Taking a benzodiazepine as prescribed helps the brain to increase the production of the GABA neurotransmitter, so a patient is no longer helpless when stressed or anxious. The medication induces feelings of tranquility and calm, even happiness, which helps them to better control their behavior and the mood behind that behavior. As a benzodiazepine, Librium gains its effectiveness from boosting the effects of the GABA neurotransmitter across the central nervous system.
Signs and Symptoms of Librium and Alcohol Addiction
- Although chlordiazepoxide was synthesized and developed in 1956, it was approved for use in 1960.
- The NIH warns that you should never mix alcohol with benzodiazepines like Librium due to the increased risk of severe side effects.
- Librium withdrawal symptoms also involve high levels of anxiety, depression, tremors, agitation, and seizures.
- There are other benzodiazepines that are used to treat alcohol withdrawal, but Librium is preferred because of its long half-life of 24–48 hours.
- Combining multiple drugs at the same time is known as polydrug use.
- The dose of Librium varies depending on the condition being treated.
Chlordiazepoxide, trade name Librium among others, is a sedative and hypnotic medication of the benzodiazepine class; it is used to treat anxiety, insomnia and symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs. Chlordiazepoxide is used to relieve anxiety and to control agitation caused by alcohol withdrawal. Chlordiazepoxide is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines.
DRUGS AND MEDICATIONS CENTER
Using Librium with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures. The drug is often prescribed to suppress anxiety, but since the drug mostly masks the anxiety rather than getting rid of it, patients often experience a rebound effect. Add to this the fact that alcohol withdrawal often causes anxiety, and you’ll begin to see why you should undergo withdrawal only with the aid of a doctor or nurse. Addicts can also experience sleeplessness and irritability when their drug is suddenly restricted. Chlordiazepoxide should never be used in conjunction with alcohol.
Administration
The NIH warns that you should never mix alcohol with benzodiazepines like Librium due to the increased risk of severe side effects. Using the combination of Librium and alcohol has been shown to be habit-forming. The body becomes tolerant to the effects of both chlordiazepoxide and alcohol. They’ll then increase the amount they use of both substances, compounding the risks involved. When taken together, alcohol and Chlordiazepoxide can induce heart palpitations, dizzy spells, memory dysfunction, sleepiness, strange speech or behavior, and poor coordination.
Dangers of Mixing Alcohol with Other Benzodiazepines
Librium and alcohol should not be mixed, which is why you should avoid drinking alcohol for as long as you are taking the medication. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Librium works by impacting the brain and central nervous system (CNS) to produce a sense of calm by enhancing the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA. Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription muscle relaxers and alcohol drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval. In fact, Chlordiazepoxide and many other benzodiazepines are highly addictive, and users have reported withdrawal symptoms after using the drug for a few days.
In addition to the physical effects of drinking on Librium, alcohol can also impair Librium’s ability to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, which can be distressing to someone who takes it for this reason. Alcohol itself can also impact mental health, which can worsen anxiety in people who are taking Librium to manage their symptoms. Furthermore, considering that both alcohol and chlordiazepoxide are addictive, taking the two together also increases the risk of developing a substance use hypertension disorder. If you or a loved one have reached this point, our South Florida Detox Center can help patients get through withdrawal symptoms and take the first step towards a sober life. After the clinician makes the therapeutic decision to prescribe chlordiazepoxide, the other interprofessional healthcare team members must also be involved in the therapy regimen. Nurses can counsel the patient, answer questions, monitor for signs of adverse effects, and verify patient compliance.
With careful prescribing and supervision, Librium can control the anxiety symptoms of drug withdrawal and then prepare the patient to receive the therapy needed to stay clear of the temptation to abuse alcohol again. Without Librium, that therapy and preparation might never happen. Librium (chlordiazepoxide HCI) has antianxiety, sedative, appetite-stimulating and weak analgesic actions.
Medications which have similar activity may increase the risk for drowsiness, respiratory depression, and other CNS depressant effects. Therefore, co-administration with alcohol, kava-kava, other benzodiazepines, and opiates should generally be avoided. Suddenly stopping this medication may cause serious (possibly fatal) withdrawal, especially if you have used it for a long time or in high doses. Tell your doctor or pharmacist right away if you have any withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, trouble sleeping, restlessness, hallucinations/confusion, depression, nausea, or seizures. Chlordiazepoxide has anti-anxiety, sedative, appetite-stimulating, and myorelaxant actions.
Librium (chlordiazepoxide) is classified as a psychotropic benzodiazepine that is generally used to treat anxiety disorders, though it is sometimes used to treat acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms. While Librium can help reduce withdrawal symptoms, the user can develop a dependency. Librium poses a risk of dependency when taken too long, in larger amounts than needed, and in combination with alcohol or other drugs. When Librium users mix this drug with other powerful depressants like alcohol, heart rate and breathing can be negatively affected.
Addictions arise from the use of alcohol and other drugs that change the brain and body chemistry. The changes create a new normal state that depends on getting more alcohol, Librium, or other addictive substance. An experienced support staff can help an addict through the first stages of withdrawal, which may include medications to ease withdrawal and detoxify the body. However, alcohol use disorder symptoms and causes according to the National Library of Medicine, Librium can become habit-forming if taken for long periods. Similarly, patients often develop a tolerance to the medication, and they will sometimes take larger doses to achieve the same effect. Because of these concerns, Librium is generally prescribed for the shortest possible amount of time to achieve the necessary effect.
Alcohol withdrawal can be an incredibly dangerous process, so patients often receive medications to reduce the risks they face. One example of this is Librium, a benzodiazepine that helps to control the anxiety symptoms of alcohol detoxification. This is not the only application of Librium, but it is one of the frontline medications used for alcohol withdrawal. Chlordiazepoxide is a prescription drug that is classed as a benzodiazepine.
Further studies are in progress to determine the significance of these findings. As a benzodiazepine, Librium is an anxiolytic drug – meaning it reduces or stops anxiety. Patients who take Librium may feel relaxed, less agitated, and be able to fall asleep. When a patient is ready to stop taking Librium, he or she should work with their doctor to gradually taper their dose down to discontinue use.