Is Ativan or Xanax better for anxiety?
Depending on the type of anxiety disorder, one drug may be more effective than the other. Xanax is a better option when fast-acting anxiety relief is needed, while Ativan (lorazepam) is best suited for people who need several hours of sedation. However, neither drug should be used for long-term treatment.
Xanax and Ativan are both benzodiazepine medications. They're often used to treat anxiety, and they work in similar ways. But, they have a few subtle differences. One isn't better than the other — the best choice for you will depend on your symptoms and medical history.
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.
Side Effects Of Ativan® And Xanax®
Both of these drugs have relatively similar side effects, which is important partially because it shows how similar both of these drugs are not only in what they do, but how they do it in your body.
Buspirone. Buspirone is a unique non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic originally used as an antipsychotic but found to better treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Both Ativan and Klonopin start to work within 15 to 30 minutes of when you take them. How long they last. Ativan tablets have a peak effect within about 2 to 3 hours of when you take them. Klonopin has a peak effect within 1 to 4 hours of when you take it.
If you take Ativan for anxiety, you'll be prescribed the tablet form of the drug. Ativan's dosage for anxiety ranges from 1 mg per day up to 10 mg per day. But the usual dosage is 2 mg or 3 mg taken daily. You'll likely take this amount in separate doses.
Drugs with a shorter half-life are linked with higher potential for addiction and dependence because the effects wear off faster. That is one reason why doctors are typically hesitant to prescribe Xanax for long periods of time. After taking Xanax in pill form, peak levels are found in your blood just 1-2 hours later.
A major risk of long-term use of benzos is addiction. That means you may become dependent on these meds and that you have to keep increasing the dose to get the same effect. Actually benzos, especially Xanax, have street value because of the pleasant feeling they induce.
| Ativan (lorazepam) | Xanax (alprazolam) | Clonazepam |
|---|---|---|
| Injectable solution Oral tablet | Oral tablet | Oral tablet Oral tablet, disintegrating |
| Brand Names | ||
| Other lorazepam brands include: Ativan Injection, Lorazepam Intensol, Loreev XR | Other alprazolam brands include: Alprazolam Intensol, Xanax XR | Klonopin |
Does anxiety get worse on Ativan?
Ativan Effects on the Mind
Ativan can have powerful effects on the brain and nerves. However, many users experience “rebound” side effects, or a worsening of the same symptoms that the drug is designed to treat. In particular, Ativan can cause rebound anxiety, sleep disturbances, abnormal body movements, and agitation.
Ativan is habit-forming, meaning daily consumption will lead to physical dependence. Research indicates that it only takes about 3-4 weeks to become physically dependent on Ativan.
Yes, we have seen Ativan addiction stem from even small doses when taken with a prescription. However, we understand how hard it is to detect abuse or addiction when it comes to taking a prescription drug. That's why you need to be diligent when following your Ativan prescription.
The most prominent of anti-anxiety drugs for the purpose of immediate relief are those known as benzodiazepines; among them are alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).
The antidepressants most widely prescribed for anxiety are SSRIs such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, and Celexa. SSRIs have been used to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
SSRIs and SNRIs are often the first-line treatment for anxiety. Common SSRI brands are Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, and Zoloft. Common SNRI brands are Pristiq, Cymbalta, and Effexor XR. Pros: They are effective for a lot of people and they have a solid safety profile.
Benzodiazepines reduce anxiety by enhancing the activity of GABA, a neurotransmitter in your brain that induces feelings of calm. The reason why benzodiazepines like lorazepam are used to treat both anxiety and sleep is that GABA also induces feelings of drowsiness, which can help you get a better night's rest.
Switching from Xanax to Ativan
Likewise, if you are needing multiple doses of Xanax to treat your panic disorder, for example, Ativan may be a more appropriate choice. Each dose of Ativan lasts longer in the body and would “cover” you for a longer amount of time.
The usual dose is: anxiety in adults – 1mg to 4mg each day. Your doctor will tell you how often you need to take it. sleeping problems in adults – 1mg to 2mg before bedtime (lorazepam will start to work in around 20 to 30 minutes)
- SSRIs (antidepressants)
- SNRIs (antidepressants)
- Beta-Blockers (blood pressure medications)
- Buspirone (anti-anxiety)
- Hydroxyzine (brand name Vistaril, a prescription antihistamine).
