Substance · depressant
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are a family of prescription CNS depressants. They appear on 10-panel and many expanded clinical panels, but immunoassay sensitivity varies widely by drug — some (notably clonazepam, lorazepam) are missed by older immunoassays.
Last updated:What is Benzodiazepines?
A class of GABA-A receptor positive allosteric modulators commonly prescribed for anxiety, sleep, and seizure disorders. Panel composition matters: only newer immunoassays reliably detect lorazepam and clonazepam.
Panels that include Benzodiazepines
What drug tests detect
Drug tests for Benzodiazepines typically target the following analytes / metabolites:
- Nordiazepam
- Oxazepam
- Temazepam
- α-hydroxyalprazolam
- 7-aminoclonazepam
Confirmation testing uses LC-MS/MS or HPLC.
Detection windows
| Specimen | Window | Pattern | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urine | 1–7 days | occasional | Highly drug-specific: lorazepam/clonazepam may be missed by older assays. |
| 7–30 days | chronic | Long-acting benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam) extend the window. | |
| Saliva | 1–5 days | typical | Window varies widely by drug; some are poorly detected in oral fluid. |
| Hair | 7–90 days | typical | Some benzodiazepines incorporate poorly into hair. |
Ranges are approximate and vary by individual physiology, hydration, dose, frequency of use, and lab cutoff. They are not predictive of whether someone will "pass" a test.
Cross-reactivity and MRO interpretation
The following can affect initial immunoassay screening and are normally resolved by mass-spectrometry confirmation and MRO review. None of these are a reason to draw conclusions from a single screening result.
- Oxaprozin (NSAID)
- Sertraline (rare)
Sources & references
drugtest.co content is sourced from primary regulatory and clinical references. We do not cite gray-market or "how to pass" sources.