Xanax is an anti-anxiety drug belonging to the benzodiazepine family of drugs. Benzodiazepines also include clonazepam (Klonaopin), diazepam (Valium), flurazepam (Dalmane), lorazepam (Ativan), and others. Xanax functions by reducing abnormal excitement in the brain. Typically, benzodiazepines act on the brain-specific central nervous system (CNS) to produce a calming effect. Xanax slows down the brain’s chemical movements that may have become unbalanced, leading to a reduction in anxiety and nervous tension. This drug boosts the effects of a natural brain chemical, namely GABA- gamma-aminobutyric acid.