Is Xanax Still the Most Prescribed Anxiety Medication in 2025

Anxiety disorders affect over 40 million adults in the United States, making them the most common mental health condition nationwide. When seeking treatment, many patients buy Xanax online or through traditional prescriptions, as this medication has historically dominated the anti-anxiety market. In fact, alprazolam (Xanax) was the second-most prescribed psychoactive drug in 2012, with over 49 million prescriptions written that year alone.

The widespread use of benzodiazepines like Xanax has grown significantly over time. Between 1996 and 2013, the number of benzodiazepine prescriptions dispensed to adults increased by 67% to 135 million per year. Furthermore, in 2019, pharmacies across the United States filled approximately 92 million benzodiazepine prescriptions. This trend raises important questions about why so many Americans buy Xanax online no prescription or through legitimate medical channels, despite growing concerns about dependency and side effects.

In this article, we’ll examine whether Xanax still maintains its status as the most prescribed anxiety medication in 2025. Additionally, we’ll explore how this drug rose to prominence, address the mounting concerns regarding its long-term use, and provide insights into the current landscape of anxiety treatment options.

The rise of Xanax: how it became the go-to anxiety drug

The journey of Xanax began in the 1970s amid a significant shift in anxiety treatment approaches. Originally developed by Upjohn (now part of Pfizer), alprazolam (Xanax) received FDA approval on October 16, 1981. This benzodiazepine quickly distinguished itself from competitors by providing rapid relief for anxiety symptoms that other medications struggled to address.

Xanax’s popularity exploded during the 1990s as physicians recognized its effectiveness in treating panic disorders. The medical community embraced this medication because it worked by slowing brain activity, thereby creating a calming effect that patients desperately sought. Consequently, Xanax became the most frequently prescribed psychiatric drug in the United States.

Between 1996 and 2013, benzodiazepine prescriptions increased by 67% to 135 million per year, with the quantity prescribed per patient more than tripling during that period. Notably, primary care physicians rather than psychiatrists became the main prescribers of these medications.

People who wish to buy Xanax online or through prescriptions often cite its quick action – typically working within an hour. The medication remains popular primarily because it provides immediate anxiety relief, is relatively affordable, and works well for various anxiety-related conditions. Unfortunately, this effectiveness comes with risks that many patients who buy Xanax online no prescription might not fully understand.

Is Xanax still the most prescribed anxiety medication in 2025?

The landscape of anxiety medication has shifted dramatically since 2023. While alprazolam (Xanax) was once the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medication in the United States, recent data indicates its dominance has waned. According to prescription tracking, the number of alprazolam prescriptions fell from 28.9 million in 2013 to approximately 15.9 million by 2023, representing a significant decline in market share.

This downward trend reflects broader changes in benzodiazepine prescribing patterns. Overall, anxiolytic prescriptions dropped by 27% between 2010-2023, while benzodiazepine prescriptions steadily decreased from 2.7% of all prescriptions in 2018 to 2.2% in 2024.

As of 2025, SSRIs have emerged as the preferred treatment option, accounting for 60% of prescribed anxiety medications globally. This shift occurred as healthcare providers began prioritizing medications with lower dependency risks for long-term management. Moreover, only 20% of adults diagnosed with anxiety disorders in 2025 were prescribed anti-anxiety medication, suggesting increased reliance on non-pharmacological approaches.

Those who still buy Xanax online for sale or through traditional channels often seek its rapid relief benefits. However, heightened awareness of dependency risks following FDA warnings has prompted many prescribers to recommend alternatives like SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, and beta-blockers. Specifically, buspirone prescriptions increased by 48% between 2010-2023, highlighting the medical community’s pivot toward non-benzodiazepine solutions.

The growing concerns around long-term use and misuse

Despite its effectiveness for short-term anxiety relief, Xanax presents serious long-term risks that have increasingly alarmed healthcare professionals. Physical dependence can develop after just 3-6 weeks of regular use, with approximately 40% of individuals experiencing moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms after 6 months of use.

The withdrawal process itself poses significant dangers. Abrupt discontinuation can trigger severe symptoms including seizures, hallucinations, and even death, making medical supervision essential for cessation attempts. Unlike opioid withdrawal, which typically resolves within a week, benzodiazepine withdrawal can last for months.

Particularly concerning is the rising misuse among younger populations. Nearly 70% of adolescents who try illicit drugs before age 13 develop addiction within seven years, with many taking dangerously high doses or combining Xanax with other substances.

The combination of Xanax with opioids creates an especially lethal risk. The overdose death rate among patients taking both medications is 10 times higher than among those taking opioids alone. Alarmingly, 92.7% of benzodiazepine-involved deaths in early 2020 also involved opioids.

Those who buy Xanax online no prescription face additional dangers from counterfeit pills. In 2024, authorities identified numerous websites selling what appeared to be legitimate Xanax but were actually dangerous counterfeits containing fentanyl or methamphetamine, leading to fatal overdoses among unsuspecting purchasers.

Conclusion

Xanax clearly dominated the anxiety medication market for decades, though its reign has significantly diminished by 2025. The dramatic shift from benzodiazepines toward SSRIs reflects growing awareness of dependency issues and potentially severe withdrawal symptoms associated with long-term Xanax use. Healthcare providers now generally prefer medications carrying lower dependency risks for ongoing anxiety management.

Meanwhile, the dangers of self-medication remain substantial. People seeking quick relief might still buy Xanax through various channels, but this approach carries serious risks—especially when obtaining counterfeit pills containing dangerous substances like fentanyl. Additionally, combining Xanax with opioids creates a particularly lethal situation, as evidenced by the tenfold increase in overdose death rates among patients using both substances.

Therefore, anyone struggling with anxiety should consult qualified healthcare professionals rather than attempting to self-medicate. While Xanax certainly works for short-term anxiety relief, the medical community has evolved toward more sustainable treatment approaches. This shift emphasizes both safer medication options and non-pharmacological interventions addressing anxiety’s root causes rather than merely suppressing symptoms.

The decline in Xanax prescriptions accordingly represents positive progress in mental healthcare—a move away from quick fixes toward comprehensive treatment strategies prioritizing patient safety and long-term wellbeing. After all, effective anxiety management requires balanced approaches that consider both immediate symptom relief and sustainable recovery without creating additional health risks.