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Types of Benzos
Updated: Feb 27
The following list includes most benzodiazepines, z-drugs, and thienodiazepines on the market today and lists their generic name followed by other information, if available, including the most common brand name, other brand names, market focus, speed of onset, half-life, and equivalency.
The Ashton Manual is the primary source for the data on this page, supplemented by other sources as listed in the references section at the bottom of the page. Values for half-life and other data points can vary significantly based on source and by individual.
LEGEND
Onset – The duration of time until the drug initially takes effect.
Half-Life – The amount of time it takes for half of the initial dose to be left in the blood. Active metabolite is shown in square brackets if available.
Equivalency (potency) – The equivalency value is as compared to 10 mg of diazepam. For example, 0.5 mg of alprazolam roughly equals 10 mg of diazepam. Thus, the lower the equivalency value, the higher the potency of the drug.
Equivalency information provided is only an approximation. DO NOT USE for substitution calculations.
Scroll down for list of Z-drugs
Benzodiazepines
adinazolam (Deracyn)
Market Focus: Anxiety / Depression
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 3 hours
alprazolam (Xanax)
Other Brand Names: Alprax,, Alprox, Alprocontin, Alzam, Alzolam, Anzilum, Apo-Alpraz, Helex, Kalma, Misar, Mylan-Alprazolam, Neurol, Niravam, Novo-Alprazol, Nu-Alpraz, Onax, Pacyl, Restyl, Solanax, Tafil, Tranax, Trankimazin, Trika, Xycalm, Xanor, Zolam, Zopax
Market Focus: Anxiety / Depression
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 6–12 hours
Equivalency: 0.5 mg
bromazepam (Lexotan)
Other Brand Names: Brazepam, Bromam, Bromaze, Lectopam, Lexatin, Lexaurin, Lexilium, Lexomil, Lexotanil, Rekotnil, Somalium
Market Focus: Anxiety / Insomnia / Amnesia (Surgical)
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 10–20 hours
Equivalency: 5-6 mg
camazepam (Paxor)
Other Brand Names: Albego, Limpidon
Market Focus: Anxiety
Onset: Short
Half-life: 6–30 hours
chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
Other Brand Names: Apo-chlordiazepoxide, Corax, Elenium, Medilium, Nova-Pam, Nova-Poxide, Risolid, Solium
Market Focus: Anxiety / Alcohol Withdrawal
Onset: Long
Half-life: 5–30 hours [36–200 hours]
Equivalency: 25 mg
cinolazepam (Gerodorm)
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Short
Half-life: 9 hours
clobazam (Frisium)
Other Brand Names: Onfi, Tapclob, Urbanol
Market Focus: Anxiety / Seizures
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 12–60 hours
Equivalency: 20 mg
clonazepam (Klonopin)
Other Brand Names: Iktorivil, Paxam, Rivatril, Rivotril
Market Focus: Anxiety / Seizures / Muscle Relaxant
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 18–50 hours
Equivalency: 0.5 mg
clorazepate (Tranxene)
Other Brand Names: Apo-Clorazepate, Gen-Xene, Novo-Clopate, Tranxillium
Market Focus: Anxiety / Seizures
Onset: Long
Half-life: [36–200 hours]
Equivalency: 15 mg
cloxazolam (Akton)
Other Brand Names: Lubalix, Olcadil, Sepazon
Market Focus: Anxiety / Seizures
Onset: Long
Half-life: 65 hours
delorazepam (Dadumir)
Other Brand Names: EN
Market Focus: Anxiety / Amnesia (Surgical)
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 80–115 hours
diazepam (Valium)
Other Brand Names: Antenex, Apaurin, Apo-Diazepam, Apozepam, Apzepam, D-Pam, Diazemuls, Diazepan, Ducene, E Pam, Hexalid, Meval, Normabel, Novo-Diapam, Pax, PMS-Diazepam, Pro-Pam, Stesolid, Vival, Vivol, Valaxona
Market Focus: Anxiety / Seizures / Muscle Relaxant
Onset: Long
Half-life: 20–100 hours [36–200 hours]
Equivalency: 10 mg
estazolam (ProSam)
Other Brand Names: Nuctalon, Tasedan
Market Focus: Anxiety / Insomnia
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 10–24 hours
Equivalency: 1-2 mg
ethyl loflazepate (Victan)
Other Brand Names: Meliax, Ronlax
Market Focus: Anxiety
Onset: Long
Half-life: 70–120 hours
flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
Other Brand Names: Flunipam, Fluscand, Hipnosedon, Hypnodorm, Rohydorm, Rohypnol, Ronal, Vulbegal
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Short
Half-life: 18–26 hours [36–200 hours]
Equivalency: 1 mg
flurazepam (Dalmane)
Other Brand Names: Apo-Flurazepam, Dalmadorm, Fluzepam, Novo-Flupam, PMS-Flupam, Som Pam, Somnol
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Long
Half-life: [40–250 hours]
Equivalency: 15-30 mg
flutazolam (Coreminal)
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Short
Half-life: 4 hours
flutoprazepam (Restas)
Market Focus: Insomnia / Seizures
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 60–90 hours
halazepam (Paxipam)
Market Focus: Anxiety
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: [30–100 hours]
Equivalency: 20 mg
haloxazolam (Somelin)
Market Focus: Anxiety
ketazolam (Anxon)
Other Brand Names: Solatran
Market Focus: Anxiety
Onset: Long
Half-life: 30–100 hours [36–200 hours]
Equivalency: 15-30 mg
loprazolam (Dormonoct)
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Short
Half-life: 6–12 hours
Equivalency: 1-2 mg
lorazepam (Ativan)
