A lot of physicians use sedatives to help their patients with a number of things. A dentist might often use a sedative to relax the patient or make them fall asleep during the dental procedure so that they do not have to feel the extreme pain that will be caused during operation, surgery, or treatment. At the same time, some other doctors even prescribe certain sedatives to people with sleeping disorders and even anxiety.
Xanax vs Xanax XR
The difference between Xanax and Xanax XR is that Xanax is a short-acting drug and Xanax XR is a long-acting drug. Xanax is given to people who frequently suffer from panic attacks, anxiety, etc., and its dose has to be given every 4 – 6 hours positively. Xanax XR, which is also very commonly known as Xanax Extended Release, is given once a day, i.e., once every 24 hours.
Xanax is usually prescribed by doctors to patients for the treatment of panic attacks. It is a short-acting drug which means it needs to be given four times a day in an interval of 4 to 6 hours. It is recommended to continue the use of Xanax for around six weeks.
Xanax XR is also given to people who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. Xanax XR is a long-acting drug which means it is only required to take one dose of this sedation drug every 24 hours. Since it is taken only once every 24 hours, the chances of overdosing on Xanax XR are also very low, which makes it safer than Xanax.
Comparison Table Between Xanax and Xanax XR
| Parameters of Comparison | Xanax | Xanax XR |
| Duration of effect | Xanax is a short-acting drug | Xanax XR is a long-acting drug |
| No. of doses | It needs to be taken 4 – 6 times a day | It needs to be taken once every 24 hours |
| Duration of use | It must be given for approximately six weeks | It must be provided for more than eight weeks |
| Treatment for | It is used in the treatment of severe anxiety and panic attacks. | It is used in the treatment of panic attacks, anxiety as well as depression. |
| Price | It is less costly than Xanax XR | It is an expensive drug |
What is Xanax?
Xanax is a short-acting drug which means it needs to be taken 4 to 6 times a day. It is prescribed by doctors for patients suffering from severe anxiety, panic attacks, etc., and is very helpful in treating these conditions. And since it is a type of sedation drug, one must not drive or operate heavy machinery or do any kind of risky work after taking its dose.
Anxiety is something that needs to be taken care of for some amount of time in very close observation, and after that, it can be treated even without medicines. And that is why Xanax is used to treat people with anxiety for approximately six weeks. And if the treatment needs to continue, the doctor will clarify how long it needs to be prolonged. It is not very expensive and so could be affordable for a lot of people.
Since the dose of Xanax needs to be given 4 to 6 times every 24 hours, sometimes it also happens that people forget the count and either take an overdose or an underdose of it. Pregnant women and people with allergies or a history of medical conditions must ask the doctor before taking this drug.
What is Xanax XR?
Xanax XR is also a sedation drug widely used to treat extreme anxiety, panic attacks, and even depression. Since the rate of depression patients is increasing day by day at an alarming rate, Xanax XR is a very useful and common drug nowadays.
It is a long-acting drug which means that it is needed to take it once every 24 hours. Once taken, its effect lasts for the whole day, and therefore it is more preferred than Xanax. It is prescribed by doctors to be taken for at least eight weeks and can be continued if needed. Xanax XR or Xanax extended-release is an expensive drug, but it becomes pretty affordable since it is only taken once a day. Being a sedation drug, it can cause drowsiness, and lightheadedness can be taken after taking the dose, and therefore, one should strictly prohibit themselves from performing heavy tasks.
As Xanax XR is taken only once a day, the chances of taking an overdose or underdose of this drug are very low. All the people who have underlying medical conditions and women who are pregnant must always consult a doctor before starting with this drug.
Main Differences Between Xanax and Xanax XR
- Xanax is a short-acting drug, while Xanax XR is a long-acting drug.
- Xanax needs to be taken 4 to 6 times every 24 hours, whereas Xanax XR is taken once every 24 hours.
- Treatment with Xanax is given for around six weeks, and Treatment with Xanax XR is given for at least eight weeks.
- Xanax is used to treat mainly panic attacks, whereas Xanax XR is used for patients suffering from severe anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.
- Xanax is not an expensive drug, and on the other hand, Xanax XR is a bit costly sedation drug.
Conclusion
Both Xanax and Xanax XR are drugs that are used to treat patients suffering from mental health issues like anxiety, panic attack, and depression. On the one hand, where Xanax is a short-acting drug, which is prescribed for as long as six weeks and is not very costly on the other hand, Xanax XR is a long-acting drug that needs to be taken once every 24 hours, is prescribed for more than eight weeks and is a bit costly. Care needs to be taken after taking a dose of any of these two drugs since they cause slight dizziness.
