Xanax or lorazepam what is better

One of the significant differences between lorazepam vs Xanax is that Ativan leaves your system more quickly, which will reduce the chance of toxicity or side effects. However, if you stop Ativan suddenly or if your daily dose is reduced considerably, you could experience withdrawal symptoms in as little as eight hours.

Your level of anxiety during withdrawal may actually be worse than the anxiety you felt before you started taking the medication. It is best to withdraw from benzodiazepines under the supervision of a healthcare professional, for your safety and well-being throughout the process. At Recovery Without Walls, we understand that it can be difficult and even dangerous to stop abusing prescription drugs without help. We are here to guide you through safe and effective withdrawal from prescriptions such as benzodiazepines , including lorazepam and Xanax.

We personalize your treatment based on evidence-informed research, exceptional psychotherapy, nutritional support, and integrative healing methods designed to treat your whole body. Contact us today to learn how we can help you. Lorazepam vs Xanax What Are Benzodiazepines? Benzodiazepines for Anxiety A type of drug that is used primarily for treating anxiety, benzodiazepines are also known to be effective in treating other conditions. Mixing Benzodiazepines with Alcohol When taking benzodiazepines, it can be very dangerous to also drink alcohol.

Lorazepam vs Xanax Two medications in the benzodiazepine family are Xanax, the brand name for alprazolam, and lorazepam, also known as Ativan. Physically Addictive Both medications have side effects , including drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, sedation, memory problems as well as the potential for addiction. Withdrawal One of the significant differences between lorazepam vs Xanax is that Ativan leaves your system more quickly, which will reduce the chance of toxicity or side effects.

Contact Recovery Without Walls for Prescription Drug Help At Recovery Without Walls, we understand that it can be difficult and even dangerous to stop abusing prescription drugs without help.

The average half-life for Xanax, or the time taken for the body to remove half of the drug, is The body removes Ativan more slowly, with a half-life of 12 hours, or 18 hours for Ativan and its byproducts. This is a partial list of side effects. People should talk with their doctor about all of the possible adverse effects. Ativan may cause drowsiness in Ativan can impair learning and coordination and cause amnesia for longer periods than Xanax.

In general, Ativan causes fewer withdrawal symptoms and has less potential for misuse than Xanax. This is likely because Ativan has a more prolonged effect and slower elimination rate than Xanax. It is more likely that missed doses or abruptly stopping Xanax can cause rapid withdrawal effects, including anxiety, insomnia, and panic attacks. Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms include :. The severity of the withdrawal symptoms depends on the length of treatment, type of drug, dosage, underlying medical conditions, and use of other drugs or alcohol.

People taking benzodiazepines may develop dependence at low dosages as well as high dosages, and this can develop within several weeks. If a person takes Xanax or Ativan for a month or longer, they should slowly reduce the drug to minimize withdrawal symptoms. Even when decreased over several weeks, people may still experience withdrawal symptoms for 1 week to several weeks, which may make it difficult to stop the medication. A person should never change their dose or stop taking the medication without speaking with their doctor.

Their doctor will put together a plan with them. Rare, severe withdrawal symptoms include seizures, psychosis , and confusion. Ativan and Xanax interact with opioids, tricyclic antidepressants , barbiturates, and alcohol. Taking them together increases the risk of severe drowsiness, overdose, and death. Ativan and Xanax interact with several other drugs. It is best to have a doctor or pharmacist review any current medication before starting to take a benzodiazepine. This is a partial list of interactions.

People should talk with their doctor or pharmacist to review all their medications and possible interactions before using these drugs. The dosages of Ativan and Xanax depend on their forms and the condition they are helping to treat. In many cases, people may take larger doses of Ativan, at 2—6 milligrams mg per day , compared with Xanax, which people usually take at less than 4 mg per day.

People taking Xanax for panic disorder may take higher doses. Ativan is also available as an injection, but Xanax is not.

Xanax is available in a disintegrating tablet and a hour long-acting tablet, while Ativan is not. Respiratory breathing problems have been noted in babies born to mothers who were taking benzodiazepines. Sign up for Ativan price alerts and find out when the price changes! Get price alerts. Ativan and Xanax are both indicated in the management of anxiety disorders. Both drugs are indicated for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety , and short-term relief of anxiety associated with depressive symptoms.

Xanax is also indicated for the treatment of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia. Both medications also have several off-label uses, outlined below. A placebo-controlled, double-blind study compared Ativan and Xanax in the treatment of patients with severe anxiety. Both drugs were found to be more effective than placebo, with Xanax being slightly more effective in later weeks of the study.

However, another study of the two drugs for anxiety showed both drugs to be effective , with Ativan being slightly more effective.

Another study compared the two drugs in the treatment of panic disorder and found Ativan and Xanax to be equally effective. The most effective medication for you should only be determined by your doctor, who will take into account your medical condition s , history, and other medications you take.

Sign up for Xanax price alerts and find out when the price changes! Ativan is typically covered by insurance and Medicare Part D in its generic form of lorazepam. The brand-name Ativan may not be covered or have a high copay. Xanax is also typically covered by insurance and Medicare Part D in the generic form of alprazolam.

The brand-name Xanax may not be covered or have a high copay. A typical prescription of alprazolam would be for 60 tablets of 0. You can save money using a SingleCare coupon on generic Ativan or Xanax.

Try the SingleCare prescription discount card. Side effects of Ativan and Xanax tend to be greater at higher doses. The most common side effects of Ativan are sedation, dizziness, and weakness. Patients taking Xanax often experience sedation, dizziness, and weakness.

Other side effects may occur. Consult a healthcare professional for a complete list of side effects. Benzodiazepines, such as Ativan and Xanax, should not be taken in combination with opioid painkillers, due to increased risk of sedation, respiratory depression, and overdose, possibly leading to death.

If no other combination is possible, the patient should receive the drugs at the lowest possible dose and for the shortest duration, and be closely monitored.

Benzodiazepines also should not be taken with other CNS depressants such as alcohol, antipsychotics, antidepressants, sedating antihistamines, and anticonvulsants. These drugs should never be prescribed together; the use of these three medications can result in very serious respiratory depression, overdose, or even death.

Other drug interactions may occur. Consult your healthcare provider for a full list of drug interactions. Ativan and Xanax have many similar warnings.