I take 3mg xannax XR once daily for anxiety, and also take 1 2mg tablet (half twice daily). I was wondering how this drug compares to what I am taking and if anyone else has switched (my dr said oxazepam is a med we might try).
Thanks!
Oxazepam - How is it compared to Xanax?
Question posted by scottypm on 7 March 2012
Last updated on 12 January 2013 by toddto8
3 Answers
toddto8
12 Jan 2013
I have taken both Xanex and srax in the last year, i find the Xanex works faster and I Do not have any side effects like shakes, vertigo or loss of balance. when I brought this to a new Dr attention he said i was trying to find drugs to sell (not in so many words but it was quite clear) S no instead of taking a 0.5 xanax twice daily I am prescribed Oxzepan every 6 hrs, with the same side effects and none of the benefits. I woul recomend xanax, but understand it carries a negative conotation with many DRs i guess??
echo08
8 March 2012
Hi Scottypm (love the name!) - Oxazepam is a benzo derivative that's chemically much closer 2 Valium than Xanax. I know a lot of docs act like all benzos r the same, but they're really not. Valium was never really intended 2 b an anti-anxiety med while Xanax was specifically intended as an anti-anxiety/panic d/o med. At the mental health clinic where I work, we rarely use Oxazepam - mostly for older patients as it seems 2 have fewer of the side effects that other benzos have in the geriatric population (falling, vertigo, etc.). Regular Xanax is one of the faster acting anti-anxiety benzos - it should start working in about 20 min., peak at 2 hrs, & basically stop at 4 to 5 hrs. For anxiety/panic d/o's, what ur on sounds good. The key 2 controlling anxiety/panic d/o's w/ xanax since the regulars are short acting is 2 keep a steady dose in ur system 2 prevent/minimize anxiety/panic attacks.
I (obviously) don't know the degree or severity of ur condition - just guessing based on what ur prescribed. Also don't know if ur current regimen isn't working 4 u & that's why ur considering a change? I've been on the same dose of regular Xanax 4ever... it just works 4 me. But since we're all different, if ur regimen isn't working, maybe one of the other anti -anxieties like Ativan mentioned in the previous post would b something 2 discuss w/ ur Dr? Best wishes!
808wahine96734
7 March 2012
scottypm, i didnt know there was a difference between types of xanax, i take 1 mg twice a day. my dr upped it since my taper got my emotions, and anxiety going wild. i can say this much. i heard xanax vs ativan vs valium, xanax works quicker when an anxiety/panic is comming, but also told that ativan and valium lasts longer. you may want to keep asking questions with the dr, looking it up here at the site too. take care
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xanax, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, oxazepam
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