Xanax or alprazolam is a mild tranquilizer under the class of benzodiazepine. It is used to treat mental disorders, such as panic and anxiety disorders, and to treat nausea that occurs because of chemotherapy and is available to take orally.
Clonazepam, also sold by the brand name of Klonopin, is a tranquilizer that falls under the category of benzodiazepine. It is used for people suffering from an Anxiety disorder or panic disorder, movement disorder, any type of seizures, akathisia (movement disorder, or inability to stay still).
Both medications have similar actions to work inside the brain. Both the medicines work as stimulants of GABA receptors and stimulate them to produce GABA neurotransmitters. GABA neurotransmitters have been found responsible for various psychological functions of the body, and low levels of GABA neurotransmitters show negative effects psychology of a person.
Xanax is usually used for the short-term treatment of panic disorder, anxiety disorder, or chemotherapy nausea.
According to the studies, the effect of Xanax for anxiety disorders appears for four months. After four months, the results start to deplete. Also, Xanax is not a very strong antidepressant. Its effects on depression are very asthenic. It is also possible for depression to return back if this medication is used for an extended period.
Xanax struggle with its position in the treatment of panic disorders. It has been found to be creating dependence and hence is not completely accepted for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Evidently, Xanax is expected to work well for 4-10 weeks of time. However, it has also been used for straight eight months (under expert guidance) without any serious ill- effects.
One use of Xanax is to treat nausea or vomiting that occurs due to chemotherapy. Xanax is preferred when all the other medicines do not show effect or are not suitable.
Along with anxiety disorder or panic disorder, Clonazepam also treats movement disorders (Akathisia), epilepsy, and seizures.
Clonazepam finds its uses in the treatment of short-term anxiety and panic disorders. It has also been suggested to treat long-term disorders that have been studied to work for up to 3 years, but this study did not use placebo control.
Clonazepam is also used to treat short-term seizures. Long-term seizures face a high risk of developing tolerance; therefore; this medication is not used for long-term seizures.
It is also used to treat epilepsy in children. And Clonazepam can be used to treat various muscle disorders.
Xanax and Clonazepam are both benzodiazepines, and both are used for anxiety and panic disorders. The working of both medications is also similar. However, some points separate these medicine’s identities.
Since both Clonazepam and Xanax are benzodiazepines, they have some common safety measures.
Xanax and Clonazepam, though they contain some common uses, a lot of uses are entirely different, which makes both the medicines equally important in their fields. Both the drugs are used in some different treatments along with the panic and anxiety issues. So care must be taken before you plan to buy any of these medications. Do not go against the doctor’s prescription and chose other medicines over the prescription.