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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