Benzodiazepine Conversion Calculator

Written by Great Medico

Updated September 24, 2026 •2 min read

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A dose calculation can be mathematically correct and still be clinically wrong for a particular person. Benzodiazepine Conversion Calculator therefore focuses on the exact dose rule implemented here and its limitations.

What this calculator does

Benzodiazepine Conversion Calculator uses Midazolam IV (Versed), Midazolam PO, Oxazepam (Serax), Triazolam (Halcion), Alprazolam (Xanax), Lorazepam (Ativan), Phenobarbital, and the remaining fields shown to calculate benzodiazepine equivalent doses. It follows the exact field flow and engine behavior in this plugin rather than describing a different calculator with the same name. Medication calculations are reference math, not prescriptions. Indication, formulation, route, kidney/liver function, interacting medicines, allergies, maximum doses, and clinician-selected regimens can change the correct dose.

How to use it

Enter or select Midazolam IV (Versed), Midazolam PO, Oxazepam (Serax), Triazolam (Halcion), Alprazolam (Xanax), Lorazepam (Ativan), and the remaining fields shown. Confirm weight units, formulation/strength, route, and dose units before reading the result. If an entry is unknown, do not substitute a guess simply to obtain a number.

How the calculation works

The tool finds the one benzodiazepine field with a positive entered dose, divides that dose by its stored factor to create a common alprazolam-equivalent basis, then multiplies by the factors for the other listed medicines. The result is an approximate equivalence table, not a tapering schedule.

Example

For example, entering 1 mg of alprazolam as the single source medicine makes the calculator use that field as its equivalence basis and display the approximate doses for the other listed agents. The example is for understanding the conversion table, not for changing a benzodiazepine regimen.

How to interpret the result

Equivalent doses are best read as approximate pharmacologic comparison values. They are not interchangeable milligram-for-milligram prescriptions.

Limitations and notes

Benzodiazepine equivalence tables are approximate and differ across sources. They do not account for half-life, active metabolites, tolerance, age, liver disease, indication, withdrawal risk, or cross-taper strategy. Never use a simple equivalent to abruptly switch or stop these medicines.