Drug Comparison
For educational purposes only — a decision-support tool, not a substitute for clinical judgment.
Side-by-side rubric across 96 psychiatric medications. Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote — click any cell to see it.
How to read this tool ▾
Rating scale
– Favorable / lower than class baseline
± Minimal / equivocal
+ Low / uncommon
++ Moderate / common
+++ High / very common
++++ Very high / class-outlier
Frequency vs severity
F = frequency, S = severity. Each gets its own pill colored on the same traffic-light scale: green → blue → yellow → orange → red. Click any cell for incidence percentages and NNH.
Evidence tier
A Network meta-analysis / RCT / FDA label
B Cohort / registry / pooled label data
C Expert review / textbook / case series
Sourcing
Click any cell to see the verbatim source quote and citation. Missing data shows n/a.
Data depth
++ Graded — frequency + severity, primary-source traces
+ FDA label — §6 frequency only (dashed border). Click for sub-types.
Blank — not yet checked (not “absent”)
–±++++++++++ABCF = frequency · S = severity · Dashed border = FDA label only · Click cell for details
1 drug selected — Alprazolam(click to collapse)
1/4 selected
Alprazolam
Xanax
Benzodiazepine · C-IV
FDA-approved indications
- Acute treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults
- Treatment of panic disorder (PD), with or without agoraphobia in adults
Off-label uses
- Insomnia
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea (anticipatory)
MechanismBenzodiazepine [EPC]
Half-life11 hours
Decision GuideWhen to pick each / when to consider an alternative
Alprazolam
Consider when
- Panic disorder — FDA-approved for panic with or without agoraphobia; XR formulation available for smoother levels
- Acute anxiety requiring rapid relief — fast onset (15–30 min); high potency allows low mg doses
- Short-term bridging while SSRI/SNRI titrates — covers the 2–4 week SSRI onset lag in panic/GAD
- GAD when other treatments have failed — FDA-approved for GAD; reasonable after SSRI/SNRI/buspirone trial
- +1 more
Consider an alternative when
- Substance use disorder history — highest abuse potential and street value among benzodiazepines; reinforcing euphoria
- Discontinuation difficulty anticipated — worst withdrawal syndrome among benzos; interdose rebound anxiety; must taper very slowly
- CYP3A4 inhibitor co-prescribed (ketoconazole, itraconazole) — contraindicated; alprazolam levels rise dramatically
- Elderly or fall-risk patient — Beers Criteria avoid; cognitive impairment and falls risk increase with age
- +1 more
| Axis | Alprazolam benzo |
|---|---|
| Boxed Warnings | |
Abuse / addiction liability | |
Respiratory depression (opioid / CNS depressant co-use) | |
| CNS | |
Sedation / somnolence | |
Activation / insomnia | |
Cognitive dulling / anterograde amnesia | |
| GI | |
Nausea / GI (general) | |
| Sexual | |
Sexual dysfunction | |
| Discontinuation | |
Withdrawal / discontinuation | |
| Interactions | |
CYP interactions / DDI profile | |
| Safety | |
Overdose toxicity | |
Falls / elderly risk | |
| Pregnancy | |
Teratogenicity | |
Lactation / breastfeeding safety | |