Xanax and Lexapro are both common medications used to treat anxiety. While many people who have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or panic disorder can benefit from these two drugs, it’s important to understand how these two drugs work and whether or not it’s safe for you to take them together.
In this article, we will discuss the side effects of combining Lexapro and Xanax as well as the benefits that you can expect when taking these two medications together.
Table of Contents
What is Lexapro?
Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication that is used to treat anxiety and depression. It functions by increasing the amount of serotonin (a chemical in the body that helps regulate mood) in the brain, which helps to improve symptoms of depression and/or anxiety.
Lexapro is not used to treat panic attacks or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
What is Xanax?
Xanax is a benzodiazepine medication that is used to treat anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. Benzodiazepines are generally used as a short-term solution for anxiety and panic disorders.
Benzodiazepines work by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain, which helps to reduce anxiety.
Is it Safe to Combine Lexapro and Xanax?
In general, it is not recommended to use these two medications together as they have similar effects on the body.
Because they work in similar ways, there is a risk of over-sedation or increased side effects when taking both of these medications. Are you taking Xanax for panic attacks? If so, you should start thinking about tapering off of Xanax and switching to Lexapro.
Panic attacks are short-term and most people do not need to take XanX long-term. If you’ve been taking Xanax for a long period of time, you should seriously consider switching to Lexapro because long-term use is not recommended. If you are taking Lexapro for long-term anxiety, it’s possible to switch to Xanax short-term for a panic attack.
How These Medications Work Together
As we discussed above, both Lexapro and Xanax work in a similar way. Both of these medications increase the amount of serotonin in the brain, which can help to improve symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. While these two drugs work in a similar way, they affect different parts of the brain.
Lexapro affects the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for mood and emotion regulation.
On the other hand, Xanax affects the limbic system, which is responsible for emotions and long-term memories. It is believed that by affecting different parts of the brain, these two medications together can help to improve mood and reduce anxiety.
Benefits of Lexapro and Xanax
- Both of these medications can help improve mood.
- Both Lexapro and Xanax can help reduce anxiety.
- Both of these drugs are FDA-approved for the treatment of anxiety and depression in adults.
- Both Lexapro and Xanax are non-habit forming.
- Combining these two medications together can help improve sleep difficulties.
- It can be difficult to quit taking these drugs if you’ve been taking them for a long period of time.
Side Effects of Combining Lexapro and Xanax
- Dizziness: This is a common side effect of both Lexapro and Xanax.
- Drowsiness: Although both of these drugs can help improve sleep, it’s important to note that this is not a long-term solution for insomnia.
- Increased appetite: Many people who take Lexapro report weight gain, which can increase the risk for diabetes.
- Low blood pressure: Lexapro can cause blood pressure to drop, which can be dangerous for people who already have low blood pressure.
- Worsened anxiety: It’s possible to experience side effects like anxiety or panic attacks as a result of taking both Lexapro and Xanax.
Xanax is a scheduled substance, which means that it can be abused and lead to an addiction. Combining Lexapro and Xanax can increase the risk of developing an addiction to Xanax.
Final Words
If you’ve been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or panic disorder, chances are that your doctor has prescribed you a medication to help improve your symptoms.
This doesn’t mean that taking one medication means that you have to stick to it for the rest of your life.
While there are many benefits to taking Lexapro and Xanax together, it’s important to remember that each person will react differently to different medications.
If you’ve been taking these two drugs together and notice symptoms that seem unusual, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
