If you have anxiety or another mental health disorder, benzodiazepines may not be the right treatment for you. This class of drugs is one of the most commonly prescribed to treat anxiety, but they come with some serious risks. There are safer and non-addictive alternatives to benzodiazepines that can help people cope with their mental illness.
However, if your doctor has decided that a benzo is the best medication for you at this time, there are still things you can do to minimize the risks associated with these drugs. For example, as a minor you cannot legally purchase them. In this article, we’ll go over how old you need to be in order to get a prescription for xanax or other benzos and how to safely get around this age restriction in order to protect your long-term health.
Table of Contents
What Are Benzos?
Benzos are a type of medication that includes the drugs xanax (alprazolam), clonazepam (Klonopin), and lorazepam (Ativan). They are widely prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia, and panic attacks. They can also be used to treat seizures and some types of chronic pain, as they have analgesic properties. Benzos work as tranquilizers by slowing down your brain and reducing anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures. The major disadvantage of taking them long-term is that they can lead to significant dependence and withdrawal.
Benzos are often prescribed in cases of extreme anxiety or panic attacks. These drugs have the ability to calm a person down very quickly. They are also prescribed to those who have trouble sleeping or experience chronic pain. You can find benzos in both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) forms.
When Can You Get a Xanax Prescription?
Before even thinking about a Xanax prescription, you should make sure that anxiety is the underlying cause of your symptoms. The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor who can conduct a proper diagnosis. Once you have a proper diagnosis of your mental health disorder, you can contact a doctor to discuss your treatment options, including the possibility of benzos.
If you are under 18, you will not be prescribed benzos unless you have severe anxiety symptoms that weren’t addressed with other treatment options. If you are an adult, you can get a Xanax prescription without a diagnosis as long as you are treating a diagnosed medical condition (like epilepsy).
Safer Alternatives to Xanax
If you are prescribed Xanax, you should try to avoid taking it as a long-term treatment. In most situations, it’s best to find a long-term solution to your anxiety, not just a quick fix.
- Meditation: Meditation is a great way to reduce anxiety without any negative side effects.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of therapy that helps you identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors.
- Yoga: Yoga has been shown to reduce anxiety and improve overall mental health.
- Various Drugs: Drugs like SSRIs can help treat anxiety and other mental health disorders.
- Herbal Remedies: Herbal remedies like valerian root are a great alternative to prescription drugs.
- Support Groups: Talking to others in support groups is an effective way to reduce anxiety.
- Healthy Lifestyle: Eating healthy, exercising, and avoiding unhealthy habits can also help with anxiety.
How to Bypass the Xanax Age Limit
As a minor, the easiest way to get around the age restriction on benzos is to find a friend or family member who is over 18 and willing to buy the medication for you. If you know someone over 18 who can help you get a benzo prescription, you can take them with you to your doctor’s appointment.
If you don’t know anyone, you can try searching for online forums or groups for Xanax, anxiety, or panic attacks. You may be able to find someone willing to buy the medication for you.
If you need to do some research and make an effort to find the medication, you’re less likely to abuse it or become dependent on it. Buying benzos online or from a stranger is risky, so don’t do it unless you have absolutely no other option.
Final Words
If you have anxiety, you don’t have to let it control your life. There are many things that you can do to feel better. While benzos can be helpful in some situations, they have major side effects and are very addictive. If you are prescribed benzos, it’s important to take as little as possible and use other methods to cope with your anxiety. It’s also important to make sure that you receive regular medical checkups to monitor for any complications.
If you want to avoid benzos completely, you can try some of the safer, non-addictive alternatives listed above. Once you get your anxiety under control, you can slowly taper off the medication and eventually stop taking it completely.
