Two medicines, side by side
Diazepam vs lorazepam
Diazepam and lorazepam are both labeled for anxiety. Drugs@FDA records approvals of diazepam since 1963 and of lorazepam since 1977. Pharmacies paid $0.0283 per diazepam 10 mg tablet 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 diazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 11, 2026); the lorazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 9, 2025).
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
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 (Diazepam label of August 11, 2026, Lorazepam label of July 9, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do diazepam and lorazepam differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class benzodiazepines.
Half-life, in each label's words: Diazepam, “The initial distribution phase has a half-life of approximately 1 hour, although it may range up to >3 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: diazepam since 1985; lorazepam since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Diazepam | Lorazepam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety, Muscle spasms and spasticity | Anxiety |
| Pharmacologic class | Benzodiazepine | Benzodiazepine |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The initial distribution phase has a half-life of approximately 1 hour, although it may range up to >3 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) | November 15, 1963 | September 30, 1977 |
| First generic approved | September 4, 1985 | December 10, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 45 labelers | 36 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0283 per tablet (Diazepam 10 mg tablet) | $0.0344 per tablet (Lorazepam 0.5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -5% | -18% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 8 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 121,010 | 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?
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 …
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 diazepam
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions