Benzodiazepine Conversion Calculator
Table of contents
What are benzodiazepines?Benzodiazepine half-life & benzodiazepine classificationBenzodiazepine equivalency table – benzo conversion chartFAQsThe benzodiazepine conversion calculator is an ultimate solution to any dosage problems you might encounter while switching from one drug of this type to another. 💊
We're going to present a definitive benzo conversion chart, benzodiazepines classification, and the details of every drug's mode of action. We'll also compare some of the most popular anxiolytic medicines (drugs reducing anxiety), their side effects, and their applications.
What are benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines are a group of drugs used for treating anxiety – they will also make you feel more relaxed, help you fall asleep faster and on top of that – they may combat a few kinds of seizures. 🧘
Benzodiazepines are a new generation of drugs that almost totally replaced the older type of anti-anxiety drugs, barbiturates.
Why are benzodiazepines so popular? – one may ask;
in comparison to barbiturates, they are:
- Much safer;
- Less toxic;
- Overdose is less probable; and, most of all;
- There's a specific antidote called flumazenil, which can reverse the effects of benzodiazepines within seconds (yes, just like in the movies!). ⛱️
What are other anxiolytic medications?
Benzodiazepines are not the only drugs used for anxiety – we usually start our treatment with medicines such as Benadryl, that have a milder effect and are not as addictive as benzodiazepines. Read more about Benadryl by visiting the benadryl calculator.
Different opioids such as morphine or tramadol can be also used for this purpose, although the patient will probably face a variety of different side effects, e.g., constipation.
If you're looking for additional help, some chronic pain drugs such as gabapentin, can be used off-label to treat anxiety. We may also administer beta-blockers and melatonin to alleviate some additional effects of anxiety, such as a rapid heart beat or insomnia. Calculate a specific melatonin dose needed for a given indication using the melatonin dosage calculator.
💡 Want to screen for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and its severity? The Omni GAD-7 calculator is here to help.
Benzodiazepine half-life & benzodiazepine classification
The list of benzodiazepines can be divided into 3 groups based on the duration of their action and the speed of the onset of action. Our benzo calculator uses the first mentioned and most popular option – duration.
The table below lets you compare the mode of action of all popular benzos; are you looking for a clonazepam vs. Xanax comparison? Well, the benzodiazepine conversion calculator has got your back!
Benzodiazepine | Onset of action | Duration |
|---|---|---|
Alprazolam (Xanax) | 30 min | 6-20 h |
Bromazepam (Lexotan) | 30 min - 4 h | 10-20 h |
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) | 1.5 h | 5-30 h |
Clonazepam (Rivotril) | 1 h | 18-39 h |
Clorazepate (Tranxene) | 1 h | 36-200 h |
Diazepam (Valium) | 30 min | 20-50 h |
Flurazepam (Dalmane) | 1 h | 12-100 h |
Lorazepam (Ativan) | 30-60 min | 10-20 h |
Midazolam IV (Versed) | 1-3 min | 2-4 h |
Midazolam PO | 10-20 min | 20 min - 3 h |
Oxazepam (Serax) | 3 h | 3-21 h |
Quazepam (Doral) | 20-45 min | 25-100 h |
Temazepam (Restoril) | 30-60 min | 10-20 h |
Triazolam (Halcion) | 30 min | 1.6-5.5 h |
Benzodiazepine equivalency table – benzo conversion chart
Our benzo equivalency table is a simple tool that'll help you perform all the calculations by yourself – you'll get identical results as the ones from our benzodiazepine conversion calculator.
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We compare each one of our benzodiazepines to alprazolam. If that's the drug you're taking, simply multiple your dose by the number that's present beside the name of the drug you want to switch to.
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If you're taking any other medication than alprazolam right now, divide your dose by the number present by your drug's name, and then multiply it by the number written by the name of the drug you'd like to switch to (take a look at the example at the bottom of the page ⤵️).
Here's our benzo conversion table:
Benzodiazepine | × | Benzodiazepine | × |
|---|---|---|---|
Alprazolam (Xanax) | 1 | Lorazepam (Ativan) | 2 |
Bromazepam (Lexotan) | 6 | Midazolam IV (Versed) | 4 |
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) | 50 | Midazolam PO | 10 |
Clonazepam (Rivotril) | 1 | Oxazepam (Serax) | 30 |
Clorazepate (Tranxene) | 20 | Quazepam (Doral) | 40 |
Diazepam (Valium) | 15 | Temazepam (Restoril) | 30 |
Flurazepam (Dalmane) | 30 | Triazolam (Halcion) | 0.5 |
Let's practice it all with a small example:
- 🔄Temazepam to Xanax conversion
- Let's use the table and find the conversion numbers corresponding to both of our drugs:
Temazepam (Restoril) | 30 |
Alprazolam (Xanax) | 1 |
💡 Take a closer look – our equivalent benzodiazepine calculator gives you both generic (pharmaceutical) and brand names of all the drugs!
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Let's calculate the actual benzodiazepine equivalent doses!
Let's say that your temazepam dose is equal to 20 mg.
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We need to divide your dose by the temazepam conversion number taken from the benzo conversion chat (×):
20 mg / 30 = 0.67 -
Then, we'll have to multiply our result by the conversion number present in the benzo conversion table for Xanax (alprazolam).
0.67 * 1 = 0.67 mg
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And here we go, 0.67 mg is our final alprazolam (Xanax) dose! 🎉 Compare it to your result computed with our benzodiazepine conversion calculator. 😉
What are the primary uses of benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines are a class of medications prescribed primarily for anxiety treatment. They can also induce relaxation, act as a sleep aid, and control specific types of seizures. Benzodiazepines represent a newer generation of drugs, mainly replacing the older barbiturates in the treatment of anxiety and related conditions.
What are the side effects of benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines can have several side effects, including but not limited to:
- Light-headedness;
- Dizziness;
- Muscle weakness;
- Memory and cognitive impairment; and
- Slurred speech.
Benzodiazepines should only be used and supervised by a qualified healthcare professional due to their potent effects and the risk of dependency.
How do I convert a Xanax dose to an equivalent Ativan dose?
To convert a Xanax dose to an equivalent Ativan dose, you can follow these steps:
- Divide your dose in mg by the Xanax conversion number, which is 1.
- Multiply the result by the conversion number for Ativan, which is 2.
- That's all; you have now determined the equivalent Ativan dose.
What is the equivalent dose of 0.25 mg Xanax in Temazepam?
The equivalent dose of 0.25 mg Xanax in Temazepam is 7.5 mg. Note that this calculation cannot replace professional medical advice. If you suffer from anxiety, it is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional who can provide personalized guidance and treatment options tailored to your specific needs.