Title: New Study Reveals Bias in Efficacy Results of Xanax, an Anti-Anxiety Medication
Date: October 24, 2023
A recent study conducted by researchers from Harvard University and Oregon Health & Science University has found that the effectiveness of the widely used anti-anxiety medication Xanax (alprazolam) may have been exaggerated. The study uncovered examples of publication bias, which inflated the drug’s efficacy results by approximately 40 percent.
The researchers, including a former reviewer for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), re-reviewed trials and studies that examined Xanax’s efficacy in treating panic disorder. Of the five studies reviewed, only one demonstrated positive outcomes, contrary to the three studies that were initially presented as positive.
Publication bias occurs when the decision to publish study findings is influenced by the direction or strength of the results. In this case, the bias resulted in an overrepresentation of positive outcomes, skewing the perception of Xanax’s effectiveness.
Dr. Erick Turner, senior author of the study and a professor of psychiatry, stated, “Our study throws some cold water on the efficacy of this drug. It shows it may be less effective than people have assumed.”
The study analyzed both published and unpublished data from five clinical trials reviewed by the FDA for the treatment of panic disorder. The FDA classified only one of the trials as positive, while the other four were deemed “failed on face.”
Additionally, the study highlighted the potential risks associated with Xanax and similar benzodiazepine medications. These drugs can interfere with a person’s neurons and increase their risk of cognitive decline later in life. Previous research from 2022 also revealed the potential adverse effects of anti-anxiety medications on brain cells and neurons.
Xanax, approved by the FDA in 1981, belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs, commonly prescribed to relieve anxiety, a prevalent mental health condition affecting approximately 40 million adults in the U.S. Other medications in this class include Valium, Klonopin, and Ativan.
Despite their widespread use, these medications can cause serious side effects, including appetite changes, nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, and decreased sex drive. More severe effects may include loss of leg control, numbness in hands or feet, decreased awareness, and an unsteady walk.
According to a report from Express Scripts, approximately 5 percent of Americans were taking anti-anxiety medications in 2019. However, the use of benzodiazepines for anxiety declined by 12 percent between 2015 and 2019. It is worth noting that prescriptions for these medications rose during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic when anxiety levels were heightened.
The findings from this study shed light on the need for a critical evaluation of the effectiveness and potential risks associated with commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medications. Further research and a balanced approach to publishing study results can help ensure accurate information is available to clinicians and patients when making treatment decisions.