Both are in the same drug family. Another common one is klonopin. Xanax works faster and has a more noticable effect but is easy to get addicted to. Klonopin is slower acting and Valium the slowest and least likely to addict. I can't take any of them. I became very addicted. Withdrawal is wicked. Be careful.

Never had Xanax had Valium and it just calmed me down pretty much everything I've had for anxiety had the same effect Valium, Restoril, Klonopin and Ativan are the ones I've tried. Ativan works the best for me but my pdoc has me on Restoril PRN. Good luck to you. It is just my opinion that if you are really worried about becoming addicted you have a good head on your shoulders and won't abuse the drugs. I could be wrong but this is how you are coming across to me very conscientious like myself. :) My brother is an alcoholic and takes benzos with the booze and I come from a long line of addicts so I am very careful to only take PRN and only take pain meds also when I absolutely have to as well. I hope you take what I said as a compliment and not a flame. Best of luck to you.

I currently take restoril at night and Ativan PRN. I love both because they work so well

Does the Restoril make you sleepy? It does not make me sleepy thus the reason I was taken off of it originally. Only this month put back on it for anxiety. I take one to two 15 mg pills PRN and no even two pills does not make me sleepy any more all it does is relax me.

if you want to stay away from anything addictive for anxiety...I recommend going with an atypical antipsychotic...especially abilify...

like kdavis said... but a small dose of seroquel works best for me

Thanks guys....I am on zoloft,lamictal,trazadone but I need somethn for when I have high anxiety like today...I have a script for ativan so I guess ill try it...just a lil scard tho

ativan it was guys!! i had a script for 0.5mg so i took 0.25 and felt a lil better gonna try the 0.25 agian and see how it goes then i may try the 0.5...wish me luck

BuSpar is the only antianxolytic that has been proven not to be addictive. It is not in the same family of medications that xanex, ativan, valium and klonapin are (benzodiazepines). I didn't realize how well my BuSpar worked until I accidentally ran out. I could feel it then. Look into it.

all benzos are very addictive.,..but if you take a short acting as xanax or atavain,,take as needed only,,never take more than 3-4 days in a row..or in 8 weeks you could be hooked..

long term you get hooked also..but if your having these issues
then you may need a all the time benzo such as klonpin..vailum isint all that good...xanax at .25 to start,,or klonpin 0.5 mg to start 1 aday of any these meds..once you build up it takes more to take than what did when you started..im prescibed 6mgs xanax aday..oi take it all difft ways,,by hoqw i feel that day..but i,m hooked on 4mgs...this will help you!!!