What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking chlordiazepoxide if you have:
- Depression
- Kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure)
- Liver disease, including liver failure or cirrhosis
- A history of drug or alcohol abuse (see Librium and Alcohol)
- Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
How Does Chlordiazepoxide Work?
Chlordiazepoxide is part of a group of medicines known as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines have several different effects on the body, including:
- Stopping seizures
- Reducing anxiety
- Causing sleepiness
- Relaxing muscles
- Impairing short-term memory.
All benzodiazepines can have each of these effects to some degree, depending on the specific medication and the dosage. They work in the brain by enhancing the effects of
gamma-aminobutyric acid (
GABA), a brain chemical that is naturally calming. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain. This is why chlordiazepoxide and other benzodiazepines are known as mild tranquilizers, sedatives, or central nervous system depressants (CNS depressants).
Previous
