Chlordiazepoxide

Molecule Description

Chlordiazepoxide is an ‘anti-anxiety’ class of medicine, which is also used for

the treatment of muscle spasms and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Uses

Contraindications

Side effects

Precautions and Warnings

Uses of Chlordiazepoxide

Severe anxiety, which interferes with your activities, sleeplessness or psychosis.
Muscle spasms (the muscle becomes hard and painful suddenly)
Relief of immediate symptoms after withdrawal of alcohol.

Contraindications of Chlordiazepoxide

When should one not use Chlordiazepoxide

Allergy to Chlordiazepoxide or any of the components used in the medicine or any other
medicines of the same class (benzodiazepenes)
Severe respiratory problems (respiratory depression) or breathing problems while sleeping
(sleep apnoea)
Extreme excited states or long standing psychiatric illness
Severe liver problems (including those that affect the brain)
A type of muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis)
Loss of balance or co-ordinated movement (due to nerve damage in the brain or the spine).
Do not use this medicine for children(below 18 years)

Side effects of Chlordiazepoxide

Common side effects of this drug are:

Drowsiness, feeling light-headed or dizzy or sleepy
Speech problems, loss of balance and co-ordinated movements (ataxia), tiredness, blackouts
(temporary loss of vision and consciousness)
Dependence on the maintenance
Skin rashes, headache, changes in sex drive, retention and difficulty in passing urine,
stomach upset, vision problems, low blood pressure, menstrual and other bleeding
disorders (rare)
Severe allergic reactions causing swelling of face and throat, breathing difficulty
(angioedema), self-harming thoughts, jaundice, bleeding problems and infections (serious,
but rare).

Precautions and Warnings of Chlordiazepoxide

Pregnancy

Can I take Chlordiazepoxide during pregnancy?

Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or might become pregnant because Chlordiazepoxide may harm the unborn baby and cause birth defects.

Breast Feeding

Can I take Chlordiazepoxide while breastfeeding?

Do not take this medicine if you are breastfeeding, as Chlordiazepoxide is secreted in breast milk and can harm the baby.

Driving

Can I drive if I have consumed Chlordiazepoxide?

Chlordiazepoxide works on the brain and cause drowsiness and sleep. Hence caution is advised while driving and you are advised to avoid driving if you experience any such symptoms.

Alcohol

Can I consume alcohol with Chlordiazepoxide?

Just like Chlordiazepoxide, alcohol also causes drowsiness, light-headedness and dependence and hence should be avoided.

Other General Warnings

Talk to your doctor if

You are an elderly patient with history of lung, kidney or liver problems
You have any psychiatric illness, depression,
alcohol or narcotic abuse, nervousness and sleep problems or you lost someone close to you
recently.

Mode of Action of Chlordiazepoxide

How Does It Work?

Chlordiazepoxide acts by increasing the levels of a substance that transmits chemical signals in the brain (neurotransmitter) called GABA. This substance will reduce excitation of the brain and increa...

Interactions of Chlordiazepoxide

Interactions with other medicines

Anti-depressant medications or sleeping pills or any medicines used to treat psychiatric
illnesses
Anti-seizure medications (phenytoin, phenobarbitone etc.)
Medicines given to induce anaesthesia during surgery
Medicines that affect the liver – rifampicin (to treat TB), cimetidine, omeprazole (to reduce
stomach acid), disulfiram (to treat alcohol dependence) or sleeping pills
Levodopa (used to treat unintentional tremors – parkinson’s disease)
High blood pressure medications (ramipril, captopril, losartan, moxonidine, nifedipine,
diltiazem etc.)
Medicines that relax blood vessels (nitrates, hydralazine, minoxidil, sodium nitroprusside)
Baclofen (muscle relaxant), cisapride (increases stomach motility), nabilone (for nerve pain),
pain killers (morphine, codeine etc.), blood thinning agents (warfarin), medicines to treat
heart conditions (digoxin), water pills – medicines that cause loss of water from the body
(furosemide), sodium oxybate (treats excessive sleep or muscle weakness), theophylline
(used for asthma), Anti-allergic medicines (avil).

Interactions with food items

Use chlordiazepoxide with or without food

Dietary Restrictions of Chlordiazepoxide

No information is available on dietary restrictions while you are taking Chlordiazepoxide, consult your doctor or pharmacist for further information.

Dosage of Chlordiazepoxide

Overdose

Be careful while using Chlordiazepoxide and make sure that you never take an overdose of this medicine by accident. Especially, if you are taking this medicine in combination with other related medici...

Missed a Dose

If you forgot to take this medicine at the usual time, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you are taking the medicine more than 2 times a day, it is better if you skip the missed dose an...

Q: What else should I know before using Chlordiazepoxide?

A: Chlordiazepoxide is not for long term use. It is generally used for short term use for 2-4 weeks. Usage for more than 4 weeks is not recommended. It should not be used in children or for symptoms of mild anxiety. If you are using high doses, the dose has to be decreased gradually and the medicine should not be stopped suddenly. It must be remembered that Chlordiazepoxide should be used as a single medication in patients with depression as it may cause suicidal ideas. In such conditions, it should be used in combination with other related medicines. It is recommended to use this Chlordiazepoxide under medical supervision.

Q: Does Chlordiazepoxide cause dependence?

A: In high doses, this medicine may cause low-level dependence. It is easily manageable, if have used Chlordiazepoxide for less than 4 weeks. In patients with alcohol dependence, narcotic abuse or personality disorder, Chlordiazepoxide may have to be used for longer periods of time. Stopping the drug should be strictly in consultation with the doctor and the dose needs to decreased gradually over a few weeks.

References

Last Updated on: 05 Oct 2020 | 10:47 PM (IST)

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