Two medicines, side by side
Oxazepam vs alprazolam
Oxazepam and alprazolam are both labeled for anxiety. Drugs@FDA records approvals of oxazepam since 1965 and of alprazolam since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.725 per oxazepam 10 mg capsule and $0.0236 per alprazolam 0.25 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the oxazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 11, 2025); the alprazolam FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 18, 2023).
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
Highlights of the alprazolam record
Alprazolam (Xanax) · label of January 18, 2023
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: indicationsXANAX is indicated for the: • acute treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults. • treatment of panic disorder (PD), with or without agoraphobia in adults. XANAX is a benzodiazepine indicated for the: • Acute treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in adults. ( 1 ) • Treatment of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in adults.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 16, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 30 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0236 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 23
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Oxazepam label of July 11, 2025, Alprazolam label of January 18, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do oxazepam and alprazolam differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class benzodiazepines.
Half-life, in each label's words: Oxazepam, “The mean elimination half-life for oxazepam was approximately 8.2 hours (range 5.7 to 10.9 hours).”; Alprazolam, “Elimination The mean plasma elimination half-life (T 1/2 ) of alprazolam is approximately 11.2 hours (range: 6.3 to …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: oxazepam since 1987; alprazolam since 1993 (Drugs@FDA).
| Oxazepam | Alprazolam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety | Anxiety |
| Pharmacologic class | Benzodiazepine | Benzodiazepine |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Alprazolam is a 1,4 benzodiazepine. |
| Half-life (label) | The mean elimination half-life for oxazepam was approximately 8.2 hours (range 5.7 to 10.9 hours). | Elimination The mean plasma elimination half-life (T 1/2 ) of alprazolam is approximately 11.2 hours (range: 6.3 to 26.9 hours) in healthy adults. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 4, 1965 | October 16, 1981 |
| First generic approved | January 16, 1987 | October 19, 1993 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 6 labelers | 30 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.725 per capsule (Oxazepam 10 mg capsule) | $0.0236 per tablet (Alprazolam 0.25 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -14% | -1% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 23 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 21,381 | 204,916 |
| 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?
Alprazolam label, drug interactionsCNS Depressants Clinical implication The benzodiazepines, including alprazolam, produce additive CNS depressant effects when coadministered with other CNS depressants.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to oxazepam
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions