I am currently taking the low dose xanax as needed & I have taken it for a number of years. I noticed that the xanax sometimes make me sleepy & all I want to do is cut my anxiety & not get sleepy or lower my energy level! Does anyone take ativan & use to take xanax? Or has anyone tried them both & prefer the ativan? Does anyone know the difference between the two? I am going to ask my doctor, I go see her at the end of the month, but I am researching online in the meantime! I am thanking you guys in advance for your replies & responses! I take .25mg of xanax, but I want something similar that would lower my anxiety level. Do you guys have any ideas?
Is Ativan milder than Xanax? Does anyone know?
Question posted by hope31 on 5 Oct 2012
Last updated on 21 February 2019 by StreetRx_98400
This question has also been asked and answered here: Ativan vs Xanax - What is the difference?
35 Answers
It's good that your asking these questions. Honestly, yes alprazolam tends to be more potent. Plain and simple your on such a small dose that you shouldn't even be taking benzodiazepines. I think you should look up a medication called wellbutrin, or lamictal, there excellent medications with very little symptoms of fatigue. Another thing you can look into are stimulants [ concerta, etc. No amphetamine] get tested for a.d.d, adhd... another idea you could go with is the extended release Xanax is does exist. All in all if your going to use benzo maybe a lose dose of librium. Take care, don't worry.
I had been on 2 mgs of Ativan per night for approx 3 years. I got off of it & I can't stress to you how brutal the withdrawal symptoms were. Complete nightmare. So long story short, I would only take these drugs "as needed" for acute anxiety ridden situations. I have recently been struggling again with panic attacks so I decided to try an entire Xanax bar. Dumb move. It was extremely strong & I have a high tolerance. I felt like I was on a different planet & moving in slow motion. If you want to feel practically comatosed & unaware of what's happening around you... have at it. I wasn't a fan!
I've taken both and have recently taken Xanax because my anxiety was horrible this past year with my father being diagnosed with cancer and dying quickly. I too want to switch to valium I feel Xanax makes me look like I'm on something and I'm starting new job but I do still have anxiety attacks just less frequently. Did you switch how did it go
Not sure if it's milder than it Xanax, but I have extreme anxiety and my doctor prescribed me for 1 mg Ativan a day. For the first few days they made me a little bit tired but now they do not make me tired at all. I think I'm starting to get used to them though because now they're not much help with my anxiety. I much prefer Klonopin but unfortunately with Klonopin dependency risk is a lot higher. But at this point with my anxiety I really don't care anymore! I'm tired of feeling anxious over stupid stuff all the time. I've tried all the other medication and nothing seems to work to help calm me down except benzos. But unfortunately doctors don't like to prescribe anything that's habit-forming nowadays
I have taken Ativan 1 mg. for anxiety and insomnia, for quite awhile now.( Doesn't make me tired at all and I can function. It seems to help with anxiety, but as far as insomnia "No". I used to take Xanax 1 mg. for anxiety and it made me terribly sleepy. Tried 0.5 of Xanax, still tired. I bet 0.5 mugs of Ativan would it work perfect for you. Always run it by your doctor first. Good Luck... I just noticed that this question was posed back in 10/2012, so I am sure you have your answer. Can you let me know how it worked out for you? Thanks!
I have taken all of the different kinds of benzos. I have been prescribed to Xanax Klonopin and Ativan. In your case I think you would like Ativan more or Klonopin. I just switch from Klonopin to Ativan and like it more. You would probably want to take .5mg tho but ur DR. Will help with that
Yes I took them both..Xanax worked better for me, I'm on Ativan now and find it not as good..but Ativan makes me tired where Xanax didn't
I took Xanax up to 2mg..now I'm on Ativan and honestly. .No comparison. .Xanax helped me 100 times better..hope that helped you
I had a second thought.
First, yes. I would ask to switch to Ativan, at least to begin. as they don't like you just coming off immediately. So, that would be a good way to wean off of that and possibly try something that won't make you so sleepy but is great for anxiety. many years ago I took Zoloft with my Xanax. They were both strictly for anxiety and panic. many people think Zoloft is an anti-depressant, present but it is not, as it's extremely beneficial for many other things including anxiety. You should give it a try. Just one pill in the morning and that's it. It takes between three and seven weeks to feel the full effects, but it would be good thing to begin with along with a low-dose of our Ativan, and then you could possibly even eliminate the Ativan altogether?
Best To You
-❤️
I take one 1mg Ativan ( equivalent to .25mg of Xanax) every night to help me stay asleep. After a couple weeks it seems as though the 1mg isn't working. I've tried gradually to increase the dose to 3mg, it knocks me out but, doesn't keep me in a deep sleep. I've also tried half of a Xanax bar, which I believe equates to 1mg, and it seems to help me stay asleep. I want to switch to Xanax. I just don't know how to ask my Dr. I hope I was some help.. any suggestions for me?
Since my teenage years due to family trauma I have been on various benzodiazepines.
The first was Valium which helped amazingly.
I had a major set back in 2012 and doc put me on Ativan. I found it stronger acting for anxiety and till now take it 3 times a day.
Ive yo-yo'ed between Valium and Ativan but Ativan has never let me down.
As for Xanax I do take it for panic attacks but I hate when it wears off as I feel worse than I did before the attack. It is incredibly short acting.
It goes without saying we all take to meds differently but Ativan lasts longer for me. I can go about my day and not feel suicidal. In fact Ativan has helped me immensely to get things done I never had the guts to do before.
No drowsiness, no loopiness and no amnesia.
Lorazepam is my choice. Best of all it lasts longer. I've repeated myself sorry ! I meant to say even though diazepam lasts a bit longer lorazepam is much better for anxiety.
Yea I have took both and Ativan is much milder to me anyways..
For me,Xanax is stronger.A small dose for me is a half of 1 mg and that will make me sleepy. Ativan , same dose,just calms my nerves. Of course everyone is different,more like trial and error. Good luck!
I am 18 and have take both Xanax has a more of a sleepy feeling ativan has a more calming feeling My question is do you get high off either of them
I have taken xanax in the past and it caused severe memory loss, I call them forget me nots... Right now I am on 10mg valium, they have stopped working along with all of my other meds. My tolerance is extremely high and nothing works longer than a year. I am on a plethora of different meds for different issues. I have tried ativan before but, I think the dosage was too low, I am going to talk to my dr again, this time asking for middle of the road. Only time will tell, its hard for me to tell anyone how anything works because as I've been told, nothing works the same on me as it does others and I never experience side effects on anything. ...
Related topics
ativan, xanax, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder
Further information
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.