How much lorazepam equals Xanax?
How much Xanax equals 1mg of lorazepam? Benzodiazepine equivalency tables state that 0.5mg of alprazolam (Xanax) is approximately equivalent to 1mg lorazepam.
These medications work by enhancing the effect of a neurotransmitter called GABA, which sends calming messages to the body. Neurotransmitters are your brain's chemical messengers. As a result, you feel calmer and better able to handle the stresses of day-to-day life.
Taking Xanax can lead to misuse (abuse) and addiction of the medication, which can increase your risk of overdose and death. Using Xanax can lead to physical dependence and this risk increases the longer you take Xanax.
- Find an authorized provider: Ask your pharmacist or PCP about who can prescribe you Ativan. ...
- Talk to your doctor about your anxiety: Describe how long you have had anxiety, when it is worst, and how it affects your daily life.
Depending on the type of anxiety disorder, one drug may be more effective than the other. Xanax is a better option when fast-acting anxiety relief is needed, while Ativan (lorazepam) is best suited for people who need several hours of sedation. However, neither drug should be used for long-term treatment.
Clonazepam is better to treat panic disorder than Xanax. The US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) does not recommend using benzodiazepines for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the medication can “cover-up” the feelings or trauma, and you may not ever learn how to manage your trauma.
Because the brain has become accustomed to functioning with Xanax bound to receptors, the anxiety the drug reduces comes back the same or worse than before they started Xanax. There can also be rebound symptoms other than anxiety, most often insomnia and other sleep disturbances.
If you feel like Xanax isn't helping your condition, your doctor may be able to recommend another medication or another form of therapy. It may take time to find the right treatment protocol that works for you.
Common street names include Benzos and Downers. What do they look like? The most common benzodiazepines are the prescription drugs Valium®, Xanax®, Halcion®, Ativan®, and Klonopin®.
Valium (diazepam) is a long-acting benzodiazepine with a half-life of around 49 hours for healthy individuals. Half-life is the time it takes for the amount of drug to reduce by half in the body. Compared to Ativan, Valium takes longer to be eliminated from the body. In other words, Valium stays in the body longer.
Is there an anxiety medication you can take as needed?
Beta blockers are prescribed to be used on an as-needed basis; they're not taken long-term. Hydroxyzine (Atarax and Vistaril) is another medication prescribed for anxiety. It's an antihistamine that's used to treat allergic reactions, but it also works to decrease activity in the brain.
It's thought to work by increasing the levels of a calming chemical in your brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Lorazepam is available on prescription only. It comes as tablets and as a liquid that you swallow. It can also be given as an injection in hospital if you're having a seizure or fit.
When people feel anxious or have racing thoughts, taking a benzodiazepine kicks up GABA activity a notch to counteract the anxiety. Ativan takes anywhere from 45 minutes to a couple of hours to take effect.
Trials that directly compared Ativan and Xanax for the treatment of anxiety have reported no significant differences in their effect, and few differences in their side effects, although mental confusion may be less with Xanax.
To treat anxiety, your doctor will prescribe Ativan tablets. The dosage range for this use is 1 mg to 10 mg, which is usually split into two or three doses per day. The typical dose is 2 mg to 6 mg, divided into two or three doses per day.
You should not use lorazepam if you have: Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you use lorazepam during pregnancy, your baby could be born with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, and may need medical treatment for several weeks.
In general, benzodiazepines such as Ativan should be taken for short periods only (for example 2-4 weeks). Continuous long-term use is not recommended unless advised by your doctor. The use of benzodiazepines may lead to dependence on the medicine.
Ativan Effect Timeline
When taken orally, Ativan is absorbed slowly and considered to have an intermediate action of onset (between 15 and 30 minutes for most people) compared to other benzodiazepines. An oral dose of Ativan will reach its peak effects within about two hours for most individuals.
