clonazepam vs lorazepam
Side-by-side comparison of clonazepam and lorazepam Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Klonopin
Ativan
Clonazepam is a medicine that belongs to the benzodiazepine class. It is used to treat seizure disorders and panic disorder.
Lorazepam is a medicine that can help with anxiety. It belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which slow down activity in the brain.
Clonazepam is used to treat certain seizure disorders, including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, akinetic, and myoclonic seizures. It can also treat absence seizures when other medicines don't work. Clonazepam also treats panic disorder, which involves unexpected panic attacks and worry about having more attacks.
Lorazepam is used to manage anxiety disorders. It can also provide short-term relief from anxiety symptoms or anxiety linked to depression. However, it is not for the stress of everyday life. Talk to your doctor regularly to see if you still need this medicine.
Clonazepam works by affecting chemicals in your brain that may be unbalanced. It enhances the effects of a natural brain chemical called GABA. This helps to reduce seizures and relieve panic symptoms.
Lorazepam works by affecting certain chemicals in your brain. It enhances the effects of a natural brain chemical called GABA. This helps to calm your nerves and reduce anxiety.
- • Drowsiness
- • Problems with coordination
- • Feeling sleepy or drowsy
- • Dizziness
- Drug not working 13,610
- Tiredness 10,238
- Feeling sick to your stomach 9,567
- Worry or nervousness 8,735
- Head pain 8,596
- Tiredness 13,458
- Feeling sick to your stomach 13,333
- Medicine not working 12,119
- Loose stools 10,352
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 10,151
Taking clonazepam with opioid medicines can cause very serious problems, including slowed breathing, coma, and death. Only take these medicines together if there are no other options. Clonazepam can be habit-forming, leading to abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can result in overdose or death. Stopping clonazepam suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor will slowly lower your dose to prevent withdrawal.
Taking lorazepam with opioid medicines can cause very serious problems, including slowed or shallow breathing, coma, and death. Only take them together if there are no other options. Lorazepam can be habit-forming, leading to abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can result in overdose or death. Using lorazepam for a long time can cause you to become dependent on it. Stopping it suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor will slowly lower your dose to prevent withdrawal.
Clonazepam may harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Clonazepam can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant.
Lorazepam may harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding while taking this medicine. It can pass into breast milk and affect the baby.
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How to Read This clonazepam vs lorazepam Comparison
clonazepam is classified in the Benzodiazepine drug class, while lorazepam sits within the Benzodiazepine class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, clonazepam has 50,746 submissions while lorazepam has 59,413. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between clonazepam and lorazepam — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.