A common anti-anxiety pill taken by 16 million Americans isn’t very effective and its effectiveness has been greatly exaggerated, according to a Harvard analysis.

Xanax, also known as alprazolam, was approved by the FDA in 1981 and belongs to the benzodiazepine class, a group of depressant medications used to relieve anxiety.

It’s known to be addictive, harmful to the body, and carries the risk of overdose — and now scientists say Xanax might not even be that effective. Researchers from Harvard University and Oregon Health & Science University re-examined trials and studies investigating the effectiveness of Xanax in treating panic disorder. They found several examples of …

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