---
title: How well does alprazolam work for anxiety and panic attacks? | Niyora
description: Alprazolam is more effective than placebo and works as well as some other medications for anxiety. It works within the first week but can impair thinking and
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/clinical-pharmacology-clinical-efficacy-and-behavioral-toxicity-of-alprazolam-a-2004/
---

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- How well does alprazolam work for anxiety and panic attacks?

Review, 2004

# How well does alprazolam work for anxiety and panic attacks?

Alprazolam is more effective than placebo and works as well as some other medications for anxiety. It works within the first week but can impair thinking and driving skills.

 Moderate study design

People with anxiety, panic attacks with or without agoraphobia, and depression

## What they did

A review of clinical studies on alprazolam, a benzodiazepine medication used to treat anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.

## What they found

Alprazolam is significantly better than placebo and equally effective as imipramine (an antidepressant) for anxiety. However, SSRIs appear to be more effective for panic attacks. Alprazolam provides symptom relief within the first week. It causes drowsiness and sedation and can impair cognitive and motor skills.

## What it means for you

Alprazolam is effective for anxiety but can impair mental and physical performance, making it unsafe for driving. This paper is not about PMS or PMDD. The main limit is that it's a review of existing research, not a new study.

## About the study

Original title Clinical pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and behavioral toxicity of alprazolam: a review of the literature Authors Verster JC, Volkerts ER Journal CNS drug reviews Year 2004 Study design Review What was tested Alprazolam (benzodiazepine medication) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1527-3458.2004.tb00003.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1527-3458.2004.tb00003.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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