, skullcap, lemon balm, chamomile, and passionflower have been used for centuries to induce a state of calm and help users sleep. GABA supplements should be used carefully with high blood pressure medications since they can cause blood pressure to drop too low. A foundational principle of mental health and cognitive performance is to supply the body with the best nutrition possible.

In this article we’ll detail the dangers of Xanax and other ways you can treat your anxiety. Studies show that regular exercise can help reduce anxiety by lowering the secretion of stress hormones called cortisol and improving the secretion of feel-good hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin. Constituents of valerian root also appear to increase serotonin receptor activity, though the specific compounds responsible for this effect — aside from valerenic acid — remain unclear 19.