Drug Comparison
For educational purposes only — a decision-support tool, not a substitute for clinical judgment.
Side-by-side rubric across 96 psychiatric medications. Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote — click any cell to see it.
How to read this tool ▾
Rating scale
– Favorable / lower than class baseline
± Minimal / equivocal
+ Low / uncommon
++ Moderate / common
+++ High / very common
++++ Very high / class-outlier
Frequency vs severity
F = frequency, S = severity. Each gets its own pill colored on the same traffic-light scale: green → blue → yellow → orange → red. Click any cell for incidence percentages and NNH.
Evidence tier
A Network meta-analysis / RCT / FDA label
B Cohort / registry / pooled label data
C Expert review / textbook / case series
Sourcing
Click any cell to see the verbatim source quote and citation. Missing data shows n/a.
Data depth
++ Graded — frequency + severity, primary-source traces
+ FDA label — §6 frequency only (dashed border). Click for sub-types.
Blank — not yet checked (not “absent”)
–±++++++++++ABCF = frequency · S = severity · Dashed border = FDA label only · Click cell for details
1 drug selected — Diazepam(click to collapse)
1/4 selected
Diazepam
Valium · Valtoco
Benzodiazepine · C-IV
FDA-approved indications
- Anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety
Off-label uses
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Muscle spasm
- Spasticity
MechanismBenzodiazepine [EPC]
Half-life20 to 100 hours (desmethyldiazepam: up to 100 hours)
Decision GuideWhen to pick each / when to consider an alternative
Diazepam
Consider when
- Alcohol withdrawal — gold standard for alcohol withdrawal management; long t½ with active metabolites provides self-tapering effect
- Muscle spasm — FDA-approved for skeletal muscle spasm; useful in acute musculoskeletal conditions
- Status epilepticus — IV/rectal diazepam is first-line rescue; Diastat rectal gel for seizure emergencies
- Multiple formulations needed — oral, IM, IV, rectal gel, nasal spray (Valtoco); broadest route options among benzos
- +1 more
Consider an alternative when
- Elderly patient — extremely long-acting with active metabolites (desmethyldiazepam t½ up to 100 h); major accumulation risk
- Hepatic impairment — extensive hepatic metabolism via CYP; active metabolites accumulate in liver disease
- Substance use disorder — moderate abuse potential; long history as substance of misuse
- Renal impairment with long-term use — active metabolites are renally excreted; accumulate in renal failure
- +1 more
| Axis | Diazepam benzo |
|---|---|
| Boxed Warnings | |
Abuse / addiction liability | |
Respiratory depression (opioid / CNS depressant co-use) | |
| CNS | |
Sedation / somnolence | |
Activation / insomnia | |
Cognitive dulling / anterograde amnesia | |
| GI | |
Nausea / GI (general) | |
| Discontinuation | |
Withdrawal / discontinuation | |
| Interactions | |
CYP interactions / DDI profile | |
| Safety | |
Overdose toxicity | |
Falls / elderly risk | |
| Pregnancy | |
Lactation / breastfeeding safety | |
| Drug-specific / distinctive axes | |
Unique contraindications (DISTINCTIVE — broader CI list than other BZDs) only in Diazepam | |