Many mistakenly assume that Xanax and Lexapro are the same. This misconception can result in fatal outcomes. That is why it is essential to have a clear concept of the differences between them.
Key Takeaways
- Xanax is a benzodiazepine medication that acts as a central nervous system depressant and treats anxiety and panic disorders by enhancing GABA activity in the brain.
- Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication that treats depression and anxiety by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.
- Xanax has a faster onset of action and can be habit-forming, while Lexapro takes longer to start working and is less addictive.
Xanax vs. Lexapro
Xanax is a brand name for the drug alprazolam, for general anxiety disorders. It strengthens the effects of GABA; a soothing neurotransmitter present in the brain. Lexapro is a brand name for the drug escitalopram, used to treat depression and anxiety by raising the serotonin level in the brain.
Xanax, which is also referred to as Alprazolam., is excellent for treating depression and anxiety. The side effects one faces after consuming the medicine are memory problems, dry mouth, sleepiness, depression, etc.
Lexapro mainly treats problems like major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. Lexapro is also known as Escitalopram and Cipralex.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Xanax | Lexapro |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Medical Name | Alprazolam | Escitalopram |
| Used for | Manage short-term management of anxiety disorders, especially panic disorder or GAD. | Treat a major depressive disorder or any generalized anxiety disorder. |
| Time of effect | It acts very quickly, sometimes within hours. | Considerably takes a bit longer. |
| Common side Effects | Dry mouth, memory problems, sleeplessness, depression, and tiredness. | Trouble sleeping, nausea, and tiredness. |
| US popularity position (2018) | 37th most prescribed medicine. | 22nd most prescribed medicine. |
What is Xanax?
Xanax is the name under which Alprazolam is sold in the market. The most common use of the medicine is to manage short-term management of anxiety disorders, especially panic disorder or GAD, or generalized anxiety disorder.
The common side effects observed in the people who take it are dry mouth, memory problems, sleeplessness, depression, and tiredness.
According to the statistics, it is observed that Xanax is the 37th most common medicine prescribed to 20 million people in the United States in the year 2018.
A few issues a medical professional keeps in mind while prescribing Xanax are whether the patient suffers from problems like severe liver deficiencies, pre-existing respiratory depression, etc.
What is Lexapro?
Lexapro is also known as Cipralex or, more popularly and scientifically, Escitalopram. Lexapro treats a major depressive disorder or any generalized anxiety disorder.
There are a few common side effects one faces after consuming the medicine. They include sexual problems, trouble sleeping, nausea, and tiredness.
According to the statistics, in the year 2018, Lexapro was the 22nd most commonly prescribed medicine in the United States, and approximately more than 25 million are named with it.
Lexapro helps increase the extrasynaptic levels of the neurotransmitter known as serotonin by blocking the reuptake of the neurotransmitter into one presynaptic neuron.
Main Differences Between Xanax and Lexapro
- The common side effects one faces after consuming Xanax are dry mouth, memory problems, sleeplessness, depression, and tiredness. And in the case of Lexapro, the common side effects are trouble sleeping, nausea, and fatigue.
- According to statics, in the year 2018, the 37th most prescribed medicine in the United States is Xanax, whereas Lexapro is the 22nd one.
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- https://search.proquest.com/openview/c0f3d34a8d7a329cb602d2ae43ac2384/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=35707
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
It’s concerning how people can mistakenly assume these are the same. This post does a great job of explaining the differences.
Absolutely, we need more posts like this to debunk misconceptions.
Explained very well. Misconceptions can lead to dangerous outcomes. Kudos to the author for such a valuable article.
I was looking for a comparison like this. Exceptional work.
Spot on! Great find.
This was an engaging read. Kudos to the author!
Absolutely wonderful article. The comparison table provides clear insights.
I wish more posts would be this detailed. Great read!
Very well-researched post, indeed.
Good post, but it lacks a neutral perspective. Feels slightly biased.
Very fair point. It would be great to see the opposite side too.
The clarity is exceptional. Great read.
Absolutely. Thorough and clear.
This post fails to approach the benefits of both medications. Not well balanced.
There’s definitely room for a more comprehensive approach, but it does serve its purpose.
This is a very informative article with great sources. It’s important to understand the differences between these medications to avoid possible fatal outcomes. I found this very helpful.
I’m glad to have found this article. It is important to raise awareness!
I couldn’t agree more. Well done, author!
A necessary subject presented in a clear, detailed manner. This is precisely what’s needed for these topics.
Completely agree. This is the standard we should aim for.
A very valuable article! The statistical references make it extremely credible and informative.
Absolutely. Real numbers make this a standout.
Agreed. It’s the details that make the article gold.