[mootpoint22]

Hi:

Can anyone tell me what the shelf life is for lorazepam/ valium? I have some that expired last June and I'd like to know if I can still take them. Many thanks--

[spenceraske]

It's NOT Lorazepam/Valium!!! IT'S Dizepam/Valium!!!!

Valium/Diazepam Is better and longer lasting

Benzodiazepine Equivalence Charts



Benzodiazepine Comparative Time Half-life
dose to peak
plasma
level

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alprazolam .5 1 - 2 9 - 20
Bromazepam 3.0 .5 - 4 8 - 30
Chlordiazepoxide 25 1 - 4 24 - 100
Clonazepam .25 1 - 4 19 - 60
Clorazepate 10 variable 1.3 - 120 * (unreliable absorption)
Diazepam 5 1 - 2 30 - 200 *
Estazolam 1 .5 - .6 8 - 24
Flurazepam 15 .5 - 1 40 - 250 *
Halazepam 40 1 - 3 30 - 96 *
Ketazolam 7.5 3.2 30 - 200
Lorazepam 1 2 4 8 - 24
Nitrazepam 2.5 .5 - 7 15 - 48
Oxazepam 15 2 - 3 3 - 25
Prazepam 10 2.5 - 6 30 - 100
Quazepam 7.5 1.5 39 - 120 *
Temazepam 10 2.5 3 - 25
Triazolam .25 1 - 2 1.5 - 5

* metabolites

[therocketman]

Good grief "Spencer" you didn't answer the question at all, but you did use the forum to "show off" -- congratulations on your knowledge of the half-life of those medications, would you like to explain the numbers a little more in depth so people know what you mean, or don't you understand the chart you copied from either? By the way, ativan or lorazepam is a different type of benzodiazipine, and in America, we spell the generic version of valium like this: "diazepam". And some generics are stronger, while some are weaker, up to one third times in either direction.
TO ANSWER, the shelf life is usually considerably longer than the expiration date, I would feel safe taking a benzodiazipine that had expired up to five years ago. This is not the case for some drugs, like the "cycline" antibiotics that can actually change in chemical make up while disintegrating. But you do not have that worry with lorazepam, at the very worst, it will just ba a bit weaker. If you aren't sure, clal your local poison control and ask them the same question, you will find that they are very helpful and friendly when it comes to any information on medication. Wishing you the best!
the rocketman