Two medicines, side by side
Clorazepate vs diazepam
Clorazepate and diazepam are both labeled for anxiety. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clorazepate since 1972 and of diazepam since 1963. Pharmacies paid $0.524 per clorazepate 3.75 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 clorazepate FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 10, 2026); the diazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 11, 2026).
Highlights of the clorazepate record
Clorazepate (Tranxene) · label of September 10, 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: indicationsClorazepate dipotassium tablets are 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. Clorazepate dipotassium tablets are indicated as adjunctive therapy in the management of partial seizures. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 23, 1972
- Generic labelers
- 8 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.524 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
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 (Clorazepate label of September 10, 2026, Diazepam label of August 11, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clorazepate and diazepam differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class benzodiazepines.
Half-life, in each label's words: Clorazepate, “The serum half-life is about 2 days.”; 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: clorazepate since 1987; diazepam since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clorazepate | Diazepam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety, Seizures and epilepsy | Anxiety, Muscle spasms and spasticity |
| Pharmacologic class | Benzodiazepine | Benzodiazepine |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The serum half-life is about 2 days. | 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 23, 1972 | November 15, 1963 |
| First generic approved | June 26, 1987 | September 4, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 8 labelers | 45 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.524 per tablet (Clorazepate 3.75 mg tablet) | $0.0283 per tablet (Diazepam 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -39% | -5% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,945 | 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Clorazepate label, drug interactionsAlthough early studies reported an increased risk of congenital malformations with diazepam and chlordiazepoxide, there was no consistent pattern noted.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
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 clorazepate
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions