Diazepam vs Lorazepam For Anxiety: Comparing Two Common Benzodiazepines
With a rapid growth in every aspect of life, some people are unable to catch up and remain behind, and start feeling anxious about how things will turn out for them. This gives rise to a feeling of anxiousness, which causes anxiety. If you relate to this situation, then it’s quite possible that you also must be seeking a solution to cope with your increasing anxiety symptoms. Well, you are in the right place because this blog will discuss the difference between Diazepam vs Lorazepam, two very efficient drugs for your problem, and you can choose the perfect one according to your situation.
Differentiate Diazepam vs Lorazepam: Key Difference Between Dosage, Interactions, & Alternatives
Diazepam
The drug Diazepam is well known for its effectiveness against anxiety. This is also available under various brand names like Valium and Diastat. Diazepam increases the GABA, which in turn slows down the brain’s activity and hence promotes calmness. This belongs to the category of Schedule IV drugs, which indicates that its rate of causing addiction and dependency is quite low. The available formulations must be taken as per the prescription to avoid overdosing. Certain conditions under which you must avoid Diazepam are:
- Allergies
- Liver disease
- Glaucoma
- Sleep apnea
- Myasthenia gravis
Lorazepam
This is available under the brand name Ativan and plays a major role in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Being a Benzodiazepine, Lorazepam also acts upon the CNS to promote calmness, which decreases all anxious thoughts. This also belongs to the category of Schedule IV substances, indicating a low addiction and dependency rate. But still, you have to be careful while using any available formulations of the drug. You must avoid Lorazepam if you already have:
- Insomnia
- Sedation
- Seizure
What Is The Difference Between Diazepam and Lorazepam?
There are wide range of similarities between these two drugs, such as drug class, Schedule categories, and use. So it’s natural for some of us to wonder are diazepam and lorazepam the same? Most simply, the answer to this is no, they aren’t similar; instead, quite apart in various factors. We will discuss all of the diazepam vs lorazepam differences further in this blog and understand clearly.
Diazepam vs Lorazepam Dosage
Take the doses as per the given instructions to avoid overdosing. Always make sure to take them within the time limit and never double-dose. Like other drugs, Diazepam and Lorazepam are also taken in a very low amount initially, and their amount gets increased as per the needs.
Diazepam Doses
- The initial dose for adults to deal with anxiety is 2 to 10 mg orally.
- For alcohol withdrawal, a person can expect the initial dose of 10 mg.
- Individuals who have to take drugs for muscle spasms, their initial dose is 2 to 10 mg orally.
- The adult dose for seizures is 2 to 10 mg orally.
Lorazepam Doses
- The initial anxiety dose for the adults is 2 to 3 mg daily.
- Lorazepam is also used as an anesthetic, and the dose is 0.05mg/kg.
- For insomnia, the adult dose is 2 to 4 mg orally.
Diazepam vs Lorazepam For Anxiety
Both drugs are quite effective for treating anxiety, so it’s normal to wonder which is better for anxiety Diazepam or Lorazepam? To solve this issue, we first have to understand the requirements of the patient, which solves half of our tasks. Diazepam would help provide relief for a very long period of time due to its longer half-life. This is very helpful for patients with severe symptoms by calming their minds and bodies. But this comes with a bunch of side effects, especially because it lasts longer in the body. Lorazepam, on the other hand, has a shorter half-life and does not stay for as long. This also has comparatively fewer side effects and hence is mostly useful for a person in providing relief from short-term anxiety.
Street Names
These are mostly used by individuals doing illegal activities like selling or buying controlled substances. Altering the names of the actual drugs helps in misleading the authority, after which they can continue their work without any fear.
Street names for Diazepam
- V
- Blues
- Candy
- Vals
- French Blues
- Vallies
Street names for Lorazepam
- At
- Vans
- A-2
Drug Interactions
Interactions happen when we mix two drugs that are not compatible with each other. This can harm our bodies and give rise to various health risks.
Diazepam Interactions
Lorazepam Interactions
- Abilify
- Ambien
- Cymbalta
- Lexapro
- Norco
- Zoloft
- Lyrica
Which Is Stronger, Diazepam or Lorazepam?
Deciding which is stronger between the drugs can be challenging because they are both highly potent drugs. If we do a deep analysis, then we can find that Lorazepam is considered to be more potent on a milligram basis. Due to this, Lorazepam is usually given in a lower dose than Diazepam. But on average, there isn’t much difference in their overall potency, and their strength might depend on the doses.
Here are some other factors in brief.
| Factors | Diazepam | Lorazepam |
| Onset | 15 to 60 minutes | Depends upon the formulations |
| Half-life | 20 to 48 hours | Between 10 and 20 hours |
| Formulations | Tablet, oral solutions, rectal gel, injectable solution, nasal spray. | Tablet, liquid, capsule, injection |
| Potency | Comparatively low | High potent |
Can You Take Diazepam and Lorazepam Together?
No, mixing Diazepam and Lorazepam can be extremely dangerous and might even cost you your life. Both of them are Benzodiazepines, which will cause severe sedation, giving rise to health risks such as:
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Overdosing
- Breathing issue
- Coma
Alternatives
These are the options that would be helpful for people who are unfit for taking Diazepam or Lorazepam. You can choose the best fit from the wide range of options and use them.
Alternatives to Diazepam
- Clonazepam
- Alprazolam
- Zoloft
- Lexapro
- Cymbalta
- Hydroxyzine
- Pregabalin
- Gabapentin
Lorazepam alternatives
- Lexapro
- Gemtesa
- Xanax
- Cymbalta
- Paroxetine
- Buspirone
- Venlafaxine
- Diazepam
Conclusion
So, at the end, we hope to have given you solutions to all your queries regarding how Diazepam and Lorazepam differ. The next time you get worried about which drug will be worth it for solving anxiety issues, just read this blog once more, and you will find your answer. Till then, be safe and stay relaxed to be healthy and happy.