Medication Guide

Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride

(klor″ dye az″ e pox′ ide hye″droe klor′ ide)

Capsules USP, C-IV What is the most important information I should know about chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride?

• Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride is a benzodiazepine medicine. Taking benzodiazepines with opioid medicines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (CNS) (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, breathing problems (respiratory depression), coma and death. Get emergency help right away if any of the following happens:
  • shallow or slowed breathing
  • breathing stops (which may lead to the heart stopping)
  • excessive sleepiness (sedation)
• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how taking chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride with opioids affects you.
• Risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction. There is a risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction with benzodiazepines, including chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride, which can lead to overdose and serious side effects including coma and death.
  • Serious side effects including coma and death have happened in people who have abused or misused benzodiazepines, including chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride. These serious side effects may also include delirium, paranoia, suicidal thoughts or actions, seizures, and difficulty breathing. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you get any of these serious side effects.
  • You can develop an addiction even if you take chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
  • Take chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride exactly as your healthcare provider prescribed.
  • Do not share your chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride with other people.
  • Keep chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride in a safe place and away from children.
• Physical dependence and withdrawal reactions. Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride can cause physical dependence and withdrawal reactions, especially if you continue to take chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride for several days to several weeks.
  • Do not suddenly stop taking chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride. Stopping chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride suddenly can cause serious and life-threatening side effects, including unusual movements, responses, or expressions, seizures, sudden and severe mental or nervous system changes, depression, seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear an extreme increase in activity or talking, losing touch with reality, and suicidal thoughts or actions. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you get any of these symptoms.
  • Some people who suddenly stop benzodiazepines have symptoms that can last for several weeks to more than 12 months, including, anxiety, trouble remembering, learning, or concentrating, depression, problems sleeping, feeling like insects are crawling under your skin, weakness, shaking, muscle twitching, burning or prickling feeling in your hands, arms, legs or feet, and ringing in your ears.
  • Physical dependence is not the same as drug addiction. Your healthcare provider can tell you more about the difference between physical dependence and drug addiction
  • . Do not take more chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride than prescribed or take chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride for longer than prescribed.

What is chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride?

• Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride is a prescription medicine used:
  • to treat anxiety disorders
  • for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety
  • to treat withdrawal symptoms of acute alcoholism
  • preoperatively to treat apprehension and anxiety
• Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride is a federal controlled substance (C-IV) because it contains chlordiazepoxide that can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep chlordiazepoxide in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away chlordiazepoxide may harm others, and is against the law. Tell your healthcare provider if you have abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines or street drugs.
• It is not known if chlordiazepoxide is safe and effective in children under 6 years of age.
• It is not known if chlordiazepoxide is safe and effective for use for longer than 4 months.

Before you take chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have or have had depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior
• have a history of drug or alcohol abuse or addiction
• have liver or kidney problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Chlordiazepoxide may harm your unborn baby. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you should take chlordiazepoxide while you are pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Chlordiazepoxide may pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take chlordiazepoxide
• Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
• Taking chlordiazepoxide with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well chlordiazepoxide or the other medicines work.
• Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if you are taking any of these medicines. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride with your other medicines.
• Do not start or stop any other medicines during treatment with chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride without talking to your healthcare provider first. Stopping chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride suddenly may cause you to have serious side effects. See, “What are the possible side effects of chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride?”
• Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take chlordiazepoxide?

• Take chlordiazepoxide exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
• If you take too much chlordiazepoxide, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.