Compare Ativan vs. doxepin
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Helps you relax.
Ativan (lorazepam) is an effective medicine for occasional or short-term anxiety. It's less likely to have drug interactions, but more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms compared to similar drugs.
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3.8/ 5 average rating with 642 reviewsforAtivan
Treats depression and anxiety.
doxepin can treat depression and anxiety, but it's not a first choice medication because of its many side effects.
Upsides
- Effective at relieving short-term anxiety.
- Can be used together with antidepressants to manage anxiety disorders. Especially helpful for anxiety symptoms while you wait for an antidepressant to kick in.
- Less likely to have drug interactions compared to other drugs like it, so it might be a better option if you're taking multiple medications.
- doxepin has been consistently shown to improve symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- doxepin has been used to treat depression for over forty years.
Downsides
- Can cause memory problems, drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion.
- Can be habit-forming, so it's not typically used for long-term treatment or for people who've had problems with drug or alcohol abuse.
- Compared to other similar medicines, Ativan (lorazepam) is more likely to cause withdrawal if you take it for a long time and then suddenly stop.
- Most people find that Ativan (lorazepam) gets less effective over time.
- doxepin can make you very sleepy. Try taking it at bedtime if you need to be alert during the day.
- You shouldn't drink alcohol with doxepin. It can worsen side effects like drowsiness.
- You have to take it daily, especially if you are feeling better, for the medicine to do its job.
- It can have more side effects than other antidepressants, like weight gain and increased appetite, decreased libido, and sleepiness.
- It's not unusual for people to try different antidepressants until they find one that works for them.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Liquid
- Injection
- Pill
- Liquid
Price
Lowest price
$7.88
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$10.30
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Reviews
642 reviews so far
71%
saidit'sworth it
51%
saiditworked well
15%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Ativan (lorazepam)?
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Side effects
4possible side effects
- Sleepiness16%
- Dizziness7%
- Weakness4%
- Unsteadiness3%
The doxepin FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
Risks and risk factors
- Severe sedation with opioid use
- Taking with opioids
- Tolerance and dependence
- Taking more than the prescribed dose
- Taking Ativan (lorazepam) for longer than 4 weeks
- History of drug abuse
- Withdrawal
- Long-term use
- Driving impairment
- Alcohol
- Taking other medicines that make you less alert
- Memory problems
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
- Age 24 years or under
- Unmasking of bipolar disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Serotonin syndrome
- Taking MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors)
- Heart problems
- History of heart disease
- Adults over 65
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Sleepiness
- Adults 65 years or older
- Taking other medicines that cause drowsiness (antihistamines, sleep medications, narcotic pain medications)
- Alcohol
- Dizziness and falls
- Age 65 years or older