What is Xanax?
Xanax is a medication, FDA-approved for treatment of anxiety and panic disorder in adults. Xanax is used primarily as a short-term treatment of mild to moderate anxiety, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and nervous tension.
Does Xanax Lower Blood Pressure?
Xanax is a benzodiazepine (a class of drugs that slow down the central nervous system), which binds to a receptor in the brain (GABA) that helps make neurons less excitable.
In a study from 2018 suggest that chronic Benzodiazepine consumption is associated with lower blood pressure.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can be beneficial in some situations. It can alert us to dangers, and help us prepare and pay attention.”
Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness and involve excessive fear or anxiety. These disorders are the most common of mental disorders and affect nearly 30 percent of adults at some point in their lives.
Anxiety refers to the anticipation of a future concern and is more associated with muscle tension and avoidance behavior.
Does anxiety cause high blood pressure?
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Anxiety doesn’t cause long-term high blood pressure (hypertension). But episodes of anxiety can cause dramatic, temporary spikes in your blood pressure. If those temporary spikes occur frequently, such as every day, they can cause damage to your blood vessels, heart and kidneys, as can chronic high blood pressure.”
High blood pressure is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.
Blood pressure is determined both by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.
So Does It Help?
Originally we posed the question, “Can Xanax Help Lower Blood Pressure?” The answer is both yes and no. Yes, Xanax is able to lower your high blood pressure if you are suffering from stress-induced anxiety disorder.
What is the difference between stress and anxiety? The difference between them is that stress is a response to a threat in a situation. Anxiety is a reaction to the stress.
Stress levels go up. Blood Pressure Goes Up. Anxiety about blood pressure going up keeps it up. This is not high blood pressure by the Socratic method but actually a cascade of life events that continue piling up.
Therefore psychologists and family physicians can prescribe Xanax for the anxiety which in turn can settle the stress although the stressors remain. With the anxiety dealt with you are able to lower your blood pressure.
Final Thoughts
There might be a natural alternative though, which is Valerian root. Drugs such as alprazolam (Xanax) work by increasing the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. The valerenic acid and valerenol contained in valerian root extract act as anti-anxiety agents.
Remember only a licensed physician a can make the determination what is the best pharmacological path to take.
To read more about Blood Pressure Medications – Read this article.
Download Brochure
I have had high blood pressure for years. All the doctor can do is gripe and me about it and add another pill. When I asked why he couldn’t find one that works better than the three that don’t, I was told to be quiet! The nerve! How do I go about finding a fix for this problem that seems to bother them but they are not willing to help me find a better solution? I don’t sleep well and can’t maintain proper weight, does this also have something to do with blood pressure or stress about worrying about it? Stroke is in my family history and I don’t want to go there
Maintaining a healthy weight is important for controlling high blood pressure as well as is sleep. The poor sleep issue also creates a problem with weight control. With the use of RESPeRATE not only have people been able to reduce their high blood pressure. Many people have aslo reported sleeping better at night.
Maintaining a healthy weight is important for controlling high blood pressure as well as is sleep. The poor sleep issue also creates a problem with weight control. With the use of RESPeRATE not only have people been able to reduce their high blood pressure. Many people have also reported sleeping better at night.
“Xanax is a benzodiazepine” This class of drugs has been recently reported to cause Alzheimer’s disease, particularly if taken longer than a few days. So, it’s a horridly bad choice to use to treat high blood pressure!
David thank you for your comment. We where not endorsing the use of xanax for the lowering of high blood pressure. But being is this is a question from our readers we felt it should be addressed.
SO IS XANAX GOOD OR BAD
We can not endorse the use of xanax as a medication to lower blood pressure. As to date it is classified as an anti-anxiety medication by the FDA. Please speak with your physician if this is something you are considering.
Well ask your dr. What works for some may not work for someone els, but keep an open mind. So far I haven’t had any problems with it and it has only helped me, but I will never take another Valium as long as I live, had very bad reaction to them. That put me in hospital, and even though Xanax and Valium are in the same drug group Xanax is mixed different component wise, so I’m told, hope this helps you.
Jeanie Thank you for sharing. I can only share what I investigate and in the end, you the reader must decide what does and does not for you. We must be our own advocates.
My hearing is gone so I can not go by guided tones.
I am sorry to here that. Is it a complete hearing loss?
Would like to kern about the brearhing
Dear Daro, I would start here at the article that was just published last week https://store.resperate.com/lower-blood-pressure-just-breathe-away
I’d like to receive more info on lowering blood pressure
Dear Steven, We have a plethora of information on our website with tips on how to control high blood pressure. Here is one that I wanted to share with you. https://store.resperate.com/high-blood-pressure-natural-remedies-must-try
I started having problems wit my BP about a year 1 1/2 ago when I stopped taking xanax by my own choice but I aso stopped it too. I also gained 65lbs and I recently lost 25 of it. I want to take xanax adain but so many Drs will not give it very easily. I took xanax for some 15 years as needed but never ever, not once did I abuse this medicine. I have however been addicted to opioids because of bad back and hip pain for years. I stopped taking pain pills and got on a local Methadone program which Ive been on for years too but never did I take my xanax anywhere near the time I took the Methadone, I’m very educated in the dangers of taking these two medications but since my Dr. Retired I’m having a hard time getting any xanax. I’ve been refered to a heart Dr. Because something didn’t look right in my EKG. Do you think its possible that my heart Dr. May give me asy xanax? A small dose sure helps me feel better at times I feel my heart acting up. Went on much to long and I’m sorry. Thank you for listning.
Only if your cardiologist thinks that your condition warrants him writing a prescription for it. I hope everything does get resolved for you. Keep up the good work.
I had a bad break up of a relationship and alghough I am taking my bp meds, had a surge to 175/120 yesterday. Took an additionsl bp med in the evening+ a xanax & it worked really well. Today i have taken xanax in the morning snd evening and my bp is moderately higher than normal. Think the surge was caused by anxiety & stress bc I need to interact with ex. Is this plausible?
It is quiet possible that this toxic relationship is causing you undue stress. But
I would speak to your physician and get it checked. Kindest Regards, Eli.
I have to say somewhere along the line I decided to let almost everything blow my nerves sky high, simple things, going to dr sends my bp off to the danger zone. even the same dr over and over, chatting with friends, almost anything and sent my bp over the moon in the past 6 months. dr prescribed 1mg xanax a day and I take only 1/2 unless i have a drs appointment, I dont like being dependent on it but until things my life get a bit back to normal I am so thankful to have them. sometimes i have panic attack and can hardley breathe, so it will be a bit before I fill safe without them.
Hi Judy. Thank you for sharing this personal struggle you have. Did you know you can use your RESPeRATE machine when you
are feeling stressed and panicky? I have clients who use this device not because they have high blood pressure but because
they suffer from stress and anxiety related issues. I will keep you in thought and hope everything works out in the end.
Kindest Regards, Eli, Content Manager, RESPeRATE.