Lorazepam and diazepam are generic medications used to address anxiety disorders as well as other psychological healthcare issues. Both medications are benzodiazepines.
They function by boosting GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, action in the brain. Owing to the Drug Enforcement Administration, both lorazepam and diazepam are Schedule IV substances (DEA).
This implies that, like other benzodiazepines, these medications entail the risk of dependency and misuse.
Key Takeaways
- Lorazepam and Diazepam are both benzodiazepines.
- Lorazepam has a faster onset of action but a shorter effect duration than Diazepam.
- Diazepam has a longer half-life and is more effective in treating muscle spasms and seizures than Lorazepam.
Lorazepam vs Diazepam
Lorazepam and Diazepam are both benzodiazepines used for treating anxiety, but they differ in their duration of action, with diazepam having a longer half-life than lorazepam.
Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine medication that is marketed under the brand names Ativan and others.
It is employed to manage anxiety problems, insomnia, acute restlessness, severe convulsions, alcohol withdrawals, and chemotherapy-induced sickness and nausea.
It is used throughout the surgical intervention to disrupt recollection consolidation and to calm patients who are being continuously evacuated.
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine medication that functions as an anxiolytic.
It is used to manage depression, convulsions, alcohol withdrawal conditions, benzodiazepine withdrawal disorder, muscular spasms, sleeplessness, and troubled legs disorder.
It might potentially be used to produce loss of memory during surgical treatments. It can be taken orally, injected into the rectum, shot into muscles, pumped into an artery, or sprayed into the nose.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Lorazepam | Diazepam |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Lorazepam acts instantly and consists of a half-life which is approximately up to 18 hours. | Diazepam takes time in acting and consists of a half-life which is approximately up to 48 hours. |
| Digestion | Lorazepam is digested by a process called glucuronidation in the liver. | Diazepam is digested by cytochrome enzymes in the liver. |
| Effectiveness | Lorazepam was seen to have worked faster and better for patients with terrible symptoms initially. | Diazepam was seen to have slower for patients with terrible symptoms initially. |
| Cost | Lorazepam is a bit on the costlier side. | Diazepam is a bit on the cheaper side. |
| Brand name | The brand name of Lorazepam is known as Ativan. | The brand name of Diazepam is known as Valium |
What is Lorazepam?
Anxiety is treated using this drug. Lorazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine class of medications, which work on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to provide a calming effect.
This medication works by boosting the effects of a natural substance in the body (GABA).
As instructed by your doctor, take this medicine by mouth with or without food. Your medical condition, age, and treatment response determine the dose.
To get the most out of this medicine, take it on a regular basis, as advised by your doctor. Apply it at the same time(s) every day to help you recall.
Despite the fact that it benefits many people, this medicine can occasionally lead to addiction. If you have a substance use issue (such as overuse or addiction to drugs/alcohol), your risk may be increased.
To reduce the danger of addiction, take this medicine precisely as directed.
Do not abruptly discontinue the use of this medication without first visiting your doctor. When this medication is abruptly discontinued, several symptoms may worsen.
It is possible that your dose will need to be progressively reduced. When this drug is used for an extended period of time, it may lose its effectiveness.
Consult your doctor if this drug is no longer working properly.
What is Diazepam?
Diazepam is a medication used to treat anxiety and agitation induced by alcohol withdrawal.
It’s also used in conjunction with other drugs to treat muscular spasms and stiffness associated with health illnesses such as cerebral palsy, paraplegia, athetosis, and stiff-man disease.
Diazepam is frequently used in conjunction with other drugs to treat seizures. Diazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine class of medicines.
It helps by relaxing aberrant brain overactivity.
Diazepam is available as a pill, a solution, and a concentrate (liquid) for oral administration. It is taken 1 to 4 times a day, with or without food.
Observe the instructions on your medication label exactly, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to clarify any parts you don’t understand. Diazepam should be taken exactly as prescribed.
Diazepam has the potential to become addictive. Do not take a higher dose, take it more frequently or for a longer period than your doctor has prescribed.
Inform your doctor if you have ever consumed excessive quantities of alcohol if you use or have ever used street drugs, or if you have abused prescription prescriptions. During your therapy, do not consume alcohol or use illegal substances.
If you have any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor or seek emergency medical attention right away: extraordinary dizziness, lightheadedness, excessive drowsiness, delayed or trouble breathing,
or lack of responsiveness.
Main Differneces Between Lorazepam and Diazepam
- The primary distinction between Lorazepam and Diazepam is that Lorazepam exits the body more rapidly, minimizing the possibility of toxicity or adverse effects.
- Lorazepam also has fewer negative interactions with other drugs than Diazepam, as Diazepam can cause harmful reactions if mixed with other drugs.
- Lorazepam is more efficient than Diazepam in preventing the onset of ketamine-related comorbidities.
- The price of Lorazepam is much more than the price of Diazepam.
- Lorazepam can elicit extrapyramidal signs, characterized by a range of drug-induced spontaneous muscle motions, and Diazepam can cause neutropenia, characterized by a hazardous decrease in the body’s number of white blood cells.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007091217449531
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007091217453153
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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