With widespread usage and availability of drugs to treat anxiety, it can often be a challenge to find the right drug at the right time. Can Librax be used for anxiety? What are the side effects of Librax? Does Librax interact adversely with other drugs?
Librax (chlordiazepoxide and clidinium bromide) is a prescription medicine combining a benzodiazepine and an anticholinergic/spasmolytic that can be used to treat anxiety symptoms, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and intestinal infections among other conditions. On the other hand, you may use Librium (chlordiazepoxide) on its own or with other medicines(with utmost care since there is a danger of severe or life-threatening breathing problems, sedation, or coma), for the management of anxiety disorders and acute alcohol withdrawal.
For some people, the effects of drugs like Valium, Xanax or Ativan are short-lived, while others experience negative side effects or risk factors that make those drugs a no-go. Read on to learn more about Librax, the unique anti-anxiety agent.
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Can Librax be Used for Anxiety?
Librax can be used to treat anxiety, but like any other treatment, it has both benefits and risks. Librax (chlordiazepoxide and clidinium bromide) is a prescription medicine combining a benzodiazepine and an anticholinergic/spasmolytic that can be used to treat anxiety symptoms, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and intestinal infections among other conditions. Finally, Librium is used to treat the withdrawal from alcohol.
To give you all the potential benefits of the medication, Librax should be taken 30 minutes to one hour before eating a meal and right before bedtime. The medication starts its anxiety symptom relief action approximately 30 to 1 hour after taking it depending on the individual.
Long story short: Chlordiazepoxide is a benzodiazepine that has been used to treat anxiety for over 40 years. But everyone knows the risks of benzodiazepines and addiction (dependence) in addition to the side effects associated with it. Moreover, it has severe withdrawal symptoms just like other Benzo products.
The other component of Librax, clidinium bromide, is an antispasmodic. The role of clidinium bromide is to reduce the side effects of chlordiazepoxide (decreasing dry mouth, drowsiness, and dizziness). This dual function makes Librax a unique choice for the treatment of anxiety.
What is Librax?
Librax (chlordiazepoxide and clidinium bromide) is a prescription medicine that treats anxiety and anxiety-related insomnia, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and intestinal infections. It can also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.
Chlordiazepoxide, a benzodiazepine, produces a calming effect on anxious persons by working on the brain and nerves. It helps to reduce the extreme and abnormal activity of your nerves and brain thus minimizing anxiety. However, due to the sedative and hypnotic nature of the medication in the benzodiazepine class, there is a potential risk of severe or life-threatening breathing problems, sedation, or coma when combined with some other medications.
On the other hand, clidinium bromide is in the class of medications called anticholinergics. The synthetic medication reduces stomach and intestinal cramping by slowing the natural intestinal movements and by relaxing the stomach and intestinal muscles. Therefore, it is used to treat peptic ulcer disease, colicky abdominal pain, diverticulitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among other GIT problems.
The combination of chlordiazepoxide and clidinium bromide is primarily used in the treatment of treat stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. However, anxiety presents with several stomach symptoms which benefit from taking this drug for anxiety. Care must be taken to ensure you do not get an overdose, which can be life-threatening.
How Does It Work?
Librax combines a benzodiazepine with an antispasmodic. It is primarily used to treat gastrointestinal problems such as peptic ulcer disease, colicky abdominal pain, diverticulitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but can also be used for anxiety disorders.
Benzodiazepines are drugs that increase the amount of a chemical in the brain known as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Librax component chlordiazepoxide, like other benzodiazepines, thus facilitates the binding of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA at several GABA receptors throughout the CNS thus acting as a CNS depressant thus inducing anxiolysis (calmness), drowsiness, and sleep among other effects thus minimizing the anxiety symptoms.
GABA is responsible for regulating the excitability of brain cells. When GABA levels are low, people are more likely to experience anxiety disorders. Librax works by increasing GABA activity in the brain, which is likely why it is effective at reducing anxiety.
Clidinium bromide is an anticholinergic/ antispasmodic. It helps to markedly minimize stomach and intestinal cramping by ensuring the natural intestinal movement (bowel movement) is slowed down in addition to relaxing both the stomach and the intestinal muscles.
How long does it take for Librax to work for anxiety?
For anxiety, Librax starts offering some relief within an hour of taking the medication depending on the individual. It is thus a fast-acting medication for anxiety. For better results, Librax should be taken on an empty stomach with the recommended time being 30 minutes to 1 hour before a meal or before going to bed.
