Two medicines, side by side
Hydroxyzine vs lorazepam
Hydroxyzine and lorazepam are both labeled for anxiety. Drugs@FDA records approvals of hydroxyzine since 1956 and of lorazepam since 1977. Pharmacies paid $0.0326 per hydroxyzine HCl 25 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. In FDA's classes, hydroxyzine is an antihistamine and lorazepam a benzodiazepine.
Check it at the source: the hydroxyzine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 3, 2026); the lorazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 9, 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 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 (Hydroxyzine label of March 3, 2026, Lorazepam label of July 9, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do hydroxyzine and lorazepam differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, hydroxyzine is an antihistamine and lorazepam a benzodiazepine.
Only the lorazepam label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: hydroxyzine since 1979; lorazepam since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: hydroxyzine none; lorazepam CIV.
| Hydroxyzine | Lorazepam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety, Alcohol use disorder | Anxiety |
| Pharmacologic class | Antihistamine | Benzodiazepine |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | 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) | April 12, 1956 | September 30, 1977 |
| First generic approved | August 24, 1979 | December 10, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 61 labelers | 36 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0326 per tablet (Hydroxyzine HCl 25 mg tablet) | $0.0344 per tablet (Lorazepam 0.5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -18% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 18 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 50,844 | 178,731 |
| 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 do the labels say about using others of their kind?
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 hydroxyzine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions