What is the difference between Lorazepam and Diazepam?

Ativan and valium are both benzodiazepines. They are used mostly to treat anxiety and other psychological disorders. It is said that both drugs work on the neurotransmitter GABA, which is a chemical in the brain that reduces the activity of nerves.

Lorazepam leaves the system more quickly, which reduces the chance of toxicity or side effects. Some of the most notorious side effects of these drugs include sedation, foggy thinking, apathy, and memory problems.

Valium is an older drug with a more cemented reputation as an anti-anxiety drug. Both Valium and Ativan possess the potential for addiction. It is always best to use these medications under the careful supervision of a doctor.

Anxiety is a mental health disorder, which can impact a person days to day life. It could lead to self-esteem issues, depression, and insomnia. To help ease the side effects of anxiety, there are a number of medications on the market. Two of the most popular medications are Lorazepam and Diazepam.

Between the two, lorazepam leaves the system much sooner than diazepam does. This means that those that take lorazepam will have fewer side effects and less toxicity in the body.

Many may know these two by their brand names. Lorazepam is another name for Ativan, while diazepam is another name for Valium.

Before going into some of the differences that exist between lorazepam and diazepam, the two drugs are usually classified as benzodiazepines and are mostly regarded as psychoactive drugs. Diazepam has a molecular formula of (C16H13CIN2O), whereas the molecular formula of lorazepam is (C15H10CL2N2O2).

Unlike Diazepam that is soluble in 25 mM of ethanol, Lorazepam dissolves readily in 40 mM of ethanol. Although both have certain advantages over each other, lorazepam is used mostly in the treatment of seizures and anxiety, whereas diazepam can treat panic attacks, insomnia, and anxiety.

Lorazepam has proven to be more effective than diazepam because it offers long-term benefits, as against diazepam, which gives quick results. When you consider the molecular strength of the two drugs, lorazepam is stronger than diazepam. Lorazepam can be injected and taken orally, but diazepam works faster when it is taken orally than when it is injected into the muscles.