Alternative treatments have long been employed as alternatives to pills in order to relieve the symptoms of various medical conditions, including special diets, megadose vitamins, magnet therapy and herbal preparations. There are even liquid alternatives that can be placed under the tongue instantly and begin working instantly.
Xanax Alternatives
Alprazolam (Xanax) is an effective anti-anxiety medication, offering rapid relief from anxiety and panic attacks. Unfortunately, however, its side effects can also be hazardous, leading to addiction and abuse; but there are alternatives for those looking for faster relief without dependence or withdrawal symptoms.
Medications from the benzodiazepine class, including Ativan and Clonazepam (Klonopin), provide similar anxiolytic effects with shorter-acting action than Xanax. Other less addictive options may be buspirone (BuSpar) and Hydroxyzine (Vistaril).
Long-term treatment plans addressing underlying conditions and providing holistic anxiety management may reduce the need for prescription anti-anxiety drugs. SSRI and SNRI antidepressants such as Zoloft (sertraline) and Trazodone (Desyrel) offer safer long-term options without risking addiction or experiencing withdrawal symptoms, and help elevate levels of serotonin neurotransmitters within the brain thereby aiding with mood regulation, sleep quality, and relaxation.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines work by blocking signals in your brain that lead to anxiety and overstimulation, helping to promote sleep and relaxation. They may be taken orally, by mouth, in solution form or even intravenously.
Short-term prescription of anxiolytics to treat severe anxiety or insomnia may become addictive and should only be prescribed after all other methods have failed. When taking these medicines it’s best to do it in a secure environment and preferably not mix them with alcohol – do this only when taking one dose at a time!
Benzodiazepines work on the central nervous system by selectively binding to GABA-A receptors in the brain, opening chloride channels in neurons to make them less sensitive to excitation (stimulation). They have anxiolytic, sedative, anti-seizure and amnestic properties; some even used for inducing anesthesia before surgery or other medical procedures. Sometimes combined with other medications for more effective treatment.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are the go-to medication for treating depression, but many individuals prefer natural approaches instead of pills due to side effects or simply preferring something more holistic like talk therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT has been proven effective at relieving depression symptoms, and may even be prescribed alongside antidepressant medication for optimal results.
Antidepressant medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work by blocking neurotransmitters from being reabsorbed back into nerve terminals after being used to send signals between brain cells. Other antidepressant medication works in different ways but all appear to restore and maintain balance among chemicals that regulate mood.
If you are currently taking antidepressants, adhere to your prescription as closely as possible and seek therapy and other self-help measures as they may prove extremely helpful when used together with antidepressants in combating your depression. Together these will address the underlying issues which may be contributing to it.
Sleep Aids
Sleep is essential to overall health and many individuals struggle with falling or staying asleep. If this is your issue, speak with your provider before resorting to medications as there may be other treatment options available such as behavior therapy which can help improve the environment and habits that influence it before considering medication solutions.
Most sleeping aids contain sedatives, which may lead to side effects like prolonged drowsiness and slower thinking when it should be alert. Certain sleep medication also leads to tolerance, requiring you to increase dosage in order to achieve similar effects.
Natural sleep aids such as valerian or melatonin may be a better solution. Available as dietary supplements and not strictly regulated by the FDA, such as medications can sometimes interact negatively with each other or worsen underlying conditions like heart problems, peptic ulcers and glaucoma.
