Both Xanax and Valium (Diazepam) are used as sleep aids and mood stabilizers. They can be highly addictive, but are good to use when quick treatment is needed. Both are prescription drugs that should only be used by the person they are intended for. They are both in the benzodiazepine class and should not be taken during pregnancy. Mainly, differences are as follows:
Xanax is typically used as an anti-anxiety agent. It treats chemicals in the brain that are sometimes unbalanced and cause anxiety. Worry, hopelessness, and other symptoms are also treated by Xanax. Side effects can include sleepiness, vibrating sensations, or swelling of the mouth and throat resulting in difficulty breathing.
Valium is a tranquilizer that most people use to relax muscles. Valium works by enhancing the reaction of calming neurotransmitters in the brain. Therapy including the use of Valium for more than two months should never be abruptly stopped. Decreasing the use of this drug over the course of six to eight weeks is best. Valium is sometimes used to treat people experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms or other anxieties. Several side effects include drowsiness, nervousness, confusion, constipation, and incontinence.