Two medicines, side by side
Chlordiazepoxide vs lorazepam
Chlordiazepoxide and lorazepam are both labeled for anxiety. Drugs@FDA records approvals of chlordiazepoxide since 1960 and of lorazepam since 1977. Pharmacies paid $0.158 per chlordiazepoxide 25 mg capsule and $0.0344 per lorazepam 0.5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the chlordiazepoxide FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 10, 2025); the lorazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 9, 2025).
Highlights of the chlordiazepoxide record
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) · label of December 10, 2025
RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH OPIOIDS; ABUSE, MISUSE, AND ADDICTION; AND DEPENDENCE AND WITHDRAWAL REACTIONS Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate. Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required.
Used for
From the label: indicationsChlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Capsules are indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short term relief of symptoms of anxiety, withdrawal symptoms of acute alcoholism, and preoperative apprehension and anxiety. Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an anxiolytic. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 24, 1960
- Generic labelers
- 15 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.158 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the lorazepam record
Lorazepam (Ativan) · label of July 9, 2025
RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH OPIOIDS; ABUSE, MISUSE, AND ADDICTION; and DEPENDENCE AND WITHDRAWAL REACTIONS
Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate. Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required.
Used for
From the label: indicationsAtivan (lorazepam) is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety or anxiety associated with depressive symptoms. Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an anxiolytic. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 30, 1977
- Generic labelers
- 36 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0344 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 8
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Chlordiazepoxide label of December 10, 2025, Lorazepam label of July 9, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do chlordiazepoxide and lorazepam differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class benzodiazepines.
Half-life, in each label's words: Chlordiazepoxide, “It takes several hours for peak blood levels to be reached and the half-life of the drug is between 24 and 48 hours.”; Lorazepam, “The mean half-life of unconjugated lorazepam in human plasma is about 12 hours and for its major metabolite, lorazepam …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: chlordiazepoxide since 1975; lorazepam since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Chlordiazepoxide | Lorazepam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety, Alcohol use disorder | Anxiety |
| Pharmacologic class | Benzodiazepine | Benzodiazepine |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | It takes several hours for peak blood levels to be reached and the half-life of the drug is between 24 and 48 hours. | The mean half-life of unconjugated lorazepam in human plasma is about 12 hours and for its major metabolite, lorazepam glucuronide, about 18 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 24, 1960 | September 30, 1977 |
| First generic approved | March 7, 1975 | December 10, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 15 labelers | 36 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.158 per capsule (Chlordiazepoxide 25 mg capsule) | $0.0344 per tablet (Lorazepam 0.5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -18% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 107 | 178,731 |
| DEA schedule | CIV | CIV |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Lorazepam label, warningsUse of benzodiazepines, including lorazepam, both used alone and in combination with other CNS depressants, may lead to potentially fatal respiratory depression (see PRECAUTIONS:
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to chlordiazepoxide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions