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Alprazolam sounds like a delicious candy, but is actually a very powerful drug much more commonly known as Xanax. Used in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia, alprazolam can cause depression and in some cases make insomnia worse. Thankfully there are a few alternatives to using alprazolam, many available without a prescription. Natural supplements containing St. John's Wort and Valarian Root have been shown to have a great effect on anxiety and insomnia without harsh side effects. Many people do not use these in place of alprazolam because they do not give you the same "oomph" and immediate relief that prescription drugs can offer, but they can help you get a much better night's sleep. Natural supplements can not only improve both the amount of sleep you get but also the quality of sleep, whereas prescription drugs often make you go to sleep but leave you very groggy the next morning. For a much more natural sleep try natural supplements and only use prescription drugs like alprazolam in cases of serious insomnia.

Xanax withdrawal can be difficult and the effects troubling, but it is well worth it. You can expect a rebound of anxiety and insomnia of course, and you'll have to find other ways of dealing with it besides Xanax. Irritability, tension and other strong emotions are associated with Xanax withdrawal, and this is because you have been using Xanax to control your emotions and getting along without it will take getting used to. While experiencing Xanax withdrawal you can try self relaxation techniques or even therapy. There are herbal supplements as well which can help both with anxiety and sleep disruption as well as supplements to detox and clear the Xanax out of your system. Before you begin to stop taking Xanax, you should speak with your doctor about what sort of negative effects you may experience from Xanax withdrawal and know in advance how you plan to deal with them. You should also slowly tapper off Xanax rather than abruptly stopping, this will lessen the symptoms of Xanax withdrawal dramatically. Xanax was never designed for long term use, and if you have been using it for more than a few months it is most likely recommended that you get off of it. Again, discuss it with your doctor and know your options.

If you are thinking of using Ativan think again! Even by the standards of other prescription drugs it is dangerous, and people using Ativan require constant monitoring of kidney and liver function to ensure that it is not causing permanent damage to the body. Ativan is prescribed all too often, both for anxiety and sleep problems, but the prescription of a pharmaceutical drug like Ativan makes the assumption that your anxiety and sleeping problems are being caused by a chemical imbalance when there are many other factors which could be affecting you. Before resorting to the use of Ativan or another benzodiazepine you should try a combination of lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques, cognitive therapy and/or herbal remedies. All of these are obviously side effect and dependency free methods of dealing with anxiety and insomnia, whereas Ativan can lead to addiction, dependency and permanent damage to the body.

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