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Commonly Prescribed Benzodiazepines in Cancer Patients*
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Drug Equivalent
|
Approximate Oral Dose (mg)†
|
Initial Dose (mg)
|
Elimination of Half-life Drug Metabolites (h)
|
| Short-acting |
| Alprazolam (Xanax) |
0.5 |
0.25–2.0 t.i.d.–q.i.d. |
10–15 |
| Oxazepam (Serax) |
10.5 |
10–15 t.i.d.–q.i.d. |
5–15 |
| Lorazepam (Ativan) |
1.0 |
0.5–2.0 t.i.d.–q.i.d. |
10–20 |
| Temazepam (Restoril) |
15.0 |
15–30 at bedtime |
10–15 |
| Intermediate-acting |
| Chlordiazepoxide
(Librium) |
10.0 |
10–50 t.i.d.–q.i.d. |
10–40 |
| Long-acting |
| Alprazolam (Xanax XR) |
1.0 |
1–6 q.d. |
10–15 |
| Diazepam (Valium) |
5.0 |
5–10 b.i.d.–q.i.d. |
20–100 |
| Clorazepate (Tranxene) |
7.5 |
7.5–15.0 b.i.d. |
30–200 |
| Clonazepam (Klonopin) |
1.0 |
0.5–2.0 b.i.d.–t.i.d. |
19–50 |
|
t.i.d. = 3 times a day; q.i.d. = 4 times a day; q.d. = once a day; b.i.d. = twice a day.
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*Adapted from Breitbart W: Management of specific symptoms. In Holland JC,
Breitbart W, Jacobsen PB, et al., eds.: Psycho-oncology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1998, 439.
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†Refer to the PDQ summary on Depression for dosing information on antidepressants used for anxiety as described in this summary.
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