Its mild sedative effect is one reason why chamomile tea is a popular bedtime drink (27). As a result, it has been a staple in traditional medicine across various cultures, and it’s a potential alternative to pharmaceuticals like Xanax. In some studies, the reduction in anxiety with Ashwagandha supplementation rivalled those achieved by some psychiatric drugs (24). Research indicates that lemon balm can elevate mood, ease nervousness, and counteract anxiety-related stress (9). As a result, Valerian root is an attractive natural sedative and compelling alternative to drugs like Xanax.
Birth Control Prescriptions
One study found that people who took an herbal extract containing passionflower saw significantly reduced symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Paxil (paroxetine) is an SSRI FDA-approved to treat social anxiety disorder, depression, OCD, panic disorder, and PTSD. Common side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping, and changes in libido. Paxil shouldn’t be combined with some medications, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs, a class of antidepressants), thioridazine (an antipsychotic), or pimozide (an antipsychotic).
- Valerian root ostensibly mitigates anxiety and improves sleep by enhancing GABA interaction with GABA-A receptors.
- Eating well and exercising regularly can improve the body’s natural ability to manage stress, which may help with overall health.
- If you’re seeking Xanax alternatives to help manage your symptoms of anxiety, Talkspace can help.
- Mindfulness practices, such as meditation or yoga, can enhance the effects of natural supplements and further stabilize your mood.
- Certain nutrients and supplements have been found to have a significant impact on anxiety levels.
Initially, it might feel unnatural or even challenging to breathe deeply, especially if you’re used to shallow breathing. But regular practice can help in making deep breathing a more spontaneous response to stress. There are various forms of meditation, including mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), transcendental meditation, and loving-kindness meditation. Like physical exercise, the benefits of meditation are often most pronounced with regular and consistent practice. While meditation is not a direct pharmaceutical alternative like Xanax, consistent meditative practice offers meaningful benefits.
Disorders
By boosting the production of endorphins and serotonin, exercise is known to improve mood, ease tension, and reduce irritability. Research shows that the benefits of CBT last beyond each session and gradually reduce the need for long-term medication use. However, it works more gradually, promoting sleep and possibly lowering cortisol levels — without the risk of dependency.
Other Natural Remedies for Anxiety Symptoms
Instead of being incorporated into proteins like other amino acids in the body, theanine exerts nootropic effects by crossing the alternative to xanax blood-brain barrier and regulating brainwaves and GABA receptors 5. Join LifeMD today and experience amazing healthcare, discounted labs and prescription medications… Explore how digital psychiatry is transforming mental health care with AI, real-time monitoring, and wearable tech for better patient support.
If you or anyone you know is undergoing a severe health crisis, call a doctor or 911 immediately. Placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials have shown this herb to improve symptoms in individuals with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. However, dizziness and dryness of the mouth have been reported in those using this herb. Inositol is a substance that is found in high concentrations in the brain. Inositol helps neurotransmitters to relay messages between brain cells.
How Do I Choose an Alternative to Xanax?
Our science-backed approach boasts 95% of patients reporting no withdrawal symptoms at 7 days. Like SSRIs, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) have a lower risk of misuse, dependence, and addiction. Incorporating these techniques into your daily routine can help promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. Get started on your anxiety treatment journey with our online assessment. Our blog is a space dedicated to sharing information and expert advice to help you improve your overall mental health.
- As a result, individuals can experience decreased feelings of stress and anxiety (68).
- Xanax, whose active ingredient is alprazolam, is a pharmaceutical primarily prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorder.
- Exercise also increases nerve-growth factor, orexin, GABA, GDNF, and reduces inflammation in the brain.
- Numerous studies have delved into Valerian’s effectiveness for anxiety.
- Our team does their best for our readers to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions.
- It exerts a calming effect on the central nervous system by augmenting the activity of the GABA neurotransmitter in the brain, swiftly relieving anxiety symptoms.
It was one of the first herbal remedies I took many years ago to manage my anxiety. Several studies have explored the effectiveness of passionflower in treating anxiety. This, in turn, leads to physical dependence and addiction, where the body becomes reliant on the drug to function normally. The addiction treatment experts at Spring Hill Recovery Center in Ashby, MA can help. Our personalized addiction treatment programs take into consideration all of your mental health needs. Seek medical advice from your doctor or other healthcare provider before using any supplements.
Like other SSRIs, it can take weeks for the drug to build up in your system and be fully effective. It’s considered a long-term treatment for anxiety, as opposed to Xanax. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, and delayed ejaculation. It’s not a benzodiazepine, so it doesn’t have the same warnings for abuse and dependence.
Sleep hygiene
Xanax has two properties that make it more prone to cause dependence and addiction. In other words, valerenic acid derivatives are silent antagonists of GABA-A receptors. Preliminary findings suggest a mechanism mediated by the HPA axis — a key regulator of the stress hormone cortisol — and the GABAergic system 13. However, by virtue of its synthetic origin, alprazolam is much more potent than any GABA agonists that occur in nature (e.g. L-theanine and constituents of valerian root). Comparing Xanax to natural GABA agonists is like comparing apples to oranges.