Chlordiazepoxide: Characteristics And Side Effects Of This Drug
Benzodiazepines are, along with barbiturates, antidepressants and antipsychotics, one of the best-known groups of psychotropic drugs.
The first benzodiazepine that was synthesized in the middle of the last century is chlordiazepoxide, a drug discovered by chance by Leo Sternbach and which is used for anxiety problems
Thanks to the synthesis of this drug, benzodiazepines gained greater popularity over the next two decades, streamlining the treatment of anxiety disorders and other medical conditions. Let’s see the exciting history and uses of this medicine.
Chlordiazepoxide, originally called metaminodiazepoxide, is a drug that belongs to the group of benzodiazepines, being the first substance of this type to be synthesized It is marketed under multiple names: Klopoxid, Libritabs, Librium, Mesural, Multum, Novapam, Risolid, Silibrin, Sonimen, Tropium and Zetran. It was patented in 1958 and approved for use in the United States starting in 1960, having been discovered by pure serendipity.
Its discoverer was Leo Sternbach in the mid-1950s, seeing that had a great relaxing capacity on laboratory animals Subsequently, new benzodiazepines were synthesized, whose popularity increased until the 1970s and, at the same time, laying the foundations of the problem of addiction to laboratory drugs.
Like other benzodiazepines, chlordiazepoxide is mainly used to treat problems associated with anxiety, thanks to the fact that the drug has amnestic, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, sedative and relaxing properties.
Mechanism of action
Chlordiazepoxide is believed to act on GABA type A receptors, producing a prolonged inhibitory effect. Thus, it blocks the increase in abnormal electrical activity in the brain coming from the brain stem.
It has been seen that it intervenes on the limbic system, which could explain the emotional effects that this drug has, fundamentally a decrease in fear and aggression.
Administration
The presentation of this drug comes in the form of pills or tablets that are consumed orally The presentations of this benzodiazepine are 5 mg, 10 mg and 25 mg. It is typically taken one to four times a day and can be consumed with or without food. Because chlordiazepoxide can be addictive, you should not consume more doses than what has been prescribed by the professional.
Indications: what is it used for?
The use of chlordiazepoxide is indicated for short periods of time, between 2 and 4 weeks. As we have already indicated, it has anxiolytic and sedative properties. It is because of that Its use is fundamentally aimed at the treatment of anxiety especially if it is so serious that it makes it difficult to lead a normal life, with high levels of distress.
Fundamentally, this drug is used for anxiety, insomnia and panic disorder problems, although it is also used in substance withdrawal, being especially useful in alcohol withdrawal syndrome and also in opiate withdrawal. Also has been shown to be useful in certain medical conditions, especially related to gastrointestinal problems such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Side effects
As with all drugs, chlordiazepoxide can cause the appearance of a whole list of side effects, some of them due to an overdose of the medication and others due to allergies. Chlordiazepoxide overdose is a medical emergency and requires immediate assistance of health personnel. The antidote used to treat this overdose is flumazenil, which is a benzodiazepine antagonist.
Among the most common adverse effects with a lower degree of clinical concern are:
If you are under treatment with this drug, You should call the doctor or psychiatrist who prescribed it if you suffer from any of the following symptoms:
Between the most serious side effects s, which will require going to the health professional as quickly as possible, are:
Contraindications
The use of this drug should be avoided in those people who suffer from one or more of the following medical problems:
Myasthenia gravis.
Acute intoxication by alcohol, narcotics or other psychoactive substances.
Ataxia.
Glaucoma.
Severe hypoventilation.
Hepatitis.
Hepatic cirrhosis.
Severe sleep apnea.
Hypersensitivity/allergy to benzodiazepines.
Precautions for use
Treatment with chlordiazepoxide should not exceed four weeks of administration given that there is a high risk of generating tolerance and dependence.
Benzodiazepines should not be abandoned abruptly, given that these types of drugs, compared to other medications, are twice as likely to cause, after discontinuation, a reappearance of the treated symptoms. Also Withdrawal syndrome may occur, characterized by irritability, drowsiness, and anxiety
It should be taken into account that chlordiazepoxide has interactions with other substances: vitamins, nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, antihistamines, medications for depression, anticonvulsants, antiparkinsonians, asthma remedies, muscle relaxants, oral contraceptives, sleeping pills, cimetidine, digoxin, disulfiram , fluoxetine, isoniazid, ketoconazole, levodopa, metropolol, propranolol, rifampicin, theophylline, valproic acid and alcohol, enhancing its depressant effect on the central nervous system.
If you have suffered from glaucoma, kidney, heart or liver failure, the doctor/psychiatrist should be informed so that other more appropriate treatment options can be considered. If there is no other option, it is recommended that daily doses be between 5 and 10 mg.
Its use is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding Administered in late stages of pregnancy, it can cause hypothermia, hypotonia and respiratory depression in the baby. Chlordiazepoxide can be secreted through breast milk.
It should be said that research on the effects of this drug during pregnancy is limited, therefore, the consumption of chlordiazepoxide should be done only if the benefits outweigh the risks. Although there are those who suggest that this drug, along with diazepam, is one of the safest benzodiazepines to be used in pregnant women, there are multiple risks: abortion, malformations, developmental delay, cancer, mutations and functional deficits.
Due to its sedative effects, it is not advisable to operate heavy machinery or drive any vehicle after taking this drug. There may be a decrease in reaction, which may contribute to a traffic accident.
