What is the difference between Ativan and Xanax?
Similarities between Ativan and Xanax
Xanax (alprazolam) and Ativan (lorazepam) are both benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines (Benzos) are a class of psychoactive drugs characterized by and used as tranquilizers, sedatives, muscle relaxants of to induce sleep. Benzos can also be used to relieve anxiety, nervousness, tension, or other psychological symptoms or even to stop seizures.
Xanax and Ativan are also similar in their potency. Both Ativan and Xanax are rapid onset medications, for example. Their medicinal effects can be observed in under 30 minutes of administration. Furthermore, both drugs are high potency medications that are administered in doses of 1 mg or less.
Ativan dosage: 0.5-1 mg
Xanax dosage: 0.25-1 mg
Differences Between Ativan and Xanax
1. Drug uses are different. Doctors prescribe the two drugs for different reasons. Specifically, Ativan and Xanax are used for the following medical treatments:
Ativan – used to treat anxiety and as a preoperative sedative
Xanax – used to treat anxiety and panic disorder
2. Action times are different. Although both Ativan and Xanax are short acting benzos, action times are a little different. The major difference between Ativan and Xanax is in the amount of time that the drug is active, or how long the effects last in the body. In general, Xanax takes less time to peak but is active for less overall hours.
Ativan – time to peak is 1-6 hours; average half life is 14-15 hours
Xanax – time to peak is 1-2 hours; average half life is 11-12 hours
3. Addictive qualities are different. Chronic use of any benzodiazepine can lead to physical dependency and withdrawal symptoms once you stop taking the medication. This is true of both Ativan and Xanax, and withdrawal from both medications is a slow tapering off over a period of days. However, doctors recognize that Xanax may have more abuse potential than other benzodiazepines, including Ativan.
Ativan – relatively less abuse potential
Xanax – the most abuse potential of all benzodiazepines
Are you addicted to prescription pills?
Please let us know if you have questions about the addictive qualities of Ativan or Xanax. We respond to all comments, emails and videos. Click here for more information about signs of prescription pill addiction and to evaluate your medication use.
9:56 pm
November 23rd, 2010
If Xanax is not available, then Ativan is my second choice. I have Chronic anxiety and Panic attacks associated with PTSD.
1:10 pm
March 6th, 2011
Hey, I am bp and am on lamictal. But am also on or was on m10 mg of ambien and .05 xanax for insomnia. My Dr. switched me to 1m,g of ativan. Only sleep about 3-4 hrs. a nite. Am a bit worried that sleep is again going to become an issue. Being bp, makes the lack of sleep an even bigger issue. Any thoughts??
1:14 pm
March 6th, 2011
Another kicker to this is that I am soon (this weds) going off of fentenyl patches. (new ins. won’t pay for them anymore). Not looking forward to it!! Any thoughts to help me in this process? Again, I am going to pain mngmnt on weds. (Today is sunday morning)
2:57 pm
March 7th, 2011
Hi Chuck – I’ve sent your question to our in-house prescription pill expert and she recommends that you see a psychiatrist in order to help manage these medications. Thanks for asking Addiction Blog!
3:59 am
May 25th, 2011
iwas on xanax for about 25 years. most of the time i was taking 2mg 3 times aday. and some of the time i was taking ativan at the same time. i ended up in a mental hostipal . i like to have died. withdrawals were unbelieble. i would suggest if there is anyway possible try some other medications. it like to have killed me.
4:29 am
November 30th, 2011
As a 60 year old woman who within the last year has been slapped in the face with several calamities, I don,t care if I become addicted to my Xanax and Prozac. After suffering a severe traumatic brain injury 18 months ago, I lost the ability to hide, cover up or otherwise hide from issues that have haunted me since I was 5 years old.
I have sexual abuse by both parents issues, lived in a severely alcoholic home, have been married for 40 years to a man who has turned into someone I don’t know, And now have my own health issues. The wonderful life I always fooled myself into believing I had has gone up in smoke before my very eyes. I will have to work until I am 70 and really can,t see any light at the end of the tunnel. With the help of a great theripist and my prescribed drugs, I finally have some hope of finding a little happiness in the short time I have left. I will trade hope for addiction any day of the week.
2:24 pm
December 13th, 2012
Im having a probem with the thought of the drug being snortted and what would it do to a person if you do snort it.. does the drug cause slurd speech if taken normal or is that cause taken too much. Help me please.
9:13 am
January 14th, 2013
Hi Angel. Here are links to two (2) articles about snorting Ativan and snorting Xanax. Please let us know if this helps!
http://prescription-drug.addictionblog.org/snorting-ativan/
http://prescription-drug.addictionblog.org/snorting-xanax/
10:05 pm
April 5th, 2013
My name is Diana I am 55 years and have taken Xanax for 20 years now the doctor does not want me to take it anymore. I dont now if I can stop once before I tried and could not do it but now if I can not get it what will I do And all this comes at the worst time I may loose my home and have no where to go to and now at this time they want to take the only medicine I can take with no sied effects away I have tired every antidrepressant in the world and every one makes me sick and I have to stop taking them What should I do???????????
6:09 am
April 10th, 2013
Hello Diana. This is a difficult situation. While you may be physically and psychologically dependent on Xanax, it does seem to offer you some balance in your life, especially in rather a tight spot. I’d suggest that you be honest with your prescribing doctor and make a good effort to stop Xanax, once the housing situation has been resolved. If you can make it through this time, and then address chemical dependency, it seems like you’ll be in a better place to be more successful. How do you feel about this?
4:28 am
April 11th, 2013
maybe that would be better I have been taking 2 xanax a day and ince the threats of taking it away I tried cutting back ti 1.5 and then 1 but when I do I get the same feelngs that I had before I started taking Xanax the reason I was put on it like I said before it is the only drug that helps with no side affects. I do not abust it I only take what I should Its hard for me to understand how a Dr. thats suspose to help people cand find something that does help and dont care how you will feel if they take it away. Also I have rumatoid arthritis and I have been taking Ultram because I cannot afford other higher price drugs I was taking vicidan I got off that easy but I think they want to take the Ultram away also Why do they want to do this all at one time. Now I am so upset I dont sleep I dont know what to do about my house and living arragements It seems everything wants to hit me full force at once I will tell my Dr. about the spot I am in and see if he can help me until I know where I will end up living Its just a bad time to want me to stop all the medicine I take at one time Thank you so much for listing to me and giving me your advice I will be glad to hear from you again about my problem I have no one to talk to no family or friends so it hard to carry all this alone THANK YOU SO MUCH