ALPRAZOLAM vs DIAZEPAM

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 17, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. ALPRAZOLAM and DIAZEPAM are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.

Attribute	ALPRAZOLAM	DIAZEPAM
Rating	66/100	68/100
Pharmacy pays	~$0.76 /30	~$0.87 /30
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	ALPRAZOLAM	DIAZEPAM
Manufacturer	Apotex	Aurobindo Pharma Ltd
Dosage forms	Solution, Tablet, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, orally disintegrating	Injectable, Tablet
Drug class	Benzodiazepine	Benzodiazepine
Boxed warning	None	Boxed warning
Half-life	about 11 hours (mean 11.2 hours; range roughly 6 to 27 hours) in healthy adults	about 48 hours (up to 48 hours), but it varies strongly with age — roughly 20 hours at age 20 and rising by about 1 hour for each year of age
Treats	Agoraphobia, Depressive Disorder, Panic Disorder	Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium, Muscle Spasticity, Status Epilepticus

alprazolam diazepam

Rating

66/100

68/100

Pharmacy pays

~$0.76 /30

~$0.87 /30

Type

Active ingredient

ALPRAZOLAM

DIAZEPAM

Manufacturer

Apotex

Aurobindo Pharma Ltd

Dosage forms

Solution, Tablet, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, orally disintegrating

Injectable, Tablet

Drug class

Benzodiazepine

Boxed warning

None

Boxed warning

Half-life

about 11 hours (mean 11.2 hours; range roughly 6 to 27 hours) in healthy adults

about 48 hours (up to 48 hours), but it varies strongly with age — roughly 20 hours at age 20 and rising by about 1 hour for each year of age

Treats

Agoraphobia, Depressive Disorder, Panic Disorder

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium, Muscle Spasticity, Status Epilepticus

Frequently asked questions

Which is better-rated, Alprazolam or Diazepam?

By our independent rating, Diazepam scores higher — 3.4 vs 3.3 out of 5 for Alprazolam. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data.

Which is cheaper, Alprazolam or Diazepam?

Alprazolam costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $0.76 vs $0.87 for a 30-count supply, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.

What is the difference between Alprazolam and Diazepam?

Alprazolam contains Alprazolam, while Diazepam contains Diazepam — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.