Regardless of the dose, the half-life of Ativan remains the same, approximately 14 hours. Thus, a lower dose of 0.5mg of Ativan would typically be cleared from the body within about three days.
It's usually prescribed to help with panic attacks. Someone takes it at the onset of an attack and it works within 20-30 minutes. The desired effects are felt quickly, and it then works to leave the body. The half-life of Ativan is typically 10-20 hours, depending on the person.
How to get rid of anxiety fast?
- Breathe. One of the best things you can do when you start to feel that familiar panicky feeling is to breathe. ...
- Name what you're feeling. ...
- Try the 5-4-3-2-1 coping technique. ...
- Try the “File It” mind exercise. ...
- Run. ...
- Think about something funny. ...
- Distract yourself. ...
- Take a cold shower (or an ice plunge)
- Modafinil (Requires a Prescription)
Modafinil is a prescription drug often sold under the brand name Provigil that is used to treat uncontrollable drowsiness. It has been shown to provide mental stimulation similar to that which occurs with cocaine use but without the risk of dependence.
Anxiety disorder is the most common of all mental illnesses. The combined prevalence of the group of anxiety disorders is higher than that of all other mental disorders in childhood and adolescence. Anxiety disorder leaves you unable to cope with daily life due to abnormal fears of life.
Neurotransmitters in the brain, known as gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABA), are partly responsible for regulating sleep and feelings of relaxation and anxiety. Ativan acts on these receptors to slow down the central nervous system (CNS).
Ativan Effects on the Body
By slowing the activity of the brain and nerves, Ativan also affects physical functions and responses. As a tranquilizer, Ativan can make the user feel calm and physically relaxed. Ativan can also stop painful spasms in muscles, or prevent life-threatening seizures when taken correctly.
Ativan (lorazepam) is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine.It leaves the body more quickly than Valium and has a half-life of approximately 18 hours. It takes about 2 hours for Ativan oral tablets to take full effect, and it will take longer to see the effects of this medication if you take it with food.
“The major benefit of lorazepam is that it is quick-acting and effective at reducing anxiety,” says Amanda S. Brown, NP, a psychiatric nurse practitioner with Columbia University Irving Medical Center. But as with all medications, lorazepam comes with some side effects and risks. It's not right for everyone.
Studies have also found that people who take benzodiazepines have an increased risk of developing dementia. For these reasons, geriatricians almost never prescribe a drug like Ativan to older adults, and we're big fans of trying to get our older patients to taper off of benzodiazepines, whenever possible.
Ativan for anxiety should not be used for long-term anxiety treatment or the treatment of everyday anxiety symptoms. Use of this drug should only be for those with moderate to severe symptoms where other medications or treatment options haven't been effective.
How does Ativan affect your brain? Benzodiazepines are depressants that slow down your nervous system to make you feel calm. They act on the brain's gamma aminobutyric acid – or GABA – receptors, one of the most common neurotransmitters in the central nervous system.
Does Ativan knock you out?
Though sleepiness is a common side effect of Ativan use, in greater duration, this may be a sign of excessive intoxication. Uncoordinated behavior: Sedation may result in inexplicable spasms or loss of motor function entirely. Stumbling is likely and reflexes will be all but gone.
Switching from Xanax to Ativan
Likewise, if you are needing multiple doses of Xanax to treat your panic disorder, for example, Ativan may be a more appropriate choice. Each dose of Ativan lasts longer in the body and would “cover” you for a longer amount of time.
Benzodiazepines most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders are clonazepam (Rivotril)*, alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan). Also used are bromazepam (Lectopam), oxazepam (Serax), chlordiazepoxide (once marketed as Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene) and diazepam (Valium).
For its high-potency and long-lasting effects, the most potent benzodiazepine is Clonazepam, also known as Klonopin. Other high-potency but short-acting benzos are alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and triazolam (Halcion).
When people feel anxious or have racing thoughts, taking a benzodiazepine kicks up GABA activity a notch to counteract the anxiety. Ativan takes anywhere from 45 minutes to a couple of hours to take effect.
Ativan (lorazepam) is readily absorbed with an absolute bioavailability of 90 percent. Peak concentrations in plasma occur approximately 2 hours following administration.