Not contradicting your statements, but I thought I would offer a single anecdata point for a different perspective. I take Alprazolam (generic for Xanax) in a

Not contradicting your statements, but I thought I would offer a single anecdata point for a different perspective. I take Alprazolam (generic for Xanax) in a low dose (0.25mg) 2 or 3/day. This makes the difference between my being able to work and not, so in my case it is certainly effective and beneficial. I haven't noticed adverse side effects at this low dose level. After over two years of use, I haven't felt any need to escalate the dose. I have only one experience stopping (as an experiment). Disabling anxiety returned in less than five days and persisted without change for 3 weeks. Stopping was otherwise not difficult, certainly not "seriously horrible". Resumption of the med after four weeks off returned me to manageable anxiety levels in two days. I've considered the tradeoffs inherent in long-term use and have decided for now to continue. Things that could change my mind about this: absence of relapse into disabling anxiety after an experimental stop; unambiguous demonstration of damage caused by long-term use; appearance of a better alternative. Check with your doctor before using this med. There are contraindications and adverse interactions with other meds. Further, anxiety is highly idiosyncratic, therefore YMMV. My mother was essentially disabled by chronic anxiety for her last 3 decades, and I suspect I'm predisposed to chronic anxiety. Others will of course present differently and need a different treatment plan.