$Unique_ID{BRK01876}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE}
$Subject{chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride (various manufacturers)
Libritabs (Roche)
Librium (Roche)
Lipoxide (Major)
Reposans-10 (Wesley)}
$Volume{}
$Log{}

Copyright (C) 1991 Publications International, Ltd.


CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE
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BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers):
     chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride (various manufacturers)
     Libritabs (Roche)
     Librium (Roche)
     Lipoxide (Major)
     Reposans-10 (Wesley)
TYPE OF DRUG:
     Benzodiazepine sedative/hypnotic
INGREDIENT:
     chlordiazepoxide
DOSAGE FORMS:
     Capsules (5 mg, 10 mg, and 25 mg)
     Tablets (5 mg, 10 mg, and 25 mg)
STORAGE:
     This medication should be stored at room temperature in tightly closed,
       light-resistant containers.

USES

     Chlordiazepoxide is prescribed to treat the symptoms of anxiety and
alcohol withdrawal.  It is not clear exactly how this medicine works, but it
may relieve anxiety by acting as a depressant of the central nervous system.
Chlordiazepoxide is currently used by many people to relieve nervousness.  It
is effective for this purpose for short periods, but it is important to try to
remove the cause of the anxiety as well.

TREATMENT

     This medication should be taken exactly as directed by your doctor.  It
can be taken with food or a full glass of water if stomach upset occurs.  Do
not take this medication with a dose of antacids, since they may retard its
absorption.
     If you are taking this medication regularly and you miss a dose, take the
missed dose immediately.  If more than an hour has passed, however, skip the
dose you missed and wait for the next scheduled dose.  Do not double the dose.

SIDE EFFECTS

     Minor.

     Bitter taste in the mouth, constipation, depression, diarrhea, dizziness,
drowsiness (after a night's sleep), dry mouth, excessive salivation, fatigue,
flushing, headache, heartburn, loss of appetite, nausea, nervousness,
sweating, or vomiting.  As your body adjusts to the medicine, these side
effects should disappear.
     To relieve constipation, increase the fiber in your diet (fresh fruits
and vegetables, salads, bran, and whole-grain breads), exercise, and drink
more water (unless your doctor instructs you to do otherwise).
     Dry mouth can be relieved by chewing sugarless gum or by sucking on ice
chips.
     If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down for a while; get up slowly from a
sitting or reclining position, and be careful on stairs.

     Major.

     Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
particularly bothersome.  IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
blurred or double vision, chest pain, difficulty in urinating, fainting,
falling, fever, hallucinations, joint pain, mouth sores, nightmares,
palpitations, rash, severe depression, shortness of breath, slurred speech,
sore throat, uncoordinated movements, unusual excitement, unusual tiredness,
or yellowing of the eyes or skin.

INTERACTIONS

     Chlordiazepoxide interacts with several other drugs:
     1. To prevent oversedation, this drug should not be taken with alcohol,
other sedative drugs, central nervous system depressants (such as
antihistamines, barbiturates, muscle relaxants, pain medicines, narcotics,
medicines for seizures, and phenothiazine tranquilizers), or with
antidepressants.
     2. This medication may decrease the effectiveness of carbamazepine,
levodopa, and oral anticoagulants (blood thinners) and may increase the
effects of phenytoin.
     3. Disulfiram, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), isoniazid, and
cimetidine can increase the blood levels of chlordiazepoxide, which can lead
to toxic effects.
     4. Concurrent use of rifampin may decrease the effectiveness of
chlordiazepoxide.
     BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
taking, especially any of the medications that are listed above.

WARNINGS

     * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
any medications, especially to chlordiazepoxide or other benzodiazepine
tranquilizers (such as alprazolam, clorazepate, diazepam, flurazepam,
halazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam, prazepam, temazepam, and triazolam).
     * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had liver disease,
kidney disease, epilepsy, lung disease, myasthenia gravis, porphyria, mental
depression, or mental illness.
     * This medicine can cause drowsiness.  Avoid tasks that require
alertness, such as driving a car or operating potentially dangerous machinery.
     * Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, tell
your doctor or dentist that you are taking this drug.
     * This medication has the potential for abuse and must be used with
caution.  Tolerance may develop quickly; do not increase the dosage of the
drug without first consulting your doctor.  It is also important not to stop
this drug suddenly if you have been taking it in large amounts or if you have
used it for several weeks.  Your doctor may want to reduce your dosage of this
medication gradually.
     * This is a safe drug when used properly.  When it is combined with other
sedative drugs or alcohol, however, serious side effects may develop.
     * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant.  This medicine may
increase the chance of birth defects if it is taken during the first three
months of pregnancy.  In addition, too much use of this medicine during the
last six months of pregnancy may lead to addiction of the fetus, resulting in
withdrawal side effects in the newborn.  Also, use of this medicine during the
last weeks of pregnancy may cause excessive drowsiness, slowed heartbeat, and
breathing difficulties in the infant.  Tell your doctor if you are
breast-feeding an infant.  This medicine can pass into breast milk and cause
excessive drowsiness, slowed heartbeat, and breathing difficulties in the
nursing infant.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
