Xanax is a medication that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat anxiety and panic disorders.

Xanax, which is the brand name for the generic drug alprazolam, isn’t usually used to treat depression because there are several newer and safer medications available.

Occasionally, however, it may be prescribed by a doctor as an “off-label” treatment for depression. As far back as the 1990s, Xanax has been shown in clinical studiesTrusted Source to help treat major depressive disorder when prescribed in double the dosage used for anxiety relief for a short period of time.