Insomnia and Anxiety disorder are the most common health conditions as of today. So, there is always a comparison between Ambien vs Xanax. Ambien and Xanax are CNS depressants that work by depressing the central nervous system; due to their similar nature, people get confused about them. But in reality, these two drugs are pretty different from each other and treat two different critical health issues. This blog aims to help you get a clear answer on Xanax vs Ambien, how do they compare, is Xanax and Ambien the same thing, and what are the dangers of mixing these two drugs. Let’s discuss it below.
Ambien vs Xanax: Key Difference, Use & Side Effects Explained
What is Ambien?
Ambien is the brand name of Zolpidem, which is a sedative medication. It is mostly used to treat insomnia or sleeplessness. It affects the brain chemicals that are disturbed by the unusual activities in the brain. Zolpidem is the active agent in Ambien, which works on the central nervous system by calming the pain signals by increasing the effects of GABA acid. GABA acid helps to reduce unusual activities in the brain.
If your doctor is prescribing you with Ambien, then he must know if you have any serious health conditions before, such as;
- Alcohol Addiction
- Breathing Problems
- Sleep Apnea
- Liver or kidney Problems
- Allergies
What is Xanax?
Xanax is the brand name of Alprazolam, which belongs to the class of benzodiazepines. It is primarily used to treat anxiety disorders. But it also provides temporary help for people with sleeplessness or sleep apnea. It works by activating the neurotransmitters in the brain and produces a calming effect in the system. Xanax is available in the form of tablets and liquid syrups. It is a schedule IV medication, which means it has a lower dependency, but long-term use can cause addiction to Xanax.
If you have any other medical history, then you must tell your doctor before taking Xanax because this might lead to harmful side effects. Your doctor must know if you have;
- Pregnancy
- Liver Problems
- Seizures
- Breastfeeding
- Anxiety
- Allergies
What is The Difference Between Ambien and Xanax?
Insomnia can be treated effectively with these two medications. But their working process are unique from each other. There are other bunch of various factors that make them quite apart. Let’s discuss all those factors in detail.
Mechanism of Action Ambien vs Xanax
- Ambien: Ambien works by selective binding of GABA receptors, which only regulate the area in the brain that affects sleep. It controls the GABA receptors and increases the use of the Chloride channel. The initial effect of Ambien is always sedative. It works like a solution to a single problem, that is, sleeplessness.
- Xanax: Xanax works by binding to different GABA receptors and it’s subunits, which enhances the overall GABA effect and neurotransmitters in the system. It works by binding to GABA receptors, making it easy to calm down neuronal activity. The initial effect of Xanax is to reduce stress and anxiety, promote muscle relaxation, and decrease the rate of seizures.
Drug class
- Ambien: It is a non-benzodiazepine medication, which makes it a sedative and hypnotic drug. It is helpful for people dealing with sleeplessness, insomnia, or sleep apnea.
- Xanax: It is a Benzodiazepine medicine, which means it has a higher potential to treat anxiety disorders and long-term sleeplessness.
Metabolism and Elimination
- Ambien: Ambien gets metabolised by the liver. The liver converts the drug into water-soluble compounds. After absorption of the drug liver releases byproducts of the drug, which are inactive metabolites. Then the kidneys help to discard those inactive metabolites.
- Xanax: Xanax is metabolized by the liver and enzymes. Xanax is broken down into two active metabolites, and then the byproducts of the drug are eliminated by the body in the form of urine.
Let’s understand some other key differences in table form.
| Parameters | Ambien | Xanax |
|---|---|---|
| Formulation | Oral tablets, sublingual tablets, and a spray. | Oral tablets and liquid solution. |
| Half-life | 2 to 5 hours. | 10 to 11 hours. |
| Onset of Action | 15 to 30 minutes. | 15 to 60 minutes. |
| Risk profile | lower risk of dependency. | Higher risk of physical dependence. |
| Abuse | lower risk | higher risk |
| FDA-approved for | insomnia | anxiety disorders. |
What is Better For Sleep Ambien or Xanax?
Ambien is the most effective solution for sleeplessness. It directly works with the sleep-related nerves in the brain and causes sedation. This helps to slow down the activity in the brain. Sedation is a feeling that helps to increase sleep quality. It also enhances the quality of GABA acid, which produces the calming chemical in the brain.
Can You Take Ambien and Xanax Together?
Many people wonder if can you mix Ambien and Xanax? The answer is very simple yet complex. Ambien and Xanax are both work by depressing the central nervous system. When an individual takes Ambien and Xanax together can increase the risk of coma by reducing the level of oxygen in the body. Sometimes Ambien and Xanax interaction can lead to low blood pressure, confusion/memory loss, or less brain function. That is why it is suggested to consult a doctor before mixing any drugs. Let’s see some dangers of the Ambien and Xanax combination.
- Coma
- Death
- Hypoxia
- Loss of consciousness
- Extreme drowsiness
- Addiction
- Physical Dependence
Drug Interaction of Ambein and Xanax
When people take multiple drugs at the same time, drug interactions are common to happen. Before you take a new medicine, it i always best to talk about other medications that you are taking to avoid interactions. Drug interactions can be harmful, and Ambien and Xanax have a lot of harmful interactions. Let’s look into them.
Drugs that interact with Ambien are
Drugs that interact with Xanax are
- Norco
- Amlodipine
- Oxycodone
- Gabapentin
- Lyrica
Similarly, some drugs are reactive towards both Ambien and Xanax. Such as: Alfentanil, Brexanolone, Hydromorphone, Ketamine, Levorphanol, etc. So you must tell your doctor about the medication that you are using while getting prescribed Ambien or Xanax.
Side Effects
Sometimes misuse of any drug leads to severe conditions like breathing issues or memory loss. As we know, Ambien and Xanax are two hypnotic drugs, and they have a lot of potential side effects that can cause coma or even death. Let’s discuss some of the common side effects of Ambien and Xanax.
- Complex sleep behaviours
- Nausea
- Difficulty in Breathing
- Amnesia
- Sedation
- Headache
- Increased risk of falling
- Difficulty in clear speaking
Frequently Asked Question(FAQs)
Does Ambien feel like Xanax?
Both the medications Ambien and Xanax are used to bind the GABA receptors to calm the central nervous system. These drugs are sedative in nature. So, to some users, Ambien can feel the same as Xanax.
Ambien vs Xanax for anxiety?
According to the studies, Xanax is the best solution for Anxiety. Xanax is mainly designed to treat anxiety and reduce the factors causing sleep issues, but Ambien is primarily used to treat sleeplessness only. Hence, Xanax is effective in treating anxiety disorders.
Final Thoughts
Ambien and Xanax are two depressants that affect the nerves directly, which are effective in their own way. So in the end, we hope this blog is helpful for you to understand the basic difference between Ambien vs Xanax. Follow a doctor’s advice carefully and take your medicine patiently for easy and fast recovery.