Librax is a capsule containing a combination of chlordiazepoxide and clidinium. Chlordiazepoxide is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. Chlordiazepoxide affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.
Clidinium reduces stomach acid and decreases intestinal spasms.
Librax is used to treat stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and intestinal infections.
Librax may also be used for other purposes not listed.
Important information
Do not use Librax if you are allergic to chlordiazepoxide or clidinium, or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), or oxazepam (Serax). Librax can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant.
Before taking Librax, tell your doctor if you have any breathing problems, glaucoma, porphyria, kidney or liver disease, or a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Do not drink alcohol while taking Librax. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol. Librax can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. This medication may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Librax should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
Before taking this medicine
Do not use Librax if you are allergic to chlordiazepoxide or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), or oxazepam (Serax).
Do not take Librax if you have:
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Librax:
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asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other breathing problems;
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open-angle glaucoma;
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myasthenia gravis;
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ulcerative colitis, or a blockage in your intestines;
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kidney or liver disease;
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a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior; or
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a history of drug or alcohol addiction.
Chlordiazepoxide can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use Librax without your doctor"s consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medicine. Chlordiazepoxide and clidinium may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Librax without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
The sedative effects of chlordiazepoxide may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while you are taking Librax.
How should I take Librax?
Take Librax exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from Librax.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Librax is usually taken before meals and at bedtime. Follow your doctor"s instructions.
Chlordiazepoxide may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Librax should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Contact your doctor if this medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your symptoms. Do not stop using Librax suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Benzodiazepines are drugs of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of chlordiazepoxide can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, confusion, muscle weakness, slow or shallow breathing, feeling light-headed, or fainting.
What should I avoid?
Do not drink alcohol while taking Librax. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol. Librax can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Librax side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Librax: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
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confusion;
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depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
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restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck;
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hyperactivity, agitation, hostility;
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hallucinations;
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jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
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urinating less than usual or not at all.
Less serious Librax side effects may include:
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drowsiness, tiredness;
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swelling;
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skin rash;
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blurred vision;
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dry mouth;
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nausea, vomiting, constipation; or
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irregular menstrual periods.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Librax?
Before taking Librax, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by chlordiazepoxide.
Before taking Librax, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
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a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);
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a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
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an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate);
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medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), pimozide (Orap), or thioridazine (Mellaril);
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narcotic medications such as butorphanol (Stadol), codeine, hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph), naloxone (Narcan), oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet); or
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antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Ascendin), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft), or trimipramine (Surmontil).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Librax. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
