- that what I am providing is NOT meant in any way to replace the conversation between you, your doctor, or your pharmacist
- please do not self-diagnose or make medical decisions about this drug without talking with qualified professionals
- the information provided here is the reference sheet you would find at WebMD. During my journey I found this site to be helpful in providing support. All credit for this information belongs to them. I copied it right from their website and I have removed the hyper-links. Please visit their site if you would like to read further.
For this installment, I have chosen Librium
GENERIC NAME(S): CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE HCL
Uses
Chlordiazepoxide is used to treat anxiety and acute alcohol withdrawal. It is also used to relieve fear and anxiety before surgery. This medication belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. It works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA).
**Please read this information carefully**
If you have any questions about what is provided here....talk with your doctor or pharmacist please.
GENERIC NAME(S): CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE HCL
Uses
Chlordiazepoxide is used to treat anxiety and acute alcohol withdrawal. It is also used to relieve fear and anxiety before surgery. This medication belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. It works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA).
How to use Librium
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your age, medical condition, and response to treatment.
Use this medication exactly as prescribed. Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently or use it for a longer period of time than prescribed because this drug can be habit-forming. Also, if used for an extended period of time, do not suddenly stop using this drug without your doctor's approval. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased to avoid side effects such as seizures.
When used for an extended period, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.
Side Effects
Drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, constipation, blurred vision, or headache may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes, slurred speech, clumsiness, trouble walking, decreased/increased interest in sex, tremor, uncontrollable movements, facial or muscle twitching, trouble urinating, sleep disturbances.
Tell your doctor right away if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur: fainting, stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea, vomiting, fatigue, yellowing eyes or skin, dark urine, persistent sore throat or fever.
A serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
LIBRIUM Side Effects List by likelihood and severity
The following side effects are associated with Librium:
Common side effects of Librium:
Muscle WeaknessSevere
DizzyLess Severe
DrowsinessLess Severe
Slurred SpeechLess Severe
UncoordinatedLess Severe
Infrequent side effects of Librium:
Abnormal Nervous System Function Affecting Mental AlertnessSevere
ConfusedSevere
Problem BehaviorSevere
DiarrheaLess Severe
Feeling RestlessLess Severe
Feeling WeakLess Severe
Low EnergyLess Severe
Rare side effects of Librium:
Abnormal Liver Function TestsSevere
Abnormally Low Blood PressureSevere
AnemiaSevere
Blood DisorderSevere
Cannot Empty BladderSevere
Cannot Focus ThoughtsSevere
Decreased Blood PlateletsSevere
Decreased Lung FunctionSevere
Decreased Neutrophils a Type of White Blood CellSevere
Decreased White Blood CellsSevere
Deficiency of Granulocytes a Type of White Blood CellSevere
DepressionSevere
Enlarged LiverSevere
Extrapyramidal ReactionSevere
Extreme Loss of Body WaterSevere
FallingSevere
Giant HivesSevere
HallucinationSevere
Having Thoughts of SuicideSevere
Hemolytic AnemiaSevere
Increased Eosinophils in the BloodSevere
ItchingSevere
Life Threatening Allergic ReactionSevere
Liver ProblemsSevere
Loss of MemorySevere
Periods of Not BreathingSevere
RashSevere
SeizuresSevere
Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone SecretionSevere
Yellowing of Skin or Eyes from Liver ProblemsSevere
Abnormal DreamsLess Severe
Abnormal Urine ColorLess Severe
Aggressive BehaviorLess Severe
Altered Interest in Having Sexual IntercourseLess Severe
An Increase in the Secretions of the LungsLess Severe
Blood Pressure Drop Upon StandingLess Severe
Blurred VisionLess Severe
Bronchial CongestionLess Severe
Burning StomachLess Severe
Contact DermatitisLess Severe
DeliriumLess Severe
Deviation of the Eyes Upward or DownwardLess Severe
Difficult or Painful UrinationLess Severe
Difficulty SpeakingLess Severe
Double VisionLess Severe
Dry EyeLess Severe
Dry MouthLess Severe
Dry SkinLess Severe
Easily Angered or AnnoyedLess Severe
Excessive HairinessLess Severe
Excessive ThirstLess Severe
False Sense of Well-BeingLess Severe
Fast HeartbeatLess Severe
Feel Like Throwing UpLess Severe
Feeling FaintLess Severe
Gum PainLess Severe
Hair LossLess Severe
Head PainLess Severe
Heart Throbbing or PoundingLess Severe
HiccupsLess Severe
Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel MovementsLess Severe
Increased HungerLess Severe
Increased Production of SalivaLess Severe
Involuntary Eye MovementLess Severe
Involuntary QuiveringLess Severe
Irritation of the Stomach or IntestinesLess Severe
Loss of One's Own Sense of Reality or IdentityLess Severe
Loss of TasteLess Severe
Loss of VoiceLess Severe
Muscle PainLess Severe
Muscle SpasmLess Severe
NervousLess Severe
Over ExcitementLess Severe
ParanoiaLess Severe
Perform Complex Natural behaviors while AsleepLess Severe
Pink EyeLess Severe
Problem with PeriodsLess Severe
Problems with Bladder ControlLess Severe
Problems with EyesightLess Severe
Puffy Face from Water RetentionLess Severe
Runny NoseLess Severe
Sensation of Spinning or WhirlingLess Severe
SneezingLess Severe
Sore TongueLess Severe
Swollen Ankles or FeetLess Severe
Swollen Lymph NodesLess Severe
Taking Habit Forming DrugsLess Severe
Throwing UpLess Severe
Trouble BreathingLess Severe
Urination During the NightLess Severe
Visual Field DefectLess Severe
Weight GainLess Severe
Weight LossLess Severe
YawningLess Severe
Precautions
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, kidney disease, lung/breathing problems (e.g., COPD, sleep apnea), blood disorder (porphyria), drug or alcohol abuse.
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially drowsiness. Drowsiness can increase the risk of falling.
This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the potential for harm to an unborn baby. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor right away. Consult your doctor for more details.
Based on information from related drugs, this drug may pass into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding while using this medication is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Interactions
Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
This drug should not be used with the following medication because a very serious interaction may occur: sodium oxybate.
If you are currently using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting chlordiazepoxide.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: antacids, certain anti-depressants (e.g., fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, nefazodone), cimetidine, clozapine, digoxin, disulfiram, kava.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: antihistamines that cause drowsiness (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep (e.g., sedatives), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, or tricyclics such as amitriptyline), tranquilizers.
Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.
This product can affect the results of certain lab tests. Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you use this drug.
Smoking can decrease the effectiveness of this drug (through liver enzyme induction). Tell your doctor if you smoke or if you have recently stopped smoking because your dose may need to be adjusted.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
Overdose
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe drowsiness, slowed/reduced reflexes, slowed breathing, fainting, loss of consciousness.
Notes
Do not share this medication with others. It is against the law.
If this drug is used for an extended period of time, laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., liver function tests, complete blood count) may be performed periodically to check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
Storage
Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Information last revised July 2016. Copyright(c) 2016 First Databank, Inc.