diazepam vs lorazepam
Side-by-side comparison of diazepam and lorazepam Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Diazepam (Valium) is a medicine that can help with anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures. It belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which work by slowing down the brain.
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.
Diazepam can help manage anxiety disorders or provide short-term relief from anxiety symptoms. It can also relieve symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, such as shaking or agitation. Additionally, diazepam can help with muscle spasms and may be used with other medicines to treat seizures.
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.
Diazepam works by increasing the effects of a natural chemical in the brain called GABA. GABA helps to calm the brain and nerves. This can reduce anxiety, relax muscles, and prevent seizures.
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
- • Fatigue
- • Muscle weakness
- • Uncoordinated movements
- • Feeling sleepy or drowsy
- • Dizziness
- Harm from certain substances 9,167
- Medicine not working 7,080
- Misuse of medicine 7,019
- Feeling sick to your stomach 6,144
- Feeling tired 5,714
- 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
Diazepam can be habit-forming and can cause serious side effects, including breathing problems, coma, and even death, especially when taken with opioid pain medicines or alcohol. You should not stop taking diazepam suddenly, as this can cause withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to slowly stop taking diazepam.
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.
Diazepam may harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if diazepam passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
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 diazepam vs lorazepam Comparison
diazepam 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, diazepam has 35,124 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 diazepam 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.