Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) review

libriumChlordiazepoxide or Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride (AKA Librium) is a prescription drug popularly prescribed in an attempt to control emotional, psychosomatic and muscular disorders. Chlordiazepoxide belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. These are considered “minor tranquilizer” drugs and are used to treat nervousness and tension, relax muscles and encourage sleep.

Chlordiazepoxide is available by tablets or injection. Chlordiazepoxide is mostly used to treat anxiety but they also use it to help alleviate the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. A chemical cocktail of Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride combined with the antidepressant amitriptyline is used to treat depression associated with anxiety. Sometimes they combine it with clidinium bromide and use it to treat gastrointestinal disorders such as indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. In arthritis, Chlordiazepoxide is prescribed for various psychological and pain-related symptoms and (they say) to improve general well being(!) and sleep.

How does Librium work?

There is a part of our brain that controls emotion. Some believe that anxiety and nervousness can occur when this portion of our brain is too active. Chlordiazepoxide depresses this activity by enabling the action of a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA attaches itself to brain cells and blocks transmission of electrical impulses. As a result, the communication between the overactive cells is reduced and anxiety, ideally, is alleviated.

Never mind that GABA, known as the brain’s own anti-anxiety medication can be found naturally in GABA rich foods such as almonds, bananas, broccoli, brown rice and other whole grains…

The safeness for use by pregnant ladies or lactating moms

Avoid at all costs!

Potential Librium side effects

As long as you are OK with dizziness, unsteadiness, daytime drowsiness, forgetfulness, confusion, headache, blurred vision, edema, minor menstrual irregularities, nausea, constipation, increased or decreased libido, rash and hallucinations, you should be fine. (!)

Dangers of drug interactions

Chlordiazepoxide can affect the way many other drugs work. The depressive effects of alcohol multiply its sedative effects. CAUTION! If you use blood thinners: Chlordiazepoxide can interfere with the way they work. (Two common blood thinners are Heparin and Warfarin).

Drawbacks & limitations

After using this drug for a while, its effectiveness is reduced because your body adapts to it. It is also ADDICTIVE when larger than average doses are taken over time. You should never use Chlordiazepoxide if you are allergic to chlordiazepoxide and other benzodiazepines (depressant medications) such as Oxazepam (Serax), Lorazepam (Ativan), Diazepam (Valium), Clorazepate (Tranxene) or Alprazolam (Xanax).