Serax

If you are experiencing anxiety or alcohol withdrawal, your healthcare provider may recommend taking Serax. Part of a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, this medication can have several effects on the body, including relaxing muscles, causing sleepiness, and reducing anxiety. The drug is available only in generic form and comes in three strengths -- 10 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg capsules. Among the conditions that you should tell your healthcare provider about before taking it are depression, kidney disease, and any allergies you may have.

What Is Serax?

Serax® (oxazepam) is a prescription medication approved to treat the following conditions:
 
(Click Serax Uses for more information on what the drug is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes It?

Brand-name Serax is no longer being made. Currently, generic Serax is made by the following manufacturers:
 
  • Actavis Elizabeth
  • Ivax Pharmaceuticals
  • Sandoz Pharmaceuticals.
     

How Does Serax Work?

Serax is part of a group of medicines known as benzodiazepines.
 These drugs have a variety of different effects on the body, including:
 
  • Stopping seizures
  • Reducing anxiety
  • Causing sleepiness
  • Relaxing muscles
  • Impairing short-term memory.
     
All benzodiazepine medications 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 Serax and other benzodiazepines are known as mild tranquilizers, sedatives, or central nervous system depressants (CNS depressants).
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
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