Can't Fill Your Diazepam Prescription? Here Are Your Options

If your pharmacy has told you Diazepam is out of stock — or if you've been searching without luck — you might be wondering what alternatives are available. The good news is that Diazepam isn't the only medication in its class, and depending on your condition, your doctor may be able to prescribe a substitute that works just as well.

In this article, we'll explain what Diazepam is, how it works, and walk through the most common alternatives your prescriber might consider. Important: Never switch medications on your own. Always talk to your doctor before starting or stopping any benzodiazepine.

If you're still looking for Diazepam itself, try our guide on how to find Diazepam in stock near you before considering a switch.

What Is Diazepam?

Diazepam (brand name Valium) is a benzodiazepine that has been used since the 1960s. It's FDA-approved for treating anxiety disorders, muscle spasms, seizure disorders, alcohol withdrawal, and preoperative anxiety. It's also available as a rectal gel (Diastat) and nasal spray (Valtoco) for acute seizure management.

Diazepam is a Schedule IV controlled substance, which means it has medical value but also carries a risk of dependence and misuse. It's one of the most widely prescribed benzodiazepines in the world.

For a full overview, read our article on what Diazepam is, its uses, and dosage.

How Does Diazepam Work?

Diazepam works by enhancing the effect of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. Specifically, it binds to GABA-A receptors and increases the frequency at which chloride channels open. This makes brain cells less excitable, producing calming, anti-anxiety, muscle-relaxing, and anticonvulsant effects.

Diazepam is notable for its long half-life — about 46 hours for the parent drug, and up to 100 hours for its active metabolite (desmethyldiazepam). This means its effects last a long time, which is an advantage for some conditions but means it takes longer to leave your system.

For a deeper explanation, see our article on how Diazepam works.

Alternatives to Diazepam

The right alternative depends on why you take Diazepam. Here are the most commonly prescribed substitutes:

1. Lorazepam (Ativan)

Lorazepam is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine with a half-life of about 10 to 20 hours. It's FDA-approved for anxiety and is also widely used for seizures (especially in injectable form for status epilepticus) and as a pre-anesthetic.

Why your doctor might choose it:

• Preferred for elderly patients because it has a shorter half-life and doesn't accumulate as much
• Metabolized by a simpler pathway (glucuronidation) that doesn't depend on liver enzymes like CYP2C19, making it safer for patients with liver problems
• Available as tablets, injectable, and oral solution

Typical dose: 0.5 mg to 2 mg taken 2 to 3 times daily for anxiety

Cost: Generic Lorazepam typically costs $5 to $20 for a 30-day supply with a discount coupon

2. Clonazepam (Klonopin)

Clonazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine with a half-life of about 30 to 40 hours. It's FDA-approved for panic disorder and certain seizure disorders (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, akinetic and myoclonic seizures).

Why your doctor might choose it:

• Long duration of action similar to Diazepam, providing steady symptom control
• Particularly effective for panic disorder and certain seizure types
• Available as tablets and orally disintegrating tablets

Typical dose: 0.25 mg to 2 mg taken twice daily

Cost: Generic Clonazepam costs around $5 to $15 for a 30-day supply with a discount coupon

3. Alprazolam (Xanax)

Alprazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine with a half-life of about 6 to 12 hours. It's FDA-approved for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

Why your doctor might choose it:

• Fast onset of action, making it useful for acute anxiety or panic attacks
• One of the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines in the U.S.
• Available as immediate-release and extended-release tablets

Important considerations: Alprazolam's shorter half-life means you may need more frequent dosing, and it carries a higher risk of rebound anxiety between doses. It's also considered to have a higher potential for dependence than longer-acting benzodiazepines like Diazepam.

Typical dose: 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg taken 3 times daily for anxiety

Cost: Generic Alprazolam costs about $5 to $20 for a 30-day supply with a discount coupon

4. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

Chlordiazepoxide is a long-acting benzodiazepine that was actually the first benzodiazepine developed (before Diazepam). It has a half-life of 24 to 48 hours.

Why your doctor might choose it:

• It's the most commonly used benzodiazepine for alcohol withdrawal protocols — if you take Diazepam for alcohol withdrawal, Chlordiazepoxide is often the closest alternative
• Generally considered to have lower abuse potential than some other benzodiazepines
• Available as oral capsules

Typical dose: 25 mg to 100 mg, tapered down over several days (for alcohol withdrawal)

Cost: Generic Chlordiazepoxide costs approximately $10 to $25 for a typical course of treatment

Non-Benzodiazepine Alternatives

Depending on your condition, your doctor might also consider non-benzodiazepine options, especially if they're trying to reduce benzodiazepine use:

• Buspirone — An anti-anxiety medication that is not a controlled substance and doesn't carry the same risk of dependence. It takes several weeks to become effective, so it's not a quick replacement.
• Gabapentin or Pregabalin — Sometimes used for anxiety, muscle spasms, and as adjuncts in seizure management.
• SSRIs/SNRIs (like Sertraline or Venlafaxine) — First-line treatments for anxiety disorders that work differently than benzodiazepines.
• Baclofen or Tizanidine — If you take Diazepam primarily for muscle spasms, these non-benzodiazepine muscle relaxants may be alternatives.

Important Warnings About Switching

Switching between benzodiazepines — or stopping them — requires medical supervision. Here's what you need to know:

• Never stop Diazepam abruptly. Sudden discontinuation can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms including seizures, especially if you've been taking it for weeks or months.
• Dose equivalency matters. Different benzodiazepines have different potencies. For example, 5 mg of Diazepam is roughly equivalent to 1 mg of Lorazepam or 0.25 mg of Clonazepam. Your doctor will calculate the correct equivalent dose.
• Each medication has its own side effects and interactions. Read about Diazepam drug interactions and discuss any concerns with your prescriber.

Final Thoughts

If you can't find Diazepam, an alternative medication may be a good temporary — or even permanent — solution. Lorazepam, Clonazepam, Alprazolam, and Chlordiazepoxide are all well-established benzodiazepines that your doctor may consider, depending on your specific needs.

Before making any changes, use Medfinder to check if Diazepam is available at another pharmacy near you. If it's truly unavailable, bring up alternatives at your next appointment — or call your prescriber's office to discuss your options.

For more on the current availability situation, read the Diazepam shortage update for 2026.