Librium, like all benzodiazepines, has a high potential for abuse and addiction.
What Is Librium?
Librium is a benzodiazepine that’s commonly prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and may also be administered before surgery. It’s classified as a sedative/hypnotic and has a potential for dependence even with short-term use. It’s the name-brand form of generic chlordiazepoxide.
Librium is no longer available in the U.S. because Mylan, Librium’s producer, stopped making brand-name formulations of the drug in early 2021. However, doctors can still prescribe chlordiazepoxide.
Side Effects of Librium
Like all benzodiazepine medications, Librium can cause unpleasant side effects. Even if you take the drug as your doctor recommends, you could still experience physical or mental discomfort. Problems tend to worsen the longer you use the drug.
Common side effects seen in people who use Librium include:
Drowsiness
Confusion
Lack of coordination
Fainting
Weight gain
Menstrual irregularities
Forgetfulness
Short-term symptoms are typically mild, and they rarely cause someone to quit taking the drug. Some people experience more unpleasant problems, including allergic reactions and itchy skin.
Librium can also be very hard on your liver. People who take the drug for long periods can develop jaundice (yellow-tinged skin) as the liver begins to fail. Doctors typically provide multiple blood tests to monitor your organ health during treatment.
Risks of Librium Misuse
Librium is a Schedule IV drug per the U.S. Department of Justice. Drugs in this class have a lower abuse potential than painkillers and narcotics. Yet, they can cause addiction when they’re used at high doses for long periods.
While there isn’t a singular cause ofbenzo addiction, various factors contribute to its formation. Benzodiazepines change the brain’s neurochemistry, which causes tolerance to build up over time. Individuals can become both physically and mentally addicted to Librium and other benzodiazepine drugs.
Symptoms of Librium Addiction
The following signs of a potential Librium addiction include:
Doctor shopping to obtain more Chlordiazepoxide
Using illegal methods to locate and purchase Librium
Lying to friends, family, and loved ones about Librium abuse
Expressing a desire to quit taking the substance but being unable to do so
Experiencing financial difficulties due to the cost of locating Librium
Physical health issues due to excessive use
Librium Withdrawal Symptoms
Do not quit taking benzodiazepines like Librium without your doctor’s help. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe. In some cases, they can be life-threatening.
Common withdrawal symptoms can include the following:
In some cases, people attempting to quit benzodiazepines cold turkey develop seizures. It’s never safe to try this approach.
Dangers of Mixing Librium with Alcohol
Combining Librium with other drugs and substances (sometimes called crossfading) is very dangerous. It should never be done without a doctor’s approval.
Librium interacts with other drugs. When chlordiazepoxide is abused, it is commonly used with other substances, such as marijuana, and other prescription medications like opioids.
When the drug is combined with other benzodiazepine drugs or opioids, the sedative effects are magnified, causing symptoms that can include:
Slowed heart rate
Depressed breathing and other respiratory issues
Slow reflexes
Extreme sedation
Unconsciousness
Coma or death
Short-Term Effects
Chlordiazepoxide is also known to havesevere interactions with alcohol. If you have been mixing Librium and alcohol, it’s a sign of a problem. Some of the symptoms you may experience include:
Confusion
Constipation
Decreased libido
Depression
Extreme drowsiness
Headaches
Increased sedation
Impaired muscle control
Respiratory depression
Skin problems
Severe Effects
Although less common, the severe effects that can occur when you mix alcohol with chlordiazepoxide include:
Irregular heartbeat
Delirium
Liver dysfunction
Balance issues
Tremors
Yellowing of the skin
Coma
In addition, you may also experience behavioral and psychological side effects, including impaired judgment and increased risk-taking behaviors. In 2021,nearly 14%of all overdose deaths involving opioids also involved benzodiazepines like Librium, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Long-Term Effects
While short-term effects tend to be shorter in duration, longer-term symptoms can occur when you combine Librium with alcohol on an ongoing basis. These may include:
Addiction or dependence
Memory impairment or loss
Suicidal thoughts
Violent behavior
Hazards of Snorting Librium
Snorting Librium can do serious damage to the brain as well as the nose and sinuses. Medication taken in pill form is formulated specifically for oral use and is meant to be digested by the stomach
Snorting these drugs will lead to quicker and more intense effects, which can potentially cause serious health hazards, including overdose. Snorting Librium can lead to ingesting excessive amounts of Librium, which can lead to overdose more quickly than swallowing the pill form of the drug whole.
Here are some of the dangers of snorting Librium:
Addiction
Snorting Librium can lead to addiction faster than even misusing Librium in pill form. Snorting pills after crushing them leads to a faster onset of action, and it is a clear sign of escalating drug abuse.
Nasal or Sinus Damage
Chronic insufflation of Librium (snorting Librium habitually) can lead to severe nasal cavity damage. Over time, scarring of the nasal tissue can occur with snorting any type of powdered substance. You could even develop a deviated septum, which can affect respiratory function.
Drugs can also leak down to the throat, which causes significant tissue irritation. Snorting Librium and other drugs often results in a scratchy voice, nosebleeds, and a chronic runny nose.
Increased Risk of Overdose
Overdose is the most immediate and pressing danger related to snorting Librium. The higher the dose of Librium snorted, the more overwhelmed the body becomes, which can often lead to a drug overdose. The risk of overdose rises significantly if Librium is used with other substances, particularly other depressants.
Recognizing the Need for Help
If you or someone you know is addicted to chlordiazepoxide, you’ll likely notice some physical and behavioral changes. Recognizing these issues is important. When you see them, you can intervene as early as possible to help to someone in need.
The table below describes the physical, behavioral, and psychological aspects of a Librium addiction:
| Physical | Behavioral | Psychological |
|---|---|---|
| Dizziness | Irregular sleep patterns | Irritability |
| Nausea | Financial problems | Depression |
| Constipation | Drug-seeking behavior | Anxiety |
| Sedation | Doctor shopping | Mood swings |
| Lack of coordination | Stealing prescriptions | Compulsive behavior |
| Slurred speech | Forging prescriptions | Apathy |
Librium Addiction Treatment and Recovery
Recovering from Librium addiction is possible. You’ll need a treatment program made up of the following critical elements:
Supervised Taper
A cold-turkey approach to quitting puts pressure on delicate brain cells and can lead to seizures. A taper is different. Your doctor develops a schedule that allows you to quit the drug over time, so your brain cells can adjust safely. Your doctor ensures you move through this process without experiencing intense withdrawal symptoms, but you might feel mild discomfort as you taper your dose.
Medical Detox
Since some people abuse other drugs in combination with Librium,medical detoxcould be helpful. Doctors will use medications to help your body quit using other substances. Your team might also use a Librium detox program to treat underlying issues like depression.
Behavioral Therapy
Therapy is the core of addiction treatment. In sessions, clients work with therapists to determine the root causes of their substance abuse. By identifying these triggers for drug abuse, they can begin to build plans to make better choices going forward.
Individuals learn how to build healthier habits that support a life in recovery. An emphasis is often placed on cognitive behavioral therapy, where the relationship between thoughts and behaviors is highlighted. By changing their thoughts, individuals learn how to change their behaviors.
Dialectical behavior therapyis another approach that can help you change your thought patterns and then your behavior.
Rehabilitation
Managing medications and therapy isn’t easy for everyone, especially when you’re living at home and surrounded by triggers. An inpatient treatment programcan help you step away from triggers to focus on your treatment around the clock. An outpatient treatment programcan help you manage potentially triggering situations while you work on your healing in appointments.
Find Help for a Librium Addiction
Librium addiction can lead to dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and serious health risks, especially with prolonged use.
If you or a loved one is struggling with benzodiazepine addiction, call us or visit one of our locations today for compassionate care and effective treatment options. You can also reach out to our admissions team to take that first step. We’re here and ready to help.
Librium Addiction Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the most commonly asked questions about Librium addiction.
Librium is used to treat anxiety and alcohol withdrawal.
Yes. Librium can alter your brain chemistry, which can cause addiction.
People addicted to Librium typically take more than is prescribed. They shop for doctors, steal drugs, and work with dealers to keep up their drug supply.
You must work with a doctor to quit using Librium. You can’t quit this drug cold turkey without help. Doing so is dangerous.
Librium addiction can lead to dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and serious health risks, especially with prolonged use. If you or a loved one is struggling with benzodiazepine addiction, call us or visit one of our locations today for compassionate care and effective treatment options.
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