Brand Names: Librium, Klopoxid, Novapam
Generic Name: Serelib, Chlordiazepoxide
This medication description is not meant for treatment prescription without the intervention of a specialist
Common Uses:
Librium is used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Librium is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. Some benzodiazepines are used to relieve anxiety. However, Librium should not be used to relieve nervousness or tension caused by the stress of everyday life.
The Medicine Intake
Librium belongs to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system). Librium also is used sometimes to treat depression, fear of open spaces (agoraphobia), and premenstrual syndrome.
Librium , clorazepate, diazepam, and oxazepam are used to treat the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
If you use Librium not in accordance with prescription you can became dependent of it (mentally or physically), especially when taken for a long time or in high doses.
Special precautions
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For Librium , the following should be considered:
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to benzodiazepines. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes. Certain Librium products may contain lactose, parabens, or soybean oil.
Too much use of a Librium during pregnancy may cause the baby to become dependent on the medicine. This may lead to withdrawal side effects after birth. Also, use of Librium during pregnancy, especially during the last weeks, may cause body temperature problems, breathing problems, difficulty in feeding, drowsiness, or muscle weakness in the newborn infant.
Librium given just before or during labor may cause weakness in the newborn infant.
Librium may pass into the breast milk and cause drowsiness, difficulty in feeding, and weight loss in nursing babies of mothers taking these medicines.
Most of the side effects of these medicines are more likely to occur in children, especially the very young. These patients are usually more sensitive than adults to the effects of Librium .
Most of the side effects of Librium are more likely to occur in the elderly, who are usually more sensitive to the effects of Librium .
Taking Librium for trouble in sleeping may cause more daytime drowsiness in elderly patients than in younger adults. In addition, falls and related injuries are more likely to occur in elderly patients taking Librium .
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking or receiving benzodiazepines it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness)?The CNS depressant effects of either these medicines or Librium may be increased; your doctor may want to change the dose of either or both medicines
• Fluvoxamine (e.g., Luvox) or
• Nefazodone (e.g., Serzone)?Higher blood levels of Librium may occur, increasing the chance that side effects will occur; your doctor may want to change the dose of either or both medicines, or give you a different medicine
• Itraconazole (e.g., Sporanox) or
• Ketoconazole (e.g., Nizoral)?these medicines should NOT be used if you are taking a Librium
Drug Interactions
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of Librium . Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
• Alcohol abuse (or history of) or
• Drug abuse or dependence (or history of)?Dependence on Librium may be more likely to develop
• Brain disease?CNS depression and other side effects of Librium may be more likely to occur
• Difficulty in swallowing (in children) or
• Emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, or other chronic lung disease or
• Hyperactivity or
• Mental depression or
• Mental illness (severe) or
• Myasthenia gravis or
• Porphyria or
• Sleep apnea (temporary stopping of breathing during sleep)? Librium may make these conditions worse
• Epilepsy or history of seizures?Although some Librium are used in treating epilepsy, starting or suddenly stopping treatment with these medicines may increase seizures
• Glaucoma, acute narrow angle? Librium should NOT be used if you have this condition.
• Glaucoma, open angle? Librium can be used but your doctor should be monitoring your condition carefully.
• Kidney or liver disease?Higher blood levels of Librium may result, increasing the chance that side effects will occur
Side effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following Librium side effects occur:
• Less common
Anxiety; confusion (may be more common in the elderly); fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat ; lack of memory of events taking place after benzodiazepine is taken (may be more common with triazolam); mental depression
• Rare
Abnormal thinking, including disorientation, delusions (holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts), or loss of sense of reality ; agitation; behavior changes, including aggressive behavior, bizarre behavior, decreased inhibition, or outbursts of anger; convulsions (seizures); hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there); hypotension (low blood pressure); muscle weakness; skin rash or itching ; sore throat, fever, and chills; trouble in sleeping; ulcers or sores in mouth or throat (continuing); uncontrolled movements of body, including the eyes; unusual bleeding or bruising ; unusual excitement, nervousness, or irritability ; unusual tiredness or weakness (severe); yellow eyes or skin
.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Other than the above information, there is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for these uses.
Keep all appointments with your doctor.
Storage:
Store Librium at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Remove any cotton from the bottle of disintegrating tablets, and keep the bottle tightly closed.
All information given above is a summary. You must visit your doctor, pharmacies or health care provider can provide more information about this medicine. Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not use this medicine for other health conditions. Do not store medication with end term of storage.
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