Xanax is the brand name for alprazolam, a benzodiazepine prescription medicine. A Xanax 2mg tablet should be taken only according to directions from a qualified healthcare professional. The appropriate strength depends on the individual's medical circumstances, previous treatment, other medications, and response to therapy. The 2 mg strength should not be treated as a routine or automatically appropriate dose. Patients should never increase, decrease, split, or otherwise change their prescribed dose without discussing the change with their prescriber or pharmacist.