The prescription medication Xanax 1mg contains alprazolam, a fast-acting benzodiazepine that is used to treat panic attacks and anxiety disorders. It functions by raising the brain's gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity, a relaxing neurotransmitter that lessens tension and anxiety. People with more severe symptoms or those who have developed tolerance to lesser levels are typically recommended the 1 mg dose, which is regarded as moderate to high.