Two medicines, side by side
Clonazepam vs diazepam
Clonazepam and diazepam are both labeled for anxiety. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clonazepam since 1975 and of diazepam since 1963. Pharmacies paid $0.0244 per clonazepam 1 mg tablet and $0.0283 per diazepam 10 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the clonazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 1, 2025); the diazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 11, 2026).
Highlights of the clonazepam record
Clonazepam (Klonopin) · label of December 1, 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: indicationsSeizure Disorders Klonopin is useful alone or as an adjunct in the treatment of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (petit mal variant), akinetic, and myoclonic seizures. In patients with absence seizures (petit mal) who have failed to respond to succinimides, Klonopin may be useful. Some loss of effect may occur during the course of clonazepam treatment (see PRECAUTIONS: Loss of Effect ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 4, 1975
- Generic labelers
- 31 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0244 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 7
Highlights of the diazepam record
Diazepam (Valium) · label of August 11, 2026
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 in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate. Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required.
Used for
From the label: indicationsValium is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short- term relief of the symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an anxiolytic. In acute alcohol withdrawal, Valium may be useful in the symptomatic relief of acute agitation, tremor, impending or acute delirium tremens and hallucinosis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 15, 1963
- Generic labelers
- 45 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0283 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 8
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clonazepam label of December 1, 2025, Diazepam label of August 11, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clonazepam and diazepam differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class benzodiazepines.
Half-life, in each label's words: Clonazepam, “The elimination half-life of clonazepam is typically 30 to 40 hours.”; Diazepam, “The initial distribution phase has a half-life of approximately 1 hour, although it may range up to >3 hours.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: clonazepam since 1996; diazepam since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clonazepam | Diazepam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Seizures and epilepsy, Anxiety | Anxiety, Muscle spasms and spasticity |
| Pharmacologic class | Benzodiazepine | Benzodiazepine |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The elimination half-life of clonazepam is typically 30 to 40 hours. | The initial distribution phase has a half-life of approximately 1 hour, although it may range up to >3 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 4, 1975 | November 15, 1963 |
| First generic approved | September 10, 1996 | September 4, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 31 labelers | 45 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0244 per tablet (Clonazepam 1 mg tablet) | $0.0283 per tablet (Diazepam 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -14% | -5% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | In shortage | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 7 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 159,283 | 121,010 |
| 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?
Diazepam label, drug interactionsCentrally Acting Agents If Valium is to be combined with other centrally acting agents, careful consideration should be given to the pharmacology of the agents employed particularly with compounds that may potentiate or be potentiated by the action of Valium, such as phenothiazines, antipsychotics, anxiolytics/sedatives, hypnotics, anticonvulsants, narcotic analgesics, anesthetics, sedative antihistamines …
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to clonazepam
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions