Librium vs. Valium

Librium (chlordiazepoxide) and Valium (diazepam) are benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety disorders or alcohol withdrawal.

Valium is also used to treat seizures and muscle spasms.

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

Side effects of Librium that are different from Valium include vomiting, swelling, irregular menstrual periods, or headache.

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

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

Librium may also interact with blood thinners, MAO inhibitors, medicine 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, narcotics, prescription cough medicines, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety or seizures), cimetidine, ketoconazole, or omeprazole.

Do not stop using Librium or Valium suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Common side effects of Librium include:

• drowsiness,
• tiredness,
• dizziness,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• constipation,
• blurred vision,
• swelling,
• skin rash,
• irregular menstrual periods, or
• headache.

Tell your doctor if you have side effects of Librium including:

• confusion,
• depression,
• hyperactivity,
• hallucinations,
• slurred speech,
• trouble walking,
• facial or muscle twitching,
• sleep disturbances,
• trouble urinating,
• changes in sex drive, or
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

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.

Librium (chlordiazepoxide) is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders or alcohol withdrawal.

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.

Librium may interact with barbiturates, blood thinners, MAO inhibitors, medicine to treat psychiatric disorders, narcotics, or antidepressants. Tell your doctor all medications you use.

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.

Librium (chlordiazepoxide) 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 Librium (chlordiazepoxide) 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.

Take Valium exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Valium to take and when to take it.

Talk to your healthcare provider about slowly stopping Valium to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

If you take too much Valium, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.