Effects - Xanax (Alprazolam) VS Valium (Diazepam)

[Darksanity]

SWIM would like to know what's the difference in effects and duration between the benzodiazepines drugs Alprazolam and Diazepam.

Thank you.

[~lostgurl~]

Valium is a relatively powerful hypnotic (sleep inducer), whereas Xanax is less powerful as a hypnotic, but a very powerful anxiolytic. (anti anxiety)

Some people assume that because one benzodiazepine makes you sleepier than another that this benzodiazepine is more potent than those which do not produce sleepiness to the same degree. Often, the reverse is true.

Xanax is short acting, Valium is long acting.

[Mike177]

Here is part of a Benzodiazepine Equivalency Table:



Benzodiazepines -- Half-life (hrs)2 -- Approximately Equivalent
[active metabolite] Oral dosages (mg)3


Alprazolam-- 6-12h -- .5
(Xanax)

Diazepam -- 20-100 [36-200] -- 10
(Valium)


Alprazolam requires a much weaker doase to produce the same intensity of effect that Diazepam would. according to this chart .5mg xanax would be simmilar to 10mg of Valium.

Boath can and are perscribed for general anxiety disorder. Benzodiazepines are rarely perscribed simply as a sleep aid anymore. Alprazolam, I would say, works better as a sleep aid due to its short duration. This wont leave you feeling as groggy the next day.

Xanax is a more "slap in the face" benzo as its duration is one of the shortest acting of common used benzos. Those who take it for anxity disorders are advised to take it 3 times a day, This problem sparked the creation on the newer Xanax XR's. But getting back on track....

Valium has a longer duration, a longer come-up period and less intense effects. (based on doasage, of course) SWIM has little experance with Valium and lots of experance with Xanax. SWIM personally prefers Xanax.

Hope this helped, sorry if the info is a bit scatterd, SWIM happens to be enjoying his xanax wile writing this up.

Best Wishes,
Mike


(edit: sorry, Im having a hard time getting to table to display correctly, I hope you are still able to disifer threw it. The full original text can be found here: http://www.betterway2health.com/Benzoequiv.htm)

[jandehoog]

On another note, remember that the same drug can have different effets in differen people, actually SWIM feels that xanax is much more sleepier than valium, and it doesn't take the edge off stress that well. In this case SWIM prefers to take valium, usually in the 10 - 40mg range. 10mg just to relax, 40mg plus some wine for recreational value.
BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN COMBINING BENZOS AND ALCOHOL!!!

[acolon_5]

SWIM has always had memory problems (complete 4hr blackouts) when taking Xanax even at lower-end doses (1mg for example everything becomes grey, 1.5 100% blackout).

On the other hand SWIM has never encountered any memory problems with Valium at (what SWIM consideres high doses for the occasional user) at 40-50mgs.

SWIM's first wife became suicidal, but ONLY during times she was on XANAX, the hour the effects wore off she was fine. Next pill, same thing all over.

So, from SWIM's experiance, and his experiance only, he prefers the Valium over Xanax anyday. SWIM knows many people who like it the other way round. Guess its just a personal kinda thing.

[DrMuffy]

Well SWIdr has tried both diazepam and alprazolam, and would say the only really noticiable difference (besides dose) is the duration. SWIdr never experiences memory loss from benzos, and can take them in very large amounts and still act perfectly sober, so his tolerance might effect his judgment on benzo effects and amnesia due to their use.

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[shocker1369]

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[GreatWonder]

Originally Posted by DrMuffy

Well SWIdr has tried both diazepam and alprazolam, and would say the only really noticiable difference (besides dose) is the duration. SWIdr never experiences memory loss from benzos, and can take them in very large amounts and still act perfectly sober, so his tolerance might effect his judgment on benzo effects and amnesia due to their use.

SWIM has both Diazepam and Alprazolam aplenty and always goes back to the Alprazolam. It is obviously the stronger benzo of the two, I find it has a quicker and more noticable kick-in time. Whenever SWIM has taken Diazepam, SWIM almost has to convince SWIM'self it is working. But as already said it's definitely each to their own.

[DrMuffy]

Well if SWIdr had to choose one of the two, he would most likely choose alprazolam (xanax). But also it depends on whether one is using the pills for an anxiety and or other disorder, or to get high. If SWIdr had to choose one to use for his (GAD, general Anxiety Disorder), he would choose diazepam most definatly due to its long half life, which would have the ability to keep SWIdr cool throughout the day. Alprazolam, with a much shorter half life, also has its pros and cons when dealing with this.

[sciencedj]

SWIM has been using xanax and valium on and off for years.

Many good points were made from the posters in this thread.

Here's SWIM's two cents:

I prefer xanax over valium for sleep inducement (and as an anxiolytic).

SWIM takes 2 mg xanax before bed every night. He wakes up refreshed and ready to go (probably because it is short acting).

If SWIM takes 10mg Valium before bed, he wakes up groggy and with a "Valium hangover"..eck!

Alprazolam (Xanax).

This is a short-acting cousin of Valium that gives a good three to five hours of sleep with less hangover in the morning. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it improves sleep quality, because it is a cousin to Valium, which usually seems to worsen this in most people. It is very good for anxiety as well, and tends to be very well tolerated. It can be addictive, however. The usual dosage is one-half to four 0.5-milligram tablets at bedtime or during the night.

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[DrMuffy]

Yes that is a big con for diazepam, the hangovers can bug, but overall if taken earlier in the day with a couple of glasses of green tea, one is willing and ready to face the world in an orderly (anxiety free) state. Whereas, xanax (alprazolam) would only last an couple hours at most and one would have to keep redosing to maintain their anxiety level.

But of course this deals with the medicinal purposes of these medications, and not the abuse potential. SWIdr would mostly likely have alprazolam handy when he just wanted to "chill out" because of its strength, effects, and short duration.