There are many similarities between Xanax and XR. Essentially, these are the same drug. They are made by the same manufacturer in the same dosages. You also should not just stop taking either drug without consulting your doctor first.
The duration and frequency of re-dosing are the two main differences between Xanax and XR. Xanax is made to last for up to 6 hours. This leaves a patient to take multiple pills in one day, if needed. XR is intended to last all day. The dosage is typically one pill, once a day.
XR is made to slowly dissolve over a longer period of time. Therefore, this releases the drug into a patient’s system evenly over 24 hours. With regular Xanax, every 6 hours, the drug has worn off, leaving you with anxiety again. XR makes for fewer lows in a 24 hour period. XR has a protective coating that takes longer to dissolve and cannot be consumed as quickly as regular Xanax. The whole purpose of XR is to make life more enjoyable and decrease the number of panic attacks in a day. It is easier on patients to take one pill a day, versus 4 or more for the same results.
XR is not for patients that have one or less episodes of anxiety in a day. XR is designed for those having multiple episodes a day. XR will help to decrease the frequency of those same attacks.