Both Ativan and Xanax are two powerful drugs that are prescribed for treating the medical condition anxiety and panic disorders. A lot of people are known to be affected by this disorders and many people often encounter panic attacks every now and then. This makes it necessary for medicines like these to become most popular. Both the medications are indeed the most prescribed medicines by a majority of doctors around the globe. The demand for these anti-anxiety meds in the market is extremely high. If you wonder if there could be any difference between these two pills, then you can explore the same by reading this blog. You can get to know here about the efficacy of these pills and how they act in the body to treat anxiety and depression efficiently.
Brief about Ativan and Xanax
Both of these medicines belong to the benzodiazepine class family. Xanax comprises of the important component in it called alprazolam and Ativan also has the essential compound known by the name lorazepam. Both alprazolam and lorazepam are the active ingredients in Xanax and Ativan respectively. They work in the body to battle the anxiety attacks. Both work in the similar form by affecting the chemicals in the brain that could be unbalanced in people who are known to suffer from anxiety disorders.
Physical difference
Ativan appears as white powder that is almost insoluble in water. Each tablet comprises of 0.5mg, 1mg and 2mg of lorazepam. This drug is recommended for oral administration. It also consists of certain inactive ingredients in it like microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate, and polacrilin potassium and magnesium stearate.
Xanax also appears in the form of white crystalline powder that is soluble in methanol or ethanol yet has no appreciable solubility in water. Each tablet comprises of 0.25mg, 0.5mg or 2mg of alprazolam and it is recommended for oral administration. The 2mg tablets are usually multi scored and may be divided. It includes several inactive components that play a crucial role in battling anxiety and they are lactose, sodium benzoate, cellulose, magnesium stearate, and corn starch and docusate sodium.
Medical notes
You should know that both the medicines are prescribed only for a short term and therefore they are not insisted to be taken for longer than advised for you. Ativan is approved for treating anxiety and panic for those who are above the age of twelve. Xanax on the other hand is to be prescribed for treating anxiety, panic and also anxiety caused by depression only for those who are above the age of eighteen. Both are approved by food and drugs administration for treating anxiousness disorder and depression conditions. There is a possibility to provoke deadly drug interaction if either of the med is consumed with alcohol. Drug interaction can also happen if you take any anti-depressants or anti-seizure medications. Therefore, you need to take care when you take Ativan or Xanax for treating your depression condition. As these meds act on the central nervous system, they provide a tranquilizing effect to soothe the agitated nerves. Thus an anxiety afflicted individual calms down as their condition is steadily being suppressed by the drugs.
