14 Sep 2023
Lorazepam
and Alprazolam both treat anxiety and other psychiatric disorders.
They are in the benzodiazepine family of
drugs, which help inhibit excessive nerve stimulation in
the brain. Researchers believe excess neural firing in the brain
leads to anxiety.
How they work, exactly, needs to be
clarified. Still, scientists believe Lorazepam, Alprazolam, and other
benzodiazepines act by improving the effects of GABA in the brain. By influencing
GABA, benzodiazepines decrease the activity of nerves in the brain.
Both drugs belong to
the class of benzodiazepines, so they have a similar mechanism of action. Still,
there are structural differences between them that affect their mechanism of
action in the body.
Lorazepam is indicated for
managing anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of anxiety symptoms or
anxiety associated with depressive symptoms. Anxiety or tension related to everyday
stress usually does not need treatment with an anxiolytic.
Most
adverse reactions to benzodiazepines, including CNS effects and
respiratory depression, are dose-dependent, with more severe effects occurring
with high doses.
·
Drowsiness
·
Dizziness
·
Tiredness
·
Muscle weakness
·
Headache
·
Blurred vision
·
Insomnia
·
Loss of balance or coordination
·
Forgetfulness or amnesia
·
Difficulty concentrating
·
Nausea
·
Vomiting
·
Constipation
·
Changes in appetite
·
Skin rash
Alprazolam is indicated
for managing anxiety disorders and the short-term relief of anxiety symptoms in
adults. Xanax is also indicated for treating panic disorder in adults with or
without a dread of places and situations that might cause helplessness, panic,
or embarrassment (agoraphobia).
Common
side effects
of Alprazolam include:
·
Drowsiness
·
Tiredness
·
Dizziness
·
Insomnia
·
Memory problems
·
Poor balance or coordination
·
Slurred speech
·
Trouble concentrating
·
Irritability
·
Diarrhoea
·
Constipation
·
Increased sweating
·
Headache
·
Nausea
·
Vomiting
·
Upset stomach
·
Blurred vision
·
Appetite or weight changes
·
Swelling in your hands or feet
·
Muscle weakness
·
Dry mouth
·
Stuffy nose
·
Loss of interest in sex
Both Lorazepam and Alprazolam
enhance the actions of a neurotransmitter in the brain known
as GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA reduces the activity of nerve
cells, so enhancing it has a calming effect which may improve anxiety symptoms,
reduce muscle tension, stop seizures, and induce sleep. Benzodiazepines are
also known for their amnesic impact or ability to disrupt short-term memory,
making them useful before surgery. Due to structural differences, some
benzodiazepines cause sleepiness, relieve anxiety, relax muscles, stop
seizures, or make you forget. Lorazepam and Alprazolam are both FDA-approved
for anxiety relief. However, they are less likely than some other
benzodiazepines, like diazepam or Temazepam, to induce sleep.
Alprazolam comes
in the following forms and dosages:
Lorazepam comes
in the following forms and dosages:
Alprazolam is
more quickly absorbed than Lorazepam, with peak concentrations within 1-2 hours
following administration, compared to 2 hours for Lorazepam. The effects of
Alprazolam last 4-6 hours, although there are wide variations between
individuals. Effects of Lorazepam last around 8 hours, although they may
persist longer in some individuals.
Benzodiazepine
equivalency tables show that 0.5mg of Alprazolam is approximately equivalent to
1mg of Lorazepam. However, people of Asian descent metabolise Alprazolam
differently than other races. In addition, certain disease states, like
alcoholism, kidney and liver disease, obesity and even old age, can affect how
Alprazolam behaves in your body, so use benzodiazepine equivalency tables as a
guide only as they do not reflect the individual variation. Therefore, both
Lorazepam and Alprazolam should only be used short-term.
Trials that
directly compared Lorazepam and Alprazolam to treat anxiety showed no
significant differences in the effect and few differences in their adverse
effects. However, mental confusion may be less with Alprazolam.
Lorazepam and
Alprazolam should only be used short-term due to the risk of addiction and
dependence. Generally speaking, benzodiazepines with a shorter half-life (such
as Lorazepam and Alprazolam) are more challenging to stop than those with a
longer half-life (such as diazepam). Both Lorazepam and Lorazepam readily enter
brain tissue, reinforcing drug taking and generally associated with more severe
withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, Lorazepam and Alprazolam are both at high risk
of abuse. Experts have remarkably advised using Alprazolam cautiously as it has
severe withdrawal symptoms.
The
properties of each drug play a significant role in how common and adverse the
withdrawal symptoms can be and the drugs' potential for abuse. In general, Lorazepam
causes fewer withdrawal symptoms and has less potential for misuse than
Alprazolam. This is likely because Lorazepam has a more prolonged effect and
slower elimination rate than Alprazolam.
It is more possible
that missed doses or abruptly stopping Alprazolam can cause rapid withdrawal
effects, including anxiety, insomnia, and panic attacks.
Lorazepam
and Alprazolam are both benzodiazepines. Both have similar effects and side
effects and can cause withdrawal symptoms. Despite the similarities between
them, their properties result in some differences. However, one may work much
better for some people than the other.
