SHEET /vs/clonazepam-vs-alprazolam · COMPARISON
Clonazepam vs Alprazolam: what is the difference?
How they differ
Both are high-potency benzodiazepines with a triazolo or nitro group that sets them apart from the older members of the class, and both act on the same GABA-A receptor. Clonazepam lasts substantially longer, with a half-life in the range of 30 to 40 hours against alprazolam's 11, which is why it is used for seizure disorders and long-acting anxiety control where alprazolam is used for acute episodes. The shorter action of alprazolam is also why it is the more associated with between-dose rebound. Both are controlled substances in the US and in most of Europe. Clonazepam carries a nitro group and a chlorine at 315.7; alprazolam has the triazole ring at 308.8.
Side by side
| Clonazepam | Alprazolam | |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | C15H10ClN3O3 | C17H13ClN4 |
| Molecular weight | 315.71 g/mol | 308.8 g/mol |
| Family | Benzodiazepines | Benzodiazepines |
| Everyday group | Prescription medicine | Prescription medicine |
| Functional groups | Aromatics, Amides, Halogenated | Aromatics, Halogenated |
| GHS signal wordThe supplier-filed hazard label, not a statement about ordinary use. | Danger | Warning |
| Oral LD50A single acute animal measure. It ranks nothing about human safety. | 15,000 mg/kg (oral, rat) | 1,220 mg/kg (oral, rat) |
| CAS number | 1622-61-3 | 28981-97-7 |
| PubChem CID | 2802 | 2118 |
Common questions
- What is the difference between Clonazepam and Alprazolam?
- Both are high-potency benzodiazepines with a triazolo or nitro group that sets them apart from the older members of the class, and both act on the same GABA-A receptor. Clonazepam lasts substantially longer, with a half-life in the range of 30 to 40 hours against alprazolam's 11, which is why it is used for seizure disorders and long-acting anxiety control where alprazolam is used for acute episodes. The shorter action of alprazolam is also why it is the more associated with between-dose rebound.
- Is Clonazepam bigger than Alprazolam?
- Clonazepam is the heavier molecule, 315.71 g/mol against 308.8 g/mol for Alprazolam. Clonazepam is C15H10ClN3O3 and Alprazolam is C17H13ClN4.
- Which has the lower reported LD50, Clonazepam or Alprazolam?
- Alprazolam, at 1,220 mg/kg (oral, rat), against 15,000 mg/kg (oral, rat) for Clonazepam. An LD50 is one acute animal measurement, and the two here were not necessarily measured in the same species, so it is a data point rather than a ranking of how dangerous either is to a person.
Read the full records: Clonazepam and Alprazolam.