The maintenance dose of Librax is 1 or 2 capsules taken 3 or 4 times a day. The dosage of this medication starts with 1 or 2 capsules daily and increased as per your individualized treatment as recommended by the doctor based on your requirements. Care should be taken not to overdose since the medication has serious and life-threatening side effects such as difficulty breathing, coma, or even death.
The recommended start dose is 5 mg of chlordiazepoxide and 2.5 mg of clidinium bromide a day. Therefore, the chlordiazepoxide recommended dose is 2 to 3 mg taken two or three times a day but can be increased to 4 times. The medication is taken before meals at the same time every day.
Since it is a benzodiazepine medication, you should not take it for more than 2-4 weeks. If you are using it for longer than 2 weeks, then you should talk to your doctor about switching to a longer-term solution, like an SSRI.
Librax availability in the USA
Librax (manufactured by Bausch) is no longer used in the United States, but generic versions may be available. The generic capsule form of the medication is produced by several different pharmaceutical companies with Dr. Reddy’s being one of the major generic manufacturers.
Bausch, formerly Valeant, discontinued the medication in 2014. However, several companies still manufacture and distribute the medication in the United States.
It should be noted that Valeant issued a voluntary recall of the brand Librax medication (5mg/2.5mg capsules) due to stability failure. During the annual stability program review for the medication, Valeant discovered that Librax had a stability failure and thus issued a voluntary recall across USA and Canada.
All medications have risks and benefits, and each individual has to decide if the potential benefits of taking a particular drug outweigh the risks.
In 2021, Librax had an annual market value of $100.5 million, according to IQVIA. This means that the market still prescribes and uses the medication for different conditions as described above.
Who Should Take It and Who Should Avoid It?
The medication is recommended for anyone experiencing anxiety/ panic attacks as well as irritable bowel syndrome or intestinal conditions. It is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders accompanied by stomach or intestinal conditions.
People who had a history of or currently have a psychiatric disorder, enlarged prostate, glaucoma, or are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid this drug. Moreover, people who are allergic to chlordiazepoxide or Clidinium, or to other benzodiazepines should not take the medication.
Therefore the medication should be avoided during pregnancy since there is clear evidence of risk to the developing child. But the doctor may rarely prescribe Librax if the benefits are greater than the potential risks.
Side Effects of Librax:
The medication has a number of side effects most of which should subside when your body has adjusted to the medication control on GABA. The common side effects include:
- Abdominal bloating,
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry eyes
- Dry mouth
- Increased or decreased interest in sex
- Irregular menstrual periods
- Nausea
- Swelling
- Skin rash
- Tiredness
- vomiting
- Weakness
The following side effects can be detrimental to your health and you should report them to your doctor immediately including
- Memory problems or poor concentration
- Severe drowsiness and problems with balance
- Seizure
- Slurred speech
- Slow heart rate,
- Problems breathing including slow breathing or a stop in breathing
- Suicidal thoughts and drastic changes in mood or behavior including paranoia
- Muscle movement issues
- Severe confusion,
- Severe anger or aggression
- Severe stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
Drug interactions
Librax should be used with other medications only with the approval of your doctor. This is because the medication can cause serious side effects due to an interaction with other medications resulting in difficulty breathing, coma, or even death.
Librax interacts with alcohol, narcotics, antidepressants, barbiturates, blood thinners, MAO inhibitors, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders among other medications. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important to notify your doctor before taking Librax for any condition.
People with alcohol addiction are given this medication but under supervision from a doctor. This is because the medication can potentiate the sedation emanating from alcohol resulting in severe effects.
The Bottom Line
If you are experiencing anxiety, you should visit your general practitioner for medical advice. While there is a wide range of treatment options for anxiety, each drug comes with its own set of side effects and risks.
Librax is an effective medication for treating anxiety disorders. However, it also comes with benefits and risks especially associated with the potential for overdose and its interaction with other substances leading to serious concerns.
Your doctor will be able to recommend a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs. In addition to medication, it’s best to take a multi-therapeutic approach to manage anxiety. This means that you should combine medication with therapy, lifestyle changes, and other self-help tools, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.
You should be able to note the side effects listed above and notify your doctor if they occur. Moreover, you should report back to your doctor if you do not see any improvement in 4 weeks of taking the medication.
