Librax vs. Valium

• Are Valium and Librax the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Librax?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Valium?
• What is Librax?
• What is Valium?
• What Drugs Interact with Librax?
• What Drugs Interact with Valium?
• How Should Librax Be Taken?
• How Should Valium Be Taken?

Librax (chlordiazepoxide and clidinium bromide) and Valium (diazepam) both contain benzodiazepines and are used to treat different conditions.

Librax also contains an anticholinergic/spasmolytic and used to treat stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and intestinal infections.

Valium is used to treat anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms, and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

The brand name Librax is no longer available in the U.S. Generic versions may be available.

Side effects of Librax and Valium that are similar include dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, weakness, blurred vision, dry mouth, nausea, constipation, or skin rash.

Side effects of Librax that are different from Valium include dry eyes, vomiting, abdominal bloating, swelling, and irregular menstrual periods.

Side effects of Valium that are different from Librax include spinning sensation, fatigue, loss of balance, memory problems, restlessness, irritability, drooling, slurred speech, double vision, itching, or loss of interest in sex.

Both Librax and Valium may interact with alcohol, narcotics, or antidepressants.

Librax may also interact with barbiturates, blood thinners, MAO inhibitors, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Valium may also interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, prescription cough medicines, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety or seizures), cimetidine, ketoconazole, or omeprazole.

Do not stop using Librax or Valium suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• tiredness,
• weakness,
• blurred vision,
• dry eyes,
• dry mouth,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• constipation,
• abdominal bloating,
• swelling,
• skin rash, and
• irregular menstrual periods.

Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Librax (chlordiazepoxide and clidinium bromide) including:

• decreased sweating,
• dry/hot/flushed skin,
• fast or irregular heartbeat,
• loss of coordination,
• slurred speech,
• fainting,
• uncontrollable or unusual muscle movements,
• mental/mood changes (such as confusion, agitation, unusual excitement, depression, or strange thoughts),
• difficulty urinating,
• decreased sexual ability, or
• slow or shallow breathing.

Common side effects of Valium include:

• drowsiness,
• tired feeling,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• fatigue,
• constipation,
• ataxia (loss of balance),
• memory problems,
• restlessness,
• irritability,
• muscle weakness,
• nausea,
• drooling,
• dry mouth,
• slurred speech,
• blurred or double vision,
• skin rash,
• itching, or
• loss of interest in sex.

Librax (chlordiazepoxide and clidinium bromide) is a combination of a benzodiazepine and an anticholinergic/spasmolytic used to treat stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and intestinal infections.

Valium is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an anxiolytic.

In acute alcohol withdrawal, Valium may be useful in the symptomatic reliefc of acute agitation, tremor, impending or acute delirium tremens and hallucinosis.

Librax may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety), or MAO inhibitors.

Librax may also interact with alcohol, barbiturates, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Centrally Acting Agents

If Valium is to be combined with other centrally acting agents, careful consideration should be given to the pharmacology of the agents employed particularly with compounds that may potentiate or be potentiated by the action of Valium, such as phenothiazines, antipsychotics, anxiolytics/sedatives, hypnotics, anticonvulsants, narcotic analgesics, anesthetics, sedative antihistamines, narcotics, barbiturates, MAO inhibitors and other antidepressants.

Alcohol

Concomitant use with alcohol is not recommended due to enhancement of the sedative effect.

Antacids

Diazepam peak concentrations are 30% lower when antacids are administered concurrently. However, there is no effect on the extent of absorption. The lower peak concentrations appear due to a slower rate of absorption, with the time required to achieve peak concentrations on average 20 - 25 minutes greater in the presence of antacids. However, this difference was not statistically significant.

Librax (lorazepam) is administered orally. For optimal results, dose, frequency of administration, and duration of therapy should be individualized according to patient response. To facilitate this, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg tablets are available.

The usual range is 2 to 6 mg/day given in divided doses, the largest dose being taken before bedtime, but the daily dosage may vary from 1 to 10 mg/day.

For anxiety, most patients require an initial dose of 2 to 3 mg/day given two or three times a day.

For insomnia due to anxiety or transient situational stress, a single daily dose of 2 to 4 mg may be given, usually at bedtime.

For elderly or debilitated patients, an initial dosage of 1 to 2 mg/day in divided doses is recommended, to be adjusted as needed and tolerated.

The dosage of Librax (lorazepam) should be increased gradually when needed to help avoid adverse effects. When higher dosage is indicated, the evening dose should be increased before the daytime doses.

The dosage of chlordiazepoxide and clidinium varies with the diagnosis and response of the individual patient. The usual maintenance dose is 1 or 2 capsules (5 mg chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride and 2.5 mg clidinium bromide), 3 or 4 times a day administered before meals and at bedtime.