Is taking .25 mg alprazolam nightly for aiding sleep a risk?

No: Xanax (alprazolam) is commonly taken by people at bedtime as a sleep aid to calm down. It is not approved by the fda however for use in insomnia.

Yes: In my opinion, Alprazolam (xanax) is a horrible drug. It is rapidly absorbed but short acting, which means it wears off and often results, like alcohol, in awakening in the middle of the night and having even worse insomnia. Insomnia is not a diagnosis - it is a symptom of something else. You are far better off talking with your doctor about the reason for the insomnia to find specific treatment.