Q&A
Xanax – How Long Does It Take to Work?
Question: Does anyone feel like they are functioning in slow motion from the 0.5 milligram of alprazolam? I’m a first-time user of this. Any comments will be helpful.
Answer: Xanax is considered a classic short-acting benzo, ideal for situational anxiety. An example of this would be giving a speech. You’ll be in the spotlight for an hour, but then that’s it, and you really don’t have the need for any additional benzo action. On the other end of the spectrum, there is Klonopin, a benzo that is good for spontaneous panic attacks and general anxiety. Due to the fact that anxiety is more of a constant in addition to panic that doesn’t have any clear triggers, Klonopin has a very long half-life, keeping me under the effect of the benzo around the clock. There are many other benzos on the market that fall in between these two, for example, Ativan is a medium-acting benzo. Xanax works very quickly, like in 30 minutes or less. You should still feel its effects at 3:00, albeit it is probably wearing off slightly at that point. Your anxiety must be fairly high or perhaps you have a higher tolerance. You may need a dosage adjustment, but you’ll need to talk to the doctor before doing so. There are longer-acting meds in the same category as Xanax which might work better for you. Have to investigate that with the doc.