Difference Between Xanax and Valium

Main difference
The main difference between Xanax and Valium is that Xanax contains alprazolam as the active therapeutic moiety and valium contains diazepam as the active therapeutic moiety.
Xanax vs. Valium
Xanax contains alprazolam; on the other hand, Valium contains diazepam. Xanax is comparatively short acting while Valium is comparatively long acting. Xanax has a duration of action of 1-2 hours; on the other hand, Valium has a duration of action of 1-3 days. Xanax has an onset of action of 15 to 30 minutes, while Valium has an onset of action of 15 minutes. Xanax reaches peak plasma concentration in 1-2 hours, while Valium reaches peak plasma concentration in 1-1.5 hours. Xanax has a half-life of 11.2 hours, while Valium has a half-life of 30-56 hours. Xanax is available in 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg tablets, while Valium is Available in 2 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg tablets. Xanax treats anxiety and panic disorders, while Valium treats anxiety, tremors, and muscle spasms. Xanax has a bioavailability of around 90-100% after oral administration, while Valium has a bioavailability of around 100% after oral administration. Xanax is not a good option to treat anxiety if anxiety is accompanied by depression, while Valium is a good option to treat anxiety if anxiety is accompanied by depression. Xanax is less likely to cause drowsiness, while Valium is more likely to cause drowsiness. Xanax is not a good option to treat anxiety if anxiety is accompanied by depression, while Valium is a good option to treat anxiety if anxiety is accompanied by depression. Xanax is less likely to cause drowsiness, while Valium is more likely to cause drowsiness. Xanax is not a good option to treat anxiety if anxiety is accompanied by depression, while Valium is a good option to treat anxiety if anxiety is accompanied by depression. Xanax is less likely to cause drowsiness, while Valium is more likely to cause drowsiness.
Comparison chart
Xanax | Valium |
Xanax is the famous brand of Alprazolam drug that belongs to the Benzodiazepine class. | Valium is the famous brand of Diazepam drug that belongs to the Benzodiazepine class. |
Receptors that drugs act on | |
GABA receptors | GABA receptors |
Mechanism of action | |
Enhances the effects of GABA in the brain. | Enhances the effects of GABA in the brain. |
start of action | |
15-30 minutes | Fast onset of action, i.e. 15 minutes |
duration of action | |
11-20 hours | 1-3 days |
Force | |
0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg tablets | 2 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg tablets |
Excipients | |
Lactose, corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal anhydrous silica, docusate sodium with sodium benzoate, magnesium stearate | Corn starch, pregelatinized starch, anhydrous lactose and calcium stearate |
therapeutic uses | |
Anxiety disorders, panic attacks | Anxiety, agitation, tremors, delirium, seizures, muscle spasm |
What is Xanax?
Xanax is the famous drug brand Alprazolam, which is a triazolobenzodiazepine. Xanax belongs to the short-acting benzodiazepines. Alprazolam exists as a white crystalline powder and does not have good solubility in water at physiological pH. Xanax has good solubility in methanol and ethanol. Xanax modulates GABA type A receptors. When Xanax binds to GABA receptors, it acts to inhibit neurons in the brain. Xanax activity is dose dependent in the CNS. Xanax, when taken orally, is well absorbed. 80% of absorbed Xanax is bound to serum proteins. The maximum plasma concentration of Xanax is reached after one to two hours of dosing. Xanax reduces anxiety due to its depressant effects on synaptic transmission. Xanax mitigates anxiety due to depression. Xanax is recommended for the treatment of panic disorders of the body. Xanax produces a calming effect due to its pharmacological action on the nerves and the brain. Xanax finds its use in curing nausea in chemotherapy. Xanax exhibits several adverse effects, including concentration problems leading to anterograde amnesia, seizures, hallucinations, drowsiness, slurred speech, urinary retention, and vertigo. Xanax is not prescribed when there are liver or kidney problems, alcohol intoxication, pregnancy, smoking, wide-angle or closed-angle glaucoma, and any type of allergy to benzodiazepines. including concentration problems leading to anterograde amnesia, seizures, hallucinations, drowsiness, slurred speech, urinary retention, and vertigo. Xanax is not prescribed when there are liver or kidney problems, alcohol intoxication, pregnancy, smoking, wide-angle or closed-angle glaucoma, and any type of allergy to benzodiazepines. including concentration problems leading to anterograde amnesia, seizures, hallucinations, drowsiness, slurred speech, urinary retention, and vertigo. Xanax is not prescribed when there are liver or kidney problems, alcohol intoxication, pregnancy, smoking, wide-angle or closed-angle glaucoma, and any type of allergy to benzodiazepines. hallucinations, drowsiness, slurred speech, urinary retention, and vertigo. Xanax is not prescribed when there are liver or kidney problems, alcohol intoxication, pregnancy, smoking, wide-angle or closed-angle glaucoma, and any type of allergy to benzodiazepines. hallucinations, drowsiness, slurred speech, urinary retention, and vertigo. Xanax is not prescribed when there are liver or kidney problems, alcohol intoxication, pregnancy, smoking, wide-angle or closed-angle glaucoma, and any type of allergy to benzodiazepines.
