Actually the most powerful Benzodiazepine would be a drug call Versed, Midazolam, it is used in hospitals in procedures which sedation is needed, it is also the shortest acting benzo, that's why doctors like them, so your back on your feet quicker than say if they gave you intravenous Valium instead. And they actually do make an oral syrup of Versed, it's for people who suffer from really bad seizure's. But unfortunately it is not perscribed in a pill form. And when your on it, you have to be monitored for breathing, because it can actually stop your breathing if given a large amount. The next most powerful benzo is a drug called Triazolam, Halcion, which is also a sedative, anti anxiety and hypnotic. It is mainly used for sleep. but can be used for anxiety and panic attacks as well.

You are definitely correct. If anyone has had an endoscopy, colonoscopy, that sort of thing, you've probably had Versed, and if you have, you understand why it's use is very limited! Halcion has taken some flack in the past few years or so. Apparently it's effects on the elderly can be quite strange (rage, sleepwalking, etc.). Aside from the drugs Shane named, which are the TRULY powerful benzos, the rest of them, the ones we are prescribed for anxiety, are really not necessarily "more powerful" than one another, it's more a half-life issue and some argue that certain benzos are better for certain types of anxiety (for example, Xanax is generally considered superior for pure panic attacks). To confuse the issue, different people respond to meds differently and the frequency of panic attacks, or whether a person has GAD or a combo of anxiety disorders, can make benzo selection more difficult. Another generalization: Ativan is considered by docs to be the "least addictive benzo". My personal opinion is that is because it is the least effective, but you know how opinions are.