Xanax vs. Ativan: Which One Works Better for Anxiety Relief & Sleep?

If you are seeking some highly effective anti-anxiety medication, then Benzodiazepines will be the end of all your searches. The use of these dates back centuries, and they still have the same old demand. Today, we see that the cases of anxiety keep on increasing, which makes it important to choose the perfect one for your condition from the wide family of Benzodiazepines. Today, we will be discussing Xanax vs Ativan, two very efficient drugs from this family, but quite different from each other. The aim is to give you all the detailed insights on how and why these drugs are different from each other to help you choose the best.

Before moving on to the Xanax vs Ativan differences, let’s have a short overview of both the drugs to get a brief idea about them.

Xanax

The drug Xanax is part of the Benzodiazepine family and is the brand name for Alprazolam. It is mostly used to treat anxiety and panic disorder because it calms down the body and mind, which lessens the anxiety. Certain conditions make people ineligible for Xanax. Those conditions are:

• Kidney problem
• Liver problem
• Asthma
• Pregnant
• Breastfeeding
• Poor mental health
• History of drug abuse

Xanax comes under the category of a Schedule IV substance, which shows that it is comparatively less addictive than other Schedule categories. But there is still a risk of getting dependent on the drug. So it’s important to use it with caution.

Ativan

Ativan is the brand name for Lorazepam and is primarily used for treating patients with anxiety disorders. This belongs to the group of benzodiazepines, which provides relief to the body by reacting on the central nervous system and enhancing the release of neurotransmitters. Ativan can also be used by individuals suffering from seizures and insomnia. Certain health conditions can make individuals ineligible for Ativan. They are:

• Liver, kidney, and chest problems
• History of drug abuse
• Arteriosclerosis
• Glaucoma
• Allergic to Lorazepam
• Myasthenia gravis
• Sleep apnoea

What Is The Difference Between Xanax and Ativan?

Xanax and Ativan have various similarities, which can make people wonder are Xanax and Ativan the same thing. The simplest and shortest form of answer to this is no, both Xanax and Ativan are not the same thing. Now, we will be discussing various factors, such as doses, onset of action, the half-life of Xanax vs Ativan, use, and many others that are responsible for making Xanax and Ativan apart from each other.

Xanax vs Ativan Dosage

The doses for this drug are prescribed carefully according to the needs of the individual. These are highly subjective in nature and must not be altered on your own. You must never take the drug based on some other prescription rather consult the doctor and get your own prescription.

Xanax Doses

• The initial dose of the immediate-release tablets is 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg to be taken 3 times a day.
• For the extended-release version, the initial dose is 0.5 mg to 1 mg once daily.

Ativan Doses

• The initial dose of Ativan is 2 mg to 6 mg per day, which must be divided into 2 to 3 doses.
• The dose for people with more severe symptoms can range up to 10 mg.

The doses mentioned above are not fixed and are just an average dose. You must not follow this blindly and should consult your doctor to get prescribed by them according to your condition.

Now, we will discuss more factors in the form of a table for a more concise understanding.

Factors	Xanax	Ativan
Generic name	Alprazolam	Lorazepam
Onset	15 to 30 minutes	1 to 3 hours
Half-life	6 to 27 hours	10 to 20 hours
Available Formulations	Tablets and Solutions	Tablets, Solutions, Capsules, Injections
Use	Used for anxiety disorders	Used for anxiety disorders as well as for seizures
Cost	Cheaper than Ativan	Costlier than Xanax

Which is stronger: Xanax or Ativan?

It is difficult to decide the stronger between Xanax and Ativan because both belong to the same class of drugs as well as the same schedule category. We can differentiate between their potencies with the help of the quantity of doses. It is found that a smaller dose of Xanax can achieve results equal to a large dose of Ativan. This proves that Xanax is greater in strength than compared to Ativan. Due to this reason, Xanax has more side effects as compared to Ativan and hence must be used with care.

Drug Interactions

Before taking any drug, we must always consider its other drug interactions to avoid mixing them. Drug interaction is a phenomenon in which, if two incompatible drugs are mixed, they react among themselves and produce harmful effects. Let’s check out the interactions of Xanax and Ativan.

Xanax Interactions

• Ambien
• Amlodipine
• Cymbalta
• Flexeril
• Gabapentin
• Lamictal
• Lexapro
• Lisinopril
• Lyrica
• Norco
• omeprazole
• oxycodone
• prednisone
• Prozac
• Seroquel
• tramadol
• Trazodone
• Zoloft
• Zyrtec

Ativan Interactions

• Abilify
• Ambien
• Benadryl
• Cymbalta
• Flexeril
• Gabapentin
• Lamictal
• Lexapro
• lisinopril
• Melatonin
• Oxycodone
• Seroquel
• tramadol
• Trazodone
• Xanax
• Zoloft

Side Effects

Individuals taking Xanax or Ativan have to undergo several side effects of these drugs because they affect the central nervous system. These side effects can range from mild to severe. Let’s discuss those effects.

Various common side effects of Xanax include:

• Drowsiness
• Diziness
• Light headedness
• Fatigue
• Memory problem
• Change in weight
• Loss of appetite
• Confusion
• Problem with balance

In addition to these common problems, there are several other serious effects associated with Xanax, such as dependency, addiction, and allergic reactions.

Side effects of Ativan include:

• Drowsiness
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Diziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Confusion
• Loss of appetite

Various serious risks include respiratory depression, addiction, dependency, withdrawal symptoms, allergy, low blood pressure, and jaundice.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms occur when a person who is addicted to the drug tries to cut down suddenly. These symptoms can be much worse as compared to addiction. You must lower the doses consistently instead of leaving them completely. This helps your body to adjust itself and won’t produce many side effects.

Withdrawal symptoms of Xanax include:

• Insomnia
• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Muscle spasm
• Sweating
• Headache
• Confusion
• Hallucination
• Seizures

Withdrawal symptoms of Ativan include:

• Increased blood pressure
• Restlessness
• Upset stomach
• Fever
• Insomnia
• Diarrhoea
• Headache
• Sweating
• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Memory loss
• Seizures

Can You Take Xanax and Ativan Together?

Mixing Xanax and Ativan can be severely dangerous and is never recommended. These mixtures can damage the central nervous system and cause severe overdosing. Overdosing on the mixture of Xanax and Ativan includes risks such as:

• Extreme drowsiness
• Severe sedation
• Trouble breathing
• Weakness
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness
• Change in colour of lips and nails

Alternatives

If your body doesn’t respond well to Xanax or Ativan, you can choose other alternative options available. They will be equally effective for your symptoms and provide you with relief.

Xanax alternatives

• Zoloft
• Buspirone
• Clonazepam
• Hydroxyzine
• Lorazepam
• Benzodiazepine
• Diazepam
• Fluoxetine
• Theanine
• Triazolam

Ativan alternatives

• Alprazolam
• Buspirone
• Klonopin
• Diazepam
• Hydroxyzine
• Lexapro
• Sertraline
• Fluoxetine

Conclusion

At the end of this blog, we hope that all your queries have been answered and you have a clear picture of which drug will be the best for you. This blog is for reference, and the ultimate decision of your medication is with your doctor. Make sure you make a quick visit to your doctor if you start to notice any changes in yourself, and tell them all your problems. Do not hesitate to discuss openly or hide any facts that will ultimately cause harm to you. Be relaxed, stay happy, and remember that you are not alone.