Two medicines, side by side
Lorazepam vs oxazepam
Lorazepam and oxazepam are both labeled for anxiety. Drugs@FDA records approvals of lorazepam since 1977 and of oxazepam since 1965. Pharmacies paid $0.0344 per lorazepam 0.5 mg tablet and $0.725 per oxazepam 10 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the lorazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 9, 2025); the oxazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 11, 2025).
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
Highlights of the oxazepam record
Oxazepam (Serax) · label of July 11, 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 use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate. Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required.
Used for
From the label: indicationsOxazepam capsules 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. Anxiety associated with depression is also responsive to oxazepam therapy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 4, 1965
- Generic labelers
- 6 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.725 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Lorazepam label of July 9, 2025, Oxazepam label of July 11, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do lorazepam and oxazepam differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class benzodiazepines.
Half-life, in each label's words: Lorazepam, “The mean half-life of unconjugated lorazepam in human plasma is about 12 hours and for its major metabolite, lorazepam …”; Oxazepam, “The mean elimination half-life for oxazepam was approximately 8.2 hours (range 5.7 to 10.9 hours).”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: lorazepam since 1985; oxazepam since 1987 (Drugs@FDA).
| Lorazepam | Oxazepam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety | Anxiety |
| Pharmacologic class | Benzodiazepine | Benzodiazepine |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The mean half-life of unconjugated lorazepam in human plasma is about 12 hours and for its major metabolite, lorazepam glucuronide, about 18 hours. | The mean elimination half-life for oxazepam was approximately 8.2 hours (range 5.7 to 10.9 hours). |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 30, 1977 | June 4, 1965 |
| First generic approved | December 10, 1985 | January 16, 1987 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | 6 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0344 per tablet (Lorazepam 0.5 mg tablet) | $0.725 per capsule (Oxazepam 10 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -18% | -14% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | In shortage | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 8 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 178,731 | 21,381 |
| 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?
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 lorazepam
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions