What are the differences between Xanax and Valium?
- Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam) are benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety and panic attacks.
- A difference is that Valium is also used for the treatment of agitation, tremors, delirium, seizures, and hallucinations resulting from alcohol withdrawal. It is also used for the treatment of seizures, relief of muscle spasms in some neurological diseases, and for sedation during surgery.
- Side effects of Xanax and Valium that are similar include drowsiness, fatigue, and speech problems.
- Side effects of Xanax that are different from Valium include memory problems, constipation, and changes in weight.
- Side effects of Valium that are different from Xanax include diarrhea, rash, euphoria, loss of balance, muscle spasm, lack of sleep, rage, confusion, and double vision.
- Xanax and Valium may interact with alcohol, medications that can make you sleepy (for example, barbiturates, and narcotics), ketoconazole, itraconazole, cimetidine, fluvoxamine, carbamazepine, and rifampin.
- Xanax may also interact with nefazodone.
- Valium may also interact with cimetidine, omeprazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, darunavir, fluoxetine, and St. John's wort.
- Xanax and Valium can lead to addiction (dependency), especially when higher dosages are used over prolonged periods of time. In patients addicted to diazepam or after prolonged use, abrupt discontinuation may cause symptoms of withdrawal such as insomnia, headaches, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, sweating, anxiety, and fatigue.
What are Xanax and Valium?
- Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam) are anti-anxiety medications in the benzodiazepine family, the same family that includes clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), flurazepam (Dalmane), and others.
- Xanax, Valium and other benzodiazepines act by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain.
- GABA is a neurotransmitter (a chemical that nerve cells use to communicate with each other) that inhibits activity in the brain. It is believed that excessive activity in the brain may cause anxiety or other psychiatric disorders.

SLIDESHOW
Anxiety Disorder Pictures: Symptoms, Panic Attacks, and More with Pictures See SlideshowWhat are the side effects of Xanax and Valium?
Xanax
The most common side effects of Xanax taken at lower doses are:
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
Other side effects include:
- Memory problems
- Speech problems
- Constipation
- Changes in weight
- Addiction (dependency)
Valium
The most common side effects of diazepam are:
Other important side effects include:
- Paradoxical reactions with excitability
- Muscle spasm
- Lack of sleep
- Rage
- Confusion
- Speech problems
- Double vision
Possible serious side effects:
- Respiratory depression
- Neutropenia
- Depression
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What is the dosage of Xanax vs. Valium?
Xanax
- The starting dose for treating anxiety is 0.25-0.5 mg 3 to 4 times daily using immediate release tablets. The dose may be increased every 3-4 days to a maximum dose of 4 mg daily.
- The starting dose for treating panic attacks is 0.5 mg 3 times daily. Doses can be increased every 3-4 days but by no more than 1 mg daily.
- The effective dose for preventing panic attacks may be as high as 10 mg daily for some patients. The starting dose when using extended release tablets to treat panic disorder is 0.5 mg once daily and the average dose is 3-6 mg once daily.
- Alprazolam may be taken with or without food.
Valium
- Diazepam may be taken with or without food.
- Diazepam is disposed of by the liver and excreted mainly by the kidney. Dosages of diazepam may need to be lowered in patients with abnormal kidney function.
- The usual oral diazepam dose for anxiety or seizures is 2-10 mg given 2-4 times daily.
- The usual rectal dose is 0.2-0.5 mg/kg and depends on the age of the patient.
Are Xanax and Valium addictive?
Xanax
Addiction is more likely to occur at high doses given over prolonged periods of time. Abrupt discontinuation of alprazolam after prolonged use can lead to symptoms of withdrawal such as:
Seizures can occur in more severe cases of withdrawal. Consequently, patients on alprazolam for extended periods of time should slowly taper the medication under a doctor's supervision rather than abruptly stopping the medication.
Valium
Diazepam can lead to addiction (dependency), especially when higher dosages are used over prolonged periods of time. In patients addicted to diazepam or after prolonged use, abrupt discontinuation may cause symptoms of withdrawal such as:
Seizures can occur in more severe cases of withdrawal. Therefore, after extended use, diazepam should be slowly tapered under a doctor's supervision rather than abruptly stopped.

QUESTION
Panic attacks are repeated attacks of fear that can last for several minutes. See AnswerWhat drugs interact with Xanax and Valium?
Xanax
- Ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), nefazodone (Serzone), cimetidine (Tagamet), and fluvoxamine (Luvox) increase concentrations in the blood of alprazolam and therefore may increase the side effects of alprazolam.
- Alprazolam interacts with alcohol and medications (for example, barbiturates, and narcotics) that suppress activity in the brain by suppressing activity more and causing sedation.
- Carbamazepine and rifampin reduce the effect of alprazolam by increasing metabolism and elimination of alprazolam in the liver.
Valium
Alcohol or medications that cause sedation may add to the sedative effects of diazepam. Patients taking benzodiazepines should avoid such combinations.
The following drugs may prolong the effects of diazepam by inhibiting liver enzymes that eliminate diazepam:
- cimetidine (Tagamet)
- ketoconazole (Nizoral)
- itraconazole (Sporanox)
- omeprazole (Prilosec, Rapinex)
- erythromycin
- clarithromycin (Biaxin)
- darunavir (Prezista)
- fluvoxamine (Luvox)
- fluoxetine (Prozac)
Dosages may need to be decreased when these drugs are used with diazepam.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol), rifampin (Rifadin), and St. John's Wort decrease levels of diazepam by increasing the elimination of diazepam by liver enzymes.
Are Xanax and Valium safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Xanax
- Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam, can cause fetal abnormalities and should not be used in pregnancy.
- Alprazolam is excreted in breast milk and can affect nursing infants. Therefore, it should not be used by women who are nursing.
Valium
- Benzodiazepines, including diazepam, can cause fetal abnormalities and should not be used during pregnancy.
- Diazepam is excreted in breast milk and can affect nursing infants. Therefore, diazepam should not be used by women who are nursing.
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Summary
Xanax (generic name alprazolam) and Valium (generic name diazepam) are benzodiazepines (tranquilizers) used to treat anxiety and panic attacks. Valium is also used for the treatment of agitation, tremors, delirium, seizures, and hallucinations resulting from alcohol withdrawal. It is also used for the treatment of seizures, relief of muscle spasms in some neurological diseases, and for sedation during surgery. Side effects of both Xanax and Valium include drowsiness, fatigue, and speech problems.
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How Do Seizures Differ From Epilepsy and Convulsion?
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What Are the Different Types of Seizures?
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Can Stress and Anxiety Hurt My Baby?
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What Does Social Anxiety Feel Like?
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Can Anxiety Give You a Stomachache?
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What Is the Best Treatment for Anxiety?
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What Are General Methods Used to Treat Depression?
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What Is a Strategy to Help Someone Who Is Suffering From Depression?
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What Symptoms Are Caused by Anxiety?
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What Triggers Social Anxiety?
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-
Do Seizures Come in Clusters?
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Is Depression a Medically Treatable Disorder?
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How Does a Person With Anxiety Feel?
What are symptoms of anxiety? A person with anxiety may experience feelings of nervousness, restlessness, inability to concentrate, stomach problems, and more.
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How Does Anxiety Affect You Physically?
Physical signs of anxiety include rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, headache, and more. Find out how to recognize and ease your symptoms.
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What Does It Mean to Be High-Functioning in Depression?
Although not a clinical term, high-functioning depression is a phrase often used to describe a form of depression that may be less debilitating than others.
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What Foods Are Good for Seasonal Depression?
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Why Do People With Schizophrenia Get Depressed?
The exact cause of why people with schizophrenia get depression is unknown; however, some of the following factors may increase the probability of the condition.
Treatment & Diagnosis
- Anxiety
- Seizure (Epilepsy)
- Alcohol Withdrawal
- Depression
- Panic Attack
- Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondria)
- Postpartum Depression: Behind the Smile
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Teen Depression
- Febrile Seizure
- Postpartum Depression
- Depression
- Anxiety, Panic, and Phobias: Seeking Help
- Depression Drug Warning: Signs of Suicide
- Anxiety Treatment with Virtual Reality Exposure
- Anxiety: Facing Fear and Anxiety -- Jonathan Davidson, MD
- Anxiety in These Uncertain Times -- Patricia Farrell, PhD -- 04/10/03
- Epilepsy: Silencing the Seizures
- Depression: Beating the Holiday Blues
- Depression FAQs
- Epilepsy and Seizures FAQs
- Panic Attacks Disorder FAQs
- Seizures: When the Computer Goes Haywire
- Brain Cancer Symptoms: Headaches and Seizures
- Depression - St. John's Wort
- Miscarriage - Depression Risk Increased
- Seizure Symptoms: How to Assist the Victim
- Depression and Women
- Hot Flashes: Anxiety Worsens Hot Flashes
- Panic Attack Symptoms
- Does Lupus Cause Seizures?
- What Is a Jacksonian Seizure?
- Do Statins Cause Depression?
- Does Stress Cause Panic Attacks?
- 11 Common Depression Symptoms
- Diet and Depression: How Food Can Help with Depression Symptoms
Medications & Supplements
- Buspirone vs. Xanax
- Benzodiazepines
- Hydroxyzine vs. Xanax
- alprazolam extended-release - oral, Xanax XR
- diazepam - rectal, Diastat
- diazepam - oral, Valium
- alprazolam concentrate solution - oral, Alprazolam Intensol
- alprazolam - oral, Xanax
- diazepam - injection, Valium
- Klonopin (clonazepam) vs. Valium (diazepam)
- Cyclobenzaprine vs. Xanax (alprazolam)
- Alprazolam (Xanax) vs. Temazepam (Restoril)
- Alprazolam vs. Diazepam (Differences between Side Effects and Uses)
- Beta Blockers vs. Xanax
- Gabapentin vs. Xanax
- Alprazolam (Xanax) vs. Sertraline (Zoloft)
- Beta Blockers vs. Valium
- Lexapro vs. Xanax
- alprazolam (Xanax)
- Lyrica (pregabalin) vs. Xanax (alprazolam)
- Benzodiazepines vs. Ambien
- Benzodiazepines vs. Cyclobenzaprine
- Benzodiazepines vs. Barbiturates
- diazepam (Valium, Diastat, Acudial, Diastat Pediatric, Diazepam Intensol)
- Ativan (lorazepam) vs. Valium (diazepam)
- Cyclobenzaprine vs. Valium (diazepam)
- Valium (diazepam) vs. midazolam
- Valium (diazepam) vs. Ambien (zolpidem)
- Side Effects of Valium (diazepam)
- Side Effects of Xanax (alprazolam)
- Hydroxyzine vs. Valium
- Benzodiazepines vs. Narcotics (Opioids)
- Haldol (haloperidol) vs. Xanax (alprazolam)
- Ativan vs. Xanax
- Klonopin (clonazepam) vs. Xanax (alprazolam)
- Is Procedural Sedation the Same as Moderate Sedation?
- benzodiazepines-oral
Prevention & Wellness
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