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Xanax is the trade name for the generic medication alprazolam. It is one of the most common prescription medications in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved alprazolam (Xanax) to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders. It is sometimes used off-label for treating insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep) for the short-term, usually caused by stressful life events such as loss of loved ones, separation, or job loss. However, using Xanax to treat sleep problems carries serious risks, especially if taking it for an extended period. Please continue reading to find out why Xanax is probably not the best medication to treat sleep disorders.

What is Xanax?

Xanax (alprazolam) is a prescription medication that belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines (benzos). It is used for short-term treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks. 

Millions of prescriptions for Xanax are written in the U.S. each year. But that doesn’t mean using Xanax for sleep is safe. This medicine is a Schedule IV (4) of controlled substances, classified by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). This means that while Xanax has currently accepted medical uses, it has the potential to be abused and can cause mental and physical symptoms of dependence. Notably, schedule IV (4) controlled substances have a higher risk for psychological and physical dependence than Schedule V (5) but less than Schedule II (2) and III (3). Schedule I (1) substances have the highest risk of abuse and have no recognized medical use in the U.S. 

Learn more: How Long Does Xanax Stay In Your System?

How does Xanax help with anxiety disorders?

Xanax and other benzodiazepines decrease abnormal excitement and activity in the brain. These drugs bind to the body’s GABA receptors in the central nervous system (gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is an inhibitory neurotransmitter). Learn more about how Xanax works for anxiety.

Is alprazolam 0.5 mg a sleeping pill?

No, alprazolam 0.5 mg is not a sleeping pill and not an FDA-approved insomnia treatment. It is an anti-anxiety medication. You should not use Xanax to treat insomnia (trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or other sleep difficulties) without talking to your healthcare provider. Your doctor may recommend natural sleep aids or some other prescription sleep medication that carries fewer risks.

Does alprazolam 0.5 mg make you sleepy?

Alprazolam 0.5 mg (and other doses) can make you drowsy. As mentioned, Xanax acts as a central nervous system depressant. It lowers brain activity and promotes calmness. These effects of Xanax can induce sleep. However, taking alprazolam for sleep, especially long-term, can increase your risk of serious health complications. 

If you have sleep difficulties, get professional medical advice. Your healthcare provider can prescribe other drugs that are safer options to treat a sleep disorder.

Which benzo is best for sleep?

Benzodiazepines are a class of medications that work on the central nervous system to have calming effects and thus can cause a bit of drowsiness. Benzos that are best for sleep include triazolam (Halcion), estazolam (Prosom), and temazepam (Restoril). These benzodiazepines are FDA-approved for short-term treatment of insomnia (7-10 days). However, using them long-term can lead to serious adverse effects and withdrawal symptoms. 

Keep in mind that older adults and people with kidney or liver disease, whose bodies take longer to eliminate medications, are more prone to side effects, leading to increased sedation and drowsiness. 

Newer non-benzodiazepine sleeping pills such as zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and ramelteon (Rozerem) are typically prescribed for chronic insomnia. They have a better safety profile and are usually the first-line treatments for long-term sleep issues.

What are the downsides of using benzodiazepines as sleep medications?

Side Effects

Common side effects of Xanax include dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, fatigue, impaired cognitive function, difficulty concentrating, and other symptoms. Taking Xanax can also result in excessive sleepiness during the daytime. These adverse effects can increase the risk of accidents and injuries, especially while driving or performing other hazardous activities.

Drug Interactions

Taking benzodiazepine medications with certain other medications, such as opioids, can result in severe sedation, slowed breathing, coma, and even death. 

Abuse, Misuse, and Addiction

Xanax and other benzodiazepines can be habit-forming. These drugs carry the risks of abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can lead to overdose and death. Taking Xanax for the long term is associated with a higher risk of physical dependence and psychological dependence. People with a history of substance abuse (alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription drug abuse) are at a higher risk of Xanax addiction.

Find out: What Are the Most Addictive Drugs You Can Be Prescribed?

Withdrawal Effects

Suddenly stopping Xanax after taking it for a long time can cause you to experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms may include rebound insomnia and rebound anxiety. The risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms increases with higher daily doses and longer treatment duration. 

What is the best sleep aid for insomnia and anxiety?

Natural Sleep Aids

People who have trouble initiating or maintaining sleep should try non-drug treatments such as exercise, relaxation techniques, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). These can be effective for chronic insomnia and carry no risks.

Herbs and Dietary Supplements

People who have trouble sleeping often take herbs and dietary supplements like melatonin, valerian root, lavender, kava, passionflower, St. John's wort, niacin, glutamine, and l-tryptophan. However, except for melatonin and valerian root, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to confirm that these herbs can help you get a good night’s sleep. Melatonin supplements may be effective for circadian rhythm sleep disorders (for example, sleep problems due to jet lag or shift work). Melatonin is safe to use as a short-term sleep aid. 

OTC Sleep Aids

Many people experiencing sleep difficulty use over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids, commonly antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and doxylamine (Unisom). However, this is not a good idea because these drugs are only minimally effective as a sleeping medication. Moreover, they can affect sleep quality and cause residual drowsiness during the daytime.

Xanax for Sleep

Xanax is not usually the first medication that doctors will prescribe for insomnia or to have a better night’s rest because of the significant adverse effects and risk of addiction. Though taking Xanax (alprazolam) for sleep can be effective short term, that does not mean it is the best choice because of the risks it poses. In addition, benzodiazepines can affect sleep architecture (the amount of time spent in slow-wave sleep and REM sleep). In other words, the risks of using Xanax (or other benzodiazepines) for sleep clearly outweigh the benefits. 

Non-benzodiazepine prescription medications, such as zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), zaleplon (Sonata), and ramelteon (Rozerem), are first-line treatments for chronic insomnia as they appear to have fewer side effects compared to benzodiazepines like Xanax for sleep.

Note: This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Contact your healthcare provider if you are unable to fall asleep or stay asleep. It is especially important to consult a healthcare professional before taking Xanax (alprazolam) for sleep.