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Anxiety Community
Both Lorezepam and Diazepam are benzodiazepines that are used to treat anxiety, to include, in some cases panic attacks.
The primary difference between the two is that Diazepam is faster acting than Lorezapam, although it has a much shorter half-life than Diazepam meaning it'll stay in your system for a shorter time than Diazepam.
I take Diazepam and have for 4 years on a regular schedule rather then prn(as needed). I find it the best medication for me andd trust me I've tried them all.
The only medication that I know of that works best for panic attacks is Xanax, which, unfortunately I cannot take due to its' addictive qualities.
This information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug(s) is safe, appropriate or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using any of these drugs.
Michael(Jikan)
Diazepam is indicated for "generalized", "tension" and "free floating" anxiety states. The drug lacks specificity for panic states, as it does not bind to central GABA receptors with high affinity.
Lorazepam has moderate affinity for panic, but is not intended for long-term use. Conjugated Lorazepam has a mean half-life of 12 hours. Prolonged use of Lorazepam will render the drug less effective or ineffective over an "X" amount of time, due to the development of tolerance. While Lorazepam reaches steady-state when dosed three times daily, it does not accumulate.
For panic states, Clonazepam (Klonopin) carries a 50-hour half-life, and is indicated for the management of panic disorder. Unlike Lorazepam (Ativan), Klonopin accumulates in the plasma. Such accumulation retards the development of tolerance, thus, it may be used over the long-term. Xanax is also specific for panic states, however, its short half-life precludes its use over the long-term. Ideally, Ativan and Xanax should be used on an as-needed basis only (to prevent the development of tolerance).
The four Benzodiazepines that are indicated for long-term use in the US are Clonazepam (Klonopin), Chlordiazepoxide (Librium), Clorazepate Dipotassium (Tranxene), and Diazepam (Valium). The active metabolite of each agent outlined above carries an exceptionally long half-life. Of the four, only Klonopin is panic-specific. The remaining ones are metabolized to Desmethyldiazepam (Valium's active metabolite). The half-life of Desmethyldiazepam is approximately 200 hours.
~Ryan