• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is chlordiazepoxide?
Chlordiazepoxide is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peens). Chlordiazepoxide affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety. Chlordiazepoxide is used to treat anxiety disorders or alcohol withdrawal. Chlordiazepoxide may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of chlordiazepoxide?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• confusion;

• depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;

• restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck;

• hyperactivity, agitation, hostility;

• hallucinations; or

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

• drowsiness, tiredness;

• swelling;

• skin rash;

• nausea, vomiting, constipation; or

• irregular menstrual periods.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take chlordiazepoxide?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Chlordiazepoxide should be used for only a short time. Do not take this medication for longer than 4 months without your doctor's advice. Contact your doctor if this medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your symptoms.

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What is the most important information I should know about chlordiazepoxide?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to chlordiazepoxide or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), or oxazepam (Serax). This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use chlordiazepoxide if you are pregnant. Before taking chlordiazepoxide, tell your doctor if you have any breathing problems, glaucoma, porphyria, kidney or liver disease, or a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or addiction to drugs or alcohol.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect chlordiazepoxide?
Before taking chlordiazepoxide, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs: a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Solfoton); a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate); medicine to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), mesoridazine (Serentil), pimozide (Orap), or thioridazine (Mellaril);

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Chlordiazepoxide has not been formally assigned to a pregnancy category by the FDA. Chlordiazepoxide crosses the placenta and achieves a maternal:fetal plasma ratio of 1:1. An increased risk of congenital malformations in humans has been associated with the use of chlordiazepoxide in pregnancy, particularly in the first and second trimesters. Chronic use of chlordiazepoxide in later pregnancy has been associated with neonatal withdrawal and a "floppy infant syndrome" consisting of hypotonia, depression, decreased responsiveness, and reluctance to feed. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Chlordiazepoxide should only be given during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and benefit outweighs risk.

The Collaborative Perinatal Project reported no association between first trimester use of chlordiazepoxide and congenital malformations.

There are no data on the excretion of chlordiazepoxide into human milk.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to chlordiazepoxide, other benzodiazepines, or any ingredient in the formulation.
• Many manufacturers state that benzodiazepines are contraindicated in patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma but may be administered to patients with open-angle glaucoma who are receiving appropriate therapy; however, clinical rationale for this contraindication has been questioned.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of chlordiazepoxide can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, excitation, muscle weakness, loss of balance or coordination, feeling light-headed, fainting, or coma.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking chlordiazepoxide?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to chlordiazepoxide or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), or oxazepam (Serax). Before taking chlordiazepoxide, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have: glaucoma; asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other breathing problems; porphyria; kidney or liver disease; a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior; or

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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