{"id":18384,"date":"2021-03-01T09:30:47","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T14:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=18384"},"modified":"2026-04-09T21:57:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T01:57:23","slug":"xanax-and-exercise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/xanax-and-exercise\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it safe to exercise while taking Xanax?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you\u2019re struggling with <\/span>anxiety<\/span><\/a>, chances are one of the first things your doctor will recommend is <\/span>exercise<\/span>, and for good reason. Activity that gets your body moving will improve your mood, distract you, and get those feel-good brain chemicals flowing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But what if you\u2019re too anxious to even <\/span>get<\/span><\/i> to the gym? Sometimes anxiety requires more than one approach, which is where <\/span>psychotropic drugs<\/span><\/a> like <\/span>Xanax<\/span><\/a> come in. Before you pop a pill and hit the gym, it\u2019s important to consider whether or not working out on Xanax\u2014or any anti-anxiety medication\u2014is safe.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t23666 - Hampton, VA\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t$10.11\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t$10.11\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tSee Xanax prices at all pharmacies<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n

What\u2019s Xanax?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Xanax (alprazolam) is prescribed to treat panic attacks, generalized anxiety, and other panic disorders on a short-term basis. The popular anti-anxiety drug is classified as a benzodiazepine, which is a controlled substance that can be <\/span>highly addictive<\/span> and <\/span>can even lead to an overdose.<\/span><\/a> Xanax <\/span>acts quickly<\/span><\/a> once you\u2019ve taken it, which makes it useful for panic attacks; it also leaves your system relatively quickly, depending on factors like metabolism, age, weight, and dose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You should also discuss with your doctor what activities are safe to do while on Xanax, including what types of exercise are okay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>What is Xanax?<\/span><\/a> | <\/span>Get Xanax coupon<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Potential side effects of Xanax and exercise<\/span><\/h2>\n

Once you get the go-ahead from your doctor, there are a number of factors to keep in mind. Xanax is effective at curbing anxiety for the same reasons it can make working out more difficult or even dangerous: It makes you sleepy and less coordinated, which can be compounded by exercising. It\u2019s important to make sure you don\u2019t overextend yourself, even if you\u2019re a seasoned gym-goer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[Xanax] also decreases energy, increases muscle relaxation, and may cause drowsiness due to its sedative effects,\u201d <\/span>Crystal Clark<\/span>, MD, MSc, Associate Professor of <\/span>Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences<\/span><\/a> at Northwestern Medicine explains. \u201cThese side effects can impact your ability to work out safely and effectively and should be discussed with your doctor first.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There are also factors at play, according to <\/span>Aaron Emmel<\/span><\/a>, Pharm.D., program director at Pharmacy Tech Scholar, such as \u201cthe individual, the dose, and the duration of treatment. For example, a young adult at low risk for falls who is stable on a low dose of Xanax to treat generalized anxiety disorder may be able to exercise perfectly fine. An older adult who is temporarily taking Xanax could be at risk for falls and injury due to the psychomotor impairment that alprazolam can cause.\u201d However, antidepressants that treat anxiety, like, <\/span>Paxil<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Prozac<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Zoloft,<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Effexor<\/span><\/a>, don\u2019t necessarily have the same sedating side effects. Daily use of these antidepressants to help treat anxiety may decrease the number of panic attacks, and therefore decrease the need for drugs such as Xanax.<\/span><\/p>\n

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