Substance abuse programs can provide you with the structure and support you need to face and overcome your addiction. Alcohol is a depressant, and chronic exposure to it drastically slows down brain functioning and the way the nervous system communicates with the rest of the body. With time, the nervous system adapts to the state of being chemically subdued by the alcohol, and the sudden deprivation of alcohol throws dozens of systems connected to the central nervous system into disarray. Some people should not receive Librium at all, such as pregnant women and people who have a high chance of developing liver failure.
Although rare, Librium abuse can also potentially cause damage to the liver. Mixing it with alcohol may increase the risk of experiencing toxic effects. Mixing alcohol with Librium can cause overdose faster than when Librium is taken alone. This can have dangerous effects on breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Abusing Librium for reasons other than prescribed and mixing it with alcohol is a serious problem.
- The sedative effects of alcohol paired with Librium can compound, leading to a dangerous decrease in vital body functions.
- Abusing Librium by taking large or multiple doses can lead to overdose.
- Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially drowsiness.
- Librium slows down the user’s central nervous system and as a result, chronic misuse of the drug can have dangerous health consequences.
Combining Librium with other drugs, such as alcohol or Heroin, increases the odds of fatally overdosing. At high doses or when combined with other central nervous system depressants, Librium’s sedative effect can also depress lung function to the point of failure, which can be fatal. Many people best drug addiction treatment centers of 2023 who abuse Librium do not realize they’re at risk for developing an addiction. Those with severe or complicated symptoms should be referred to the nearest emergency department for inpatient hospitalization. Shannon Weir, RN is the Chief Nursing Officer at Gallus Medical Detox Centers.
It may be rather tough for people to stay sober due to the strong need to drink again. There are a lot of psychological and physiological aspects that go into cravings, so it’s important to have supportive treatments and coping mechanisms to help with this difficult part of withdrawal. One of the most uncomfortable and all-encompassing side effects of alcohol withdrawal is anxiety. Increased anxiety, agitation, and nervousness may result from neurotransmitter imbalances that occur as the brain readjusts to life without alcohol. Anxiety management is essential during withdrawal since severe instances may make it very difficult to stay sober.
For hospitalized patients with illness or comorbidities on general medical or surgical wards, we rated applicability as low. Table Table22 describes the risk of bias assessment using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Most studies had some type of bias that was rated as unclear or high risk of bias, including bias related to randomization and blinding. Reporting bias was generally rated as low except for the study by Weaver which for the outcome understanding alcohol and anger’s connection of total benzodiazepine appeared to report only on the subset of patients that had data on CIWA-Ar scores. Several studies were also rated as high risk of bias for the outcomes of duration of treatment and total benzodiazepine given because of a design bias [19–21]. These studies included a large proportion of low-risk patients that did not initially have symptoms of withdrawal and did not go on to develop symptoms of withdrawal.
Recognizing A Librium Addiction
Another factor that increases the likelihood of addiction is the length of time you take it. It will, of course, be easier to wean off if you have a support structure in place, such as therapy. For dichotomous outcomes such as delirium, we calculated odds ratios when sufficient data was available. For continuous variables, we used means and standard deviations to calculate mean differences in outcomes between symptom-triggered groups and fixed dose groups. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata/SE, version 14.2 (StataCorp, College Station, TX). Suddenly stopping this medication may cause serious (possibly fatal) withdrawal, especially if you have used it for a long time or in high doses.
Recognizing Patients at Risk for AUD
Symptoms and side effects can be physical, psychological, and behavioral. Side effects range in severity and can be further broken down into short-term and long-term side effects. Mixing Librium with other substances can result in undesirable side effects, some of which can be dangerous.
Mixing Librium and Alcohol: Can You Drink on Librium?
However, for those who struggle with the disease of addiction and substance use disorders (SUD), benzos can be deadly. If this drug is used for an extended period of time, lab and/or medical tests (such as liver function, complete blood count) may be done while you are taking this medication. Newborn babies of mothers who use this medication late in pregnancy may have symptoms such as slow/shallow breathing, nonstop crying, shaking, or trouble feeding. If you become pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this medication.
Speak with a Recovery Advocate today to talk about your treatment options. Librium, being a benzodiazepine, works by increasing the levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). By decreasing neuronal excitability and increasing GABAergic activity, the CNS can relax, which has sedative, muscle-relaxing, and anxiolytic effects. Librium and alcohol should not be mixed, which is why you should avoid drinking alcohol for as long as you are taking the medication. Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness.
Side Effects
For the outcomes of mean difference in total benzodiazepine and mean difference in duration of detoxification, the overall strength of evidence was rated moderate. For most components of strength of evidence such as directness, consistency, and precision, the studies rated well. For the component of study limitations, randomized controlled studies start as high strength of evidence. We downgraded these to moderate strength for these outcomes based on the design limitation related to enrolling low-risk patients without symptoms of withdrawal. For specialized detoxification centers, we rated applicability as high.
Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of chlordiazePOXIDE such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with chlordiazePOXIDE. Do not use more than the recommended dose of chlordiazePOXIDE, and avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medication affects you. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns. When people who regularly drink alcohol suddenly cut down or stop drinking altogether, they enter a complicated psychological and physiological process known as alcohol withdrawal.
Due to their potency and high possibility for fatality, benzos have been involved in a number of high-profile celebrity deaths. Legendary vocalist Whitney Houston and trap artist Lil Peep had benzodiazepines among the substances found in their systems at the time of death. When taken properly and as directed, Librium can help bring peace and calm to the patient’s life.