How Librium Helps With Alcohol Withdrawal Explained
Librium is a prescription-only benzodiazepine, sometimes known as a benzo. Benzos are psychotropic drugs used to treat ailments such as sleeplessness and anxiety.
The first benzodiazepine was discovered in 1955 and had sedative, anti-anxiety, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxing characteristics. Benzos, such as Librium, are among the most often prescribed drugs in the United States. Benzos are generally safe for short-term usage but not for long-term use.
Benzos, when administered as directed, can treat a broad range of medical ailments, including:
- Agitation
- Anxiety problems
- Insomnia
- Disorders of seizure
- Disorders of spasticity
- Epilepsy (status epilepticus)
Benzos function by blocking GABA action in the brain, diminishing neuronal activity that can lead to anxiety. GABA is a neurotransmitter that generally dampens other impulses in the brain.
Long-term benzodiazepine usage can lead to physical dependency in as little as a few weeks.
Knowledge of how Librium and benzos generally function necessitates a fundamental understanding of anxiety. When you are nervous, it is due to a hyperactive brain. The brain activity is too stimulated, and you require instructions to urge the cells to quiet down. That is the function of a benzo like Librium.
Other benzos that are often given include Xanax, Valium, and Ativan. Benzos, such as Librium, occasionally alleviate anxiety and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Can Librium Help With Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?
Librium is a benzo that’s used to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It’s often combined with other medications to make the withdrawal process more manageable.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be debilitating and can include:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Irritability and moodiness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Sweating
- Twitching
- Vomiting
You might be wondering if other medications are explicitly used for alcohol withdrawal. Other than Librium, two drugs are approved for alcohol withdrawal:
- Clonidine
- Antabuse
Clonidine is an alpha2 adrenergic agonist used to treat high blood pressure, anxiety, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Antabuse is a drug that’s used to treat alcohol dependence. It contains a substance that’s inactivated by alcohol so that when you drink, it makes you feel ill. It’s a type of aversion therapy.
If you’re considering Librium for alcohol withdrawal, you should talk to your healthcare provider before you start taking it. Librium is a medication that can make you drowsy, so you need to be careful about operating machinery or driving.
Librium can be abused and cause serious side effects, so you should watch out for signs of abuse or addiction.
What Effects of Alcohol Withdrawal Can’t` Be Resolved By Librium?
Suppose you’re using Librium to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms. In that case, it can cover a lot of withdrawal symptoms, but it’s essential to realize that not all symptoms of withdrawal can be treated with Librium.
One of the most challenging effects of alcohol withdrawal is depression. Depression is a leading cause of relapse, and it can be challenging to treat.
Librium is not a treatment for depression, and it’s not designed to treat that. If you’re experiencing depression, you’ll need to treat that separately with a drug like Zoloft or Lexapro.
Anxiety is another effect of alcohol withdrawal that can’t be treated with Librium. While Librium can help you feel relaxed, it will not help you handle anxiety.
If you deal with extreme anxiety during withdrawal, you might need to be treated with other medications, like Xanax or Klonopin.
How Do You Take Librium?
Take this medication exactly as your doctor tells you to take it. The recommended dose is between 4 mg and 10 mg, and you’ll take one or two doses in 24 hours.
Librium comes in tablet, capsule, and solution forms. You can swallow the tablet and capsule or dissolve it in a tablespoon of water. Drink the solution right away. You can take the medication with or without food, but you should take the medicine at the same time every day.
If you get too high on Librium and start to feel drowsy, you need to be careful about driving or operating machinery. Librium can cause you to feel drowsy.
What are the Side Effects of Taking Librium?
The side effects of Librium are generally more severe when taking it for long periods, but even short-term use can cause problems. In addition, when you’re withdrawing from benzos like Librium, you can experience a wide variety of side effects, including:
- Abdominal cramps
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Depression
- Difficulty sleeping
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headaches
- Lightheadedness
- Low blood pressure
- Mood changes
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Uncontrollable shaking
- Weight gain
You can develop a tolerance to this medication, so you need to take higher doses to feel the effects.
As you would expect, abusing Librium can lead to serious side effects and can include:
- Coma
- Death
- Depression
- Disturbed blood pressure
- Hallucinations
- Lethargy
- Severe sleepiness
- Shallow breathing
- Stomach cramps
- Suicidal thoughts
- Tolerance
If you’re taking Librium for alcohol withdrawal, you’ll be taking it for several days to a week, and you need to be careful about the potential for abuse.
How Long Does It Take for Librium to Work?
You can expect to start feeling the effects of Librium within an hour after you take a dose. If you’re taking Librium for alcohol withdrawal, you’ll need to take it for several days or weeks before you start to feel better.
This medication can make you feel exhausted, so it’s not recommended that you drive or operate heavy machinery while you’re taking it.
How Long Do You Take Librium?
You’ll take Librium for the length of time that your doctor recommends. For example, Librium is commonly used for alcohol withdrawal for about seven days.
If you’re using Librium to help with Parkinson’s Disease or muscle spasms, you’ll take it for four to six weeks. Librium can be addictive, so be careful about taking high doses for long periods.
Precautions When Taking Librium
Librium is a prescription drug that can interact with several other drugs, including:
- Anticonvulsants
- Antihistamines
- Antipsychotics
- Antidepressants
- Barbiturates
- Blood sugar medications
- Diuretics
- Sedatives
Talk to your doctor about any medications that you regularly take, including over-the-counter medications, so that you can make sure that they won’t interact with Librium.
When you’re taking Librium, make sure to:
- Avoid alcohol. It would help if you didn’t drink alcohol when taking this medication. The combination can lead to severe drowsiness, which can lead to accidents.
- Avoid driving. If you’re driving when you take this medication, you’ll want to pay extra attention and avoid activities that are too complex, like driving in heavy traffic or making quick decisions.
- Avoid mixing with other medications. If you’re taking other medications in addition to Librium, be careful about mixing them. Talk to your doctor to find out if this is safe.
Conclusion
If you’re dealing with alcohol withdrawal symptoms, then you’re probably looking for a way to make the process easier.
Librium is a benzodiazepine commonly used to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and it’s often combined with other medications, such as Valium or Xanax.
While Librium can help you with many withdrawal symptoms, it won’t fix them all. You mustn’t think you can use this medication as a simple way to get over your alcohol addiction. If you’re thinking about taking Librium for alcohol withdrawal, talk to your doctor about whether it’s the right choice for your situation.