What is Valium?
Valium is the famous Diazepam drug brand which belongs to Benzodiazepines. Valium finds its primary use as an anxiety treatment, but it is also used to treat a number of different disorders such as tremors, agitation, seizures, delirium, and muscle spasms. Valium is also prescribed for its calming effect. Valium is beneficial for patients who have difficulty sleeping and for patients with restless leg syndrome. Valium belongs to the long-acting benzodiazepines that have anticonvulsant properties. Valium works by enhancing the effects of GABA in the brain. Valium is rapidly absorbed after oral administration. Valium is largely lipid soluble and is distributed throughout the body well after administration. Valium causes a blood-brain barrier. Valium is redistributed into muscle and fat tissue just after absorption. If Valium is taken daily, it accumulates in high concentration in the body. Valium’s onset of action is 15 minutes and Valium’s duration of action is 1-3 days. Valium has a half-life of 30 to 56 hours. Valium undergoes oxidative metabolism and glucuronidation by the P450 enzyme system. Most of Valium is metabolized and only a small amount of drug is excreted unchanged. Valium shows several side effects like confusion, slurred speech, blurred vision, low blood pressure, urinary retention, dry mouth, and anterograde amnesia. Valium is contraindicated in myasthenia gravis. Valium undergoes oxidative metabolism and glucuronidation by the P450 enzyme system. Most of Valium is metabolized and only a small amount of drug is excreted unchanged. Valium shows several side effects like confusion, slurred speech, blurred vision, low blood pressure, urinary retention, dry mouth, and anterograde amnesia. Valium is contraindicated in myasthenia gravis. Valium undergoes oxidative metabolism and glucuronidation by the P450 enzyme system. Most of Valium is metabolized and only a small amount of drug is excreted unchanged. Valium shows several side effects like confusion, slurred speech, blurred vision, low blood pressure, urinary retention, dry mouth, and anterograde amnesia. Valium is contraindicated in myasthenia gravis. blurred vision, hypotension, urinary retention, dry mouth, and anterograde amnesia. Valium is contraindicated in myasthenia gravis. Valium undergoes oxidative metabolism and glucuronidation by the P450 enzyme system. Most of Valium is metabolized and only a small amount of drug is excreted unchanged. Valium shows several side effects like confusion, slurred speech, blurred vision, low blood pressure, urinary retention, dry mouth, and anterograde amnesia. Valium is contraindicated in myasthenia gravis. blurred vision, hypotension, urinary retention, dry mouth, and anterograde amnesia. Valium is contraindicated in myasthenia gravis. Valium undergoes oxidative metabolism and glucuronidation by the P450 enzyme system. Most of Valium is metabolized and only a small amount of drug is excreted unchanged. Valium shows several side effects like confusion, slurred speech, blurred vision, low blood pressure, urinary retention, dry mouth, and anterograde amnesia. Valium is contraindicated in myasthenia gravis. Valium shows several side effects like confusion, slurred speech, blurred vision, low blood pressure, urinary retention, dry mouth, and anterograde amnesia. Valium is contraindicated in myasthenia gravis. Valium shows several side effects like confusion, slurred speech, blurred vision, low blood pressure, urinary retention, dry mouth, and anterograde amnesia. Valium is contraindicated in myasthenia gravis.
Key differences
- Xanax is a brand name of alprazolam, while Valium is a brand name of diazepam.
- Xanax shows a therapeutic effect for 1-2 hours while Valium shows a therapeutic effect for 1-3 days.
- Xanax begins to show pharmacological action after 15-30 minutes of dosing, while Valium begins to show pharmacological action after 15 minutes of dosing.
- Xanax takes 11.2 hours to reach half concentration after dosing, while Valium takes 30 to 56 hours to reach half concentration after dosing.
- The concentration range for Xanax is 0.25 to 2 mg, while the concentration range for Valium is 2 to 10 mg.
- Xanax is used for patients with anxiety and panic disorders, while Valium is used for patients with anxiety, tremors, and muscle spasms.
- Xanax is not used to treat anxiety, which accompanies depression. On the other hand, Valium is not used to treat anxiety, which accompanies depression.
- Xanax is associated with severe withdrawal symptoms, while Valium is associated with less severe withdrawal symptoms.
Final Thought
The bottom line from the above discussion is that both Xanax and Valium are benzodiazepines and their primary use is in the treatment of anxiety.