Drug Interactions

Is Xanax A Benzodiazepine?

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Klara Hatinova

Klara Hatinova

Klara is postgraduate researcher in experimental psychology at the
University of Oxford.

Is Xanax A Benzodiazepine?

Yes, Xanax is indeed a type of benzodiazepine medication.

Xanax is the brand name for the drug called alprazolam [1]. As a member of the benzodiazepine family, Xanax acts to calm the nervous system by binding to benzodiazepine binding sites of the GABA inhibitory receptor. GABA receptors are found on the post-synaptic end of a secondary neuron, and Xanax can increase the inhibition of this neuron, making it less likely to fire.

This is why Xanax is used for anxiety and panic disorders [1, 2].

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Klara Hatinova

Klara Hatinova

Klara is a postgraduate researcher in experimental psychology at the University of Oxford. She has worked across a spectrum of hot topics in neuroscience, including her current project measuring reinforcement learning strategies in Parkinson’s disease. Previously, she studied the efficacy of psilocybin as a therapy for critical mental health conditions and examined molecular circadian rhythms of migraine disorders. She completed her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at the University of Glasgow and participated in a year abroad at the University of California, where she worked on a clinical trial for spinal cord injury.