Two medicines, side by side
Hydroxyzine vs clonazepam
Hydroxyzine and clonazepam are both labeled for anxiety. Drugs@FDA records approvals of hydroxyzine since 1956 and of clonazepam since 1975. Pharmacies paid $0.0326 per hydroxyzine HCl 25 mg tablet and $0.0244 per clonazepam 1 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, hydroxyzine is an antihistamine and clonazepam a benzodiazepine.
Check it at the source: the hydroxyzine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 3, 2026); the clonazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 1, 2025).
Highlights of the hydroxyzine record
Hydroxyzine (Atarax) · label of March 3, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsFor symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis and as an adjunct in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested. Useful in the management of pruritus due to allergic conditions such as chronic urticaria and atopic and contact dermatoses and in histamine-mediated pruritus. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 12, 1956
- Generic labelers
- 61 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0326 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 18
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
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Hydroxyzine label of March 3, 2026, Clonazepam label of December 1, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do hydroxyzine and clonazepam differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, hydroxyzine is an antihistamine and clonazepam a benzodiazepine.
Only the clonazepam label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: hydroxyzine since 1979; clonazepam since 1996 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: hydroxyzine none; clonazepam CIV.
| Hydroxyzine | Clonazepam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety, Alcohol use disorder | Seizures and epilepsy, Anxiety |
| Pharmacologic class | Antihistamine | Benzodiazepine |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The elimination half-life of clonazepam is typically 30 to 40 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 12, 1956 | June 4, 1975 |
| First generic approved | August 24, 1979 | September 10, 1996 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 61 labelers | 31 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0326 per tablet (Hydroxyzine HCl 25 mg tablet) | $0.0244 per tablet (Clonazepam 1 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -14% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 18 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 50,844 | 159,283 |
| DEA schedule | none | 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 next?
- Alternatives to hydroxyzine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions