Benzodiazepine Equivalency _Flavor of the month FDA benzo+opiate black bo0x

	Approximately Equivalent Oral Doses, mg	Time to Peak Level, hours	Half-life, hours
Alprazolam (Xanax)	0.5–1	1-2	12
Bromazepam (Lexotan)*	3–6	1-4	20
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)	10–25	1-4	100
Clonazepam (Klonopin)	0.25–0.5	1-4	34
Clorazepate (Tranxene)	7.5–15	0.5-2	100
Diazepam (Valium)	5–10	1-2	100
Flurazepam (Dalmane)	15–30	0.5-1	100
Lorazepam (Ativan)	1–2	1-4	15
Nitrazepam (Mogadon)*	2.5–10	0.5-2	30
Oxazepam (Serax)	15–30	1-4	8
Quazepam (Doral)	10–20	1.5	25-41
Temazepam (Restoril)	10–20	2-3	11
Triazolam (Halcion)	0.25–0.5	1-2	2

 Just like  the flavor of the month Insurance companies come up with flormulary changes  and  impose  limits and  need preauthorizations for  medication which patients have been taking for a number of years and are stable.

As a primary care Physician I have to take care all the shit from the places above the  ladder. i.e. "The Specialists"

 who for all that matters are mostly  FNP and  PA's who have been taught some cookbook Medicine.

and  deal with  Pharmacy benefits managers  who charge  3 to 4 times the  co pay  for  a generic medication costing  4$  in Walmart.

In order to  survive  various  drugs have  to  switched around  

having  some  idea  of  what  medication  works  and  at  what dosage is a good thing .

I can atleast get my patient  30 day supply. even if  i can not get  it approved  for  longer time.