| Name |
| Equivalent PO Dose, mg |
| Onset of Action |
| Half-life, h |
Comments |
| Benzodiazepines |
|
|
|
|
| Diazepam (Valium) |
5 |
Fast |
20 - 70 |
Active metabolites; quite sedating |
| Flurazepam (Dalmane) |
15 |
Fast |
30 - 100 |
Flurazepam is a pro-drug; metabolites are active; quite sedating |
| Triazolam (Halcion) |
0.25 |
Intermediate |
1.5 - 5 |
No active metabolites; can induce confusion and delirium, especially in elderly |
| Lorazepam (Ativan) |
1 |
Intermediate |
10 - 20 |
No active metabolites; direct hepatic glucuronide conjugation; quite sedating |
| Alprazolam (Xanax) |
0.5 |
Intermediate |
12 - 15 |
Active metabolites; not too sedating; may have specific antidepressant and antipanic activity; tolerance and dependence develop easily |
| Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) |
10 |
Intermediate |
5 - 30 |
Active metabolites; moderately sedating |
| Oxazepam (Serax) |
15 |
Slow |
5 - 15 |
No active metabolites; direct glucuronide conjugation; not too sedating |
| Temazepam (Restoril) |
15 |
Slow |
9 - 12 |
No active metabolites; moderately sedating |
| Clonazepam (Klonopin) |
0.5 |
Slow |
18 - 50 |
No active metabolites; moderately sedating |
| Non-benzodiazepines |
|
|
|
|
| Buspirone (BuSpar) |
7.5 |
2 weeks |
2 - 3 |
Active metabolites; tid dosinga^ˆ”usual daily dose 10 - 20 mg tid; nonsedating; no additive effects with alcohol; useful for agitation in demented or brain-injured patients |
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