Other Brand Names: Apo-Lorazepam, Lorabenz, Lorenin, Lorsilan, Novo-Lorazepam, Nu-Loraz, Orfidal, PMS-Lorazepam, Pro-Lorazepam, Tavor, Temesta
Market Focus: Anxiety / Insomnia / Seizures / Muscle Relaxant / Amnesia (Surgical)
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 10–20 hours
Equivalency: 1 mg
lormetazepam (Noctamid)
Other Brand Names: Loramet, Pronoctan
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 10–12 hours
Equivalency: 1-2 mg
medazepam (Nobrium)
Other Brand Names: Ansilan, Mezapam, Raporan, Rudotel
Market Focus: Anxiety
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 36–200 hours
Equivalency: 10 mg
mexazolam (Sedexil)
Other Brand Names: Melex
Market Focus: Anxiety
Onset: Intermediate
midazolam (Versed)
Other Brand Names: Dormicum, Dormonid, Hypnovel
Market Focus: Insomnia / Seizures / Amnesia (Surgical)
Onset: Short
Half-life: 1–6 hours
Equivalency: 7 mg (oral)
nimetazepam (Erimin)
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Short
Half-life: 14–30 hours
nitrazepam (Mogadon)
Other Brand Names: Alodorm, Dumolid, Insomna, Nitrados, Nitrazadon, Pacisyn
Market Focus: Insomnia / Seizures
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 15–38 hours
Equivalency: 10 mg
nordazepam / nordiazepam (Nordaz)
Other Brand Names: Calmday, Madar, Stilny
Market Focus: Anxiety
Onset: Long
Half-life: 36–200 hours
Equivalency: 10 mg
oxazepam (Serax)
Other Brand Names: Alepam, Apo-Oxazepam, Benzotran, Murelax, Novo-Oxazepam, Opamox, Oxabenz, Oxapax, Oxascand, Oxpam, PMS-Oxazepam, Serafax, Serapax, Serenid, Seresta, Sobril, Zapex
Market Focus: Anxiety
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 4–15 hours
Equivalency: 20 mg
phenazepam (Phenazepam)
Market Focus: Anxiety
Onset: Long
Half-life: 60 hours
pinazepam (Domar)
Other Brand Names: Duna
Market Focus: Anxiety
Onset: Long
Half-life: 40–100 hours
prazepam (Centrax)
Other Brand Names: Lysanxia
Market Focus: Anxiety
Onset: Long
Half-life: [36–200 hours]
Equivalency: 10-20 mg
quazepam (Doral)
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 25–100 hours
Equivalency: 20 mg
temazepam (Restoril)
Other Brand Names: Euhypnos, Nocturne, Normison, Sompam, Temaze, Temtabs, Tenox
Market Focus: Anxiety / Insomnia / Muscle Relaxant
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 8–22 hours
Equivalency: 20 mg
tetrazepam (Myolastan)
Market Focus: Muscle Relaxant
Onset: Intermediate
Half-life: 3–24 hours
triazolam (Halcion)
Other Brand Names: Apo-Triazo, Gen-Triazolam, Hypam, Novo-Triolam, Rilamir, Tricam
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Short
Half-life: 2 hours
Equivalency: 0.5 mg
Nonbenzodiazepine (Z-drugs)
eszopiclone (Lunesta)
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Short
Half-life: 6 hours (9 in elderly)
Equivalency: 3 mg
zaleplon (Sonata)
Other Brand Names: Stamoc
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Short
Half-life: 2 hours
Equivalency: 20 mg
zolpidem (Ambien)
Other Brand Names: Nytamel, Sanval, Stilnoct, Stilnox, Sublinox, Xolnox, Zoldem, Zolnod
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Short
Half-life: 2 hours
Equivalency: 20 mg
zopiclone (Zimovane)
Other Brand Names: Imovane, Rhovane, Ximovan, Zileze, Zimoclone, Zopiklone, Zopitan, Zorclone
Market Focus: Insomnia
Onset: Short
Half-life: 5–6 hours
Equivalency: 15 mg
References
Ashton, C. Heather. Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual). 2002. Accessed April 13, 2016. http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/.
“Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Support: Substitution.” BenzoBuddies. Accessed March 1, 2017. http://www.benzobuddies.org/benzodiazepine-withdrawal-methods/substitution/.
Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, Colorado: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. https://easinganxiety.com/book.
“Generic Benzodiazepines and Brand Equivalents.” BenzoBuddies. Accessed March 1, 2017. http://www.benzobuddies.org/benzodiazepine-information/benzo-list/.
Government of South Australia: Drug and Alcohol Services. “Benzodiazepine Equivalents.” SA Health. DASSA:00107. August 2014. Accessed July 11, 2018. https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/83838b80407711959274ba222b2948cf/Benzodiazepine+equivalents-DASSA-August2014.pdf (link no longer available).
U.K. National Health Service (NHS). “Guidance for Prescribing and Withdrawal of Benzodiazepines & Hypnotics in General Practice.” NHS Grampian. October 2006. Reviewed October 2008. https://www.benzo.org.uk/amisc/bzgrampian.pdf.
“PubChem Open Chemistry Database.” NIH: U.S. National Library of Medicine: National Center for Biotechnology Information. (Access dates vary depending on drug being researched). https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.
Wikipedia (varied).
For Information Purposes Only – Not Medical Advice
All information presented on Easing Anxiety is for informational purposes only, and should never be considered medical or health advice. Withdrawal, tapering, or any change in dosage of benzodiazepines or any other prescription drugs should only be done under the direct supervision of a licensed physician.
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