CapseraBenzodiazepines
Compare the named medicines in this source-linked class directory.
Membership describes a named action or a component of a combination. A medicine may appear in several families. Medicines in one family are not automatically interchangeable; this is a study directory, not a prescribing guide.
No matching drugs. Try another name.
Generic names and pronunciation
| Alprazolam · al-PRAY-zoe-lam |
| Clonazepam · kloe-NAZ-e-pam |
| Lorazepam · lor-AZ-e-pam |
| Diazepam · dye-AZ-e-pam |
Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name.
Body system and related classes
Body systems: Psychiatry · Neurology
How each medicine works
| Alprazolam — Binds the benzodiazepine site of GABA-A receptors, enhancing GABA-mediated synaptic inhibition. |
| Clonazepam — Precise mechanism unknown; believed to enhance activity of GABA, the major inhibitory CNS neurotransmitter. |
| Lorazepam — Binds the benzodiazepine site of GABA-A receptors in the brain, enhancing GABA-mediated synaptic inhibition. |
| Diazepam — A benzodiazepine that interacts at GABA-A sites; most clinical effects are thought to result from facilitation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. |
Each summary is the mechanism line from the medicine’s study card.
What each medicine is used for
| Alprazolam — Acute treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in adults; Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in adults |
| Clonazepam — Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, akinetic seizures and myoclonic seizures, alone or as adjunctive treatment; Absence seizures unresponsive to succinimides; Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in adults |
| Lorazepam — Anxiety disorders in adults already receiving stable, evenly divided three-times-daily lorazepam tablets, when converted to the selected LOREEV XR formulation |
| Diazepam — Anxiety disorders; Acute alcohol withdrawal; Skeletal muscle spasm (adjunct) |
Each list is the uses line from the medicine’s study card.
Telling these medicines apart
Medicines in this class: 4
By body system: Psychiatry (Alprazolam, Lorazepam, Diazepam) · Neurology (Clonazepam)
Listed on more than one card in this class
Used for
Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in adults · 2/4: Alprazolam, Clonazepam
Common side effects
Drowsiness · 2/4: Clonazepam, Diazepam
Ataxia · 2/4: Clonazepam, Diazepam
Warnings
Neonatal sedation and withdrawal · 2/4: Alprazolam, Lorazepam
Contraindicated in acute narrow-angle glaucoma · 2/4: Clonazepam, Lorazepam
Interactions
Opioids · 4/4: Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Diazepam
Boxed warning
4/4: Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Diazepam
Same boxed-warning wording on: Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Lorazepam
Listed on only one card in this class
Alprazolam: Common side effects — Impaired coordination; Hypotension; Dysarthria; Increased libido · Warnings — Strong CYP3A inhibitors are contraindicated except ritonavir, which requires the source-specific dosing precautions; Impaired driving / CNS depression · Interactions — Other CNS depressants; CYP3A inhibitors and inducers
Clonazepam: Common side effects — Behavior problems · Warnings — Contraindicated in significant liver disease; Benzodiazepine hypersensitivity · Interactions — Phenytoin; CNS depressants
Lorazepam: Common side effects — Sedation; Dizziness; Weakness; Unsteadiness · Warnings — CNS depression · Interactions — Alcohol / CNS depressants; UGT inhibitors
Diazepam: Common side effects — Fatigue; Muscle weakness · Warnings — Contraindicated in myasthenia gravis and sleep apnea; Acute narrow-angle glaucoma; Severe respiratory or hepatic insufficiency · Interactions — Alcohol and other CNS depressants
An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.