A Guide to Librium Withdrawal

Librium, also known by its generic name chlordiazepoxide, is a benzodiazepine that is typically prescribed for alcoholics who suffer from insomnia and anxiety disorders. It can be used in short-term treatments but should not be used long-term because of its potential side effects such as sedation, memory loss, and disorientation. If a person is prescribed Librium, has reached their maximum dosage and discontinues the use of the medication, they can experience Librium withdrawal symptoms.

What Is Withdrawal from Librium?

Librium, like most benzodiazepines, or “benzos,” has been reported to cause severe physical dependence and physical addiction. Often, people will have severe anxiety or seizures when they stop taking Librium and will need to take more of it to feel normal. In some cases, individuals who are addicted to Librium will not be able to quit using the medication until their doctor prescribes a replacement medication that is more tolerable for them or weans them off of it over time.

Signs and Symptoms of Withdrawal

Unfortunately, most of the withdrawal symptoms are similar to those of alcohol withdrawal. This includes anxiety and restlessness, irritability, muscle tension and pain, insomnia, goosebumps, nausea, and vomiting. Withdrawal from benzodiazepines like Librium can also involve the following signs and symptoms.

Grand Mal Seizures

Seizures can be a significant part of benzodiazepine withdrawal. When a person is amid a seizure, they may injure themselves. Seizures most commonly occur when someone abruptly stops taking benzodiazepines like Librium or takes much smaller doses than they have become accustomed to. Seizure risk does tend to decrease after several weeks of abstinence from the drug.

Memory Loss

This is one of the most notable symptoms of withdrawal. When people suddenly stop using benzodiazepines like Librium, their memories can become fuzzy. While this is fairly common for any benzodiazepine withdrawal, it can be even more severe for people who have been on high doses of Librium for an extended period.

Psychosis

People experiencing withdrawal have reported the onset of hallucinations, delusions, and even full-blown psychosis. When a person comes off of Librium, it can take time for their brain chemistry to return to normal. For this reason, they are more prone to these symptoms during withdrawal. If a person has an underlying mental health disorder like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or depression, it is possible that these symptoms could be enhanced by withdrawal.

Emotional Changes

People going through withdrawal report an array of strange and unusual emotions. They may feel exaggerated euphoria, intense depression, rage, anger, or irritability. Some individuals experience confusion, disorientation, and forgetfulness. These emotions can be very difficult for people to cope with when dealing with other withdrawal symptoms simultaneously. In many cases, people will seek out alcohol or benzodiazepines again during this time to stave off their symptoms.

Muscle Weakness and Tension

The symptoms of withdrawal can also involve severe muscle tension and weakness. When someone has taken Librium for a long time, their muscles become accustomed to the drug and depend on it to function correctly. When the body’s system is more balanced and no longer relies on Librium, it is common for people to feel tired or weak.

Heart Palpitations and Irregular Heartbeat

Benzodiazepines like Librium have been known to interfere with the heart rate, making it more difficult for people to regulate their heartbeats. After they stop taking the drug, they can experience palpitations or irregular heartbeat. People dependent on Librium or other benzos may experience these symptoms even during withdrawal.

This is due to a change in neurotransmitter levels in the brain that requires time to stabilize after drug use is reduced or stopped entirely. The heart rate can also be affected by other withdrawal symptoms like high blood pressure and sweating, which can cause palpitations. If you or someone you know is going through withdrawal and experiencing these symptoms, seek medical advice immediately.

Sleep Changes

Sleep disturbances are one of the most common signs of someone withdrawing from a benzodiazepine, especially if this drug has been used for an extended period. Sleep difficulties can last for weeks or months after stopping use and mimic other conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder or insomnia. Withdrawal can also produce insomnia and intense nightmares, especially if the individual has to move or change their sleep habits after quitting the drug.

Anxiety and Panic

A common sign of withdrawal is extreme anxiety, related to other symptoms like panic attacks. This may be because people who have been taking medicine that suppresses anxiety or worry experience a surge in anxiety after they stop taking it. Benzodiazepines like Librium are known for their anti-anxiety effects, so when someone quits taking them but still has high anxiety levels, it may be because of the drug. If a person has these anxiety attacks shortly after withdrawal, it may be hard for them to concentrate and function properly.

Depression

Withdrawal can also affect people’s moods. They may feel depressed because they no longer receive the help needed from the drug, or they might become angry and irritable when they would instead feel happy and content. Withdrawal can produce symptoms like this in people who cannot handle the amount of stress their life is under without the drug. Withdrawal can also bring up some of the same symptoms that someone with depression experiences, such as high levels of anxiety and sadness.

Changes in mood are as a result of how Librium changes the brain’s chemistry. The brain has been used to Librium affecting the dopamine levels, so when the drug is no longer present, it results in depression.

Headaches

As with many other withdrawal symptoms, headaches are one of those that can occur during withdrawal. Because of how muscle tissues in the body are affected by benzodiazepines like Librium, these drugs may also cause headaches. However, if a person suffering from headaches is taking the drug regularly to help with anxiety, they may not feel better when they try to stop using it.

Sleep Issues

Sleep issues can be caused by physical illness or mental health disorders, but they can signify another problem during withdrawal. Many people have difficulty sleeping right after stopping taking a drug like Librium because their brain chemistry is out of balance. Some users report sleeping for long periods or multiple days in a row, even when their bodies don’t need the rest. This is because the drugs used to treat anxiety are still affecting them.

Duration of Withdraw

The duration of withdrawal from Librium depends on the person’s dose. However, it can take anywhere from three weeks to four months or longer for most people to fully recover, especially if they are going through their symptoms without medical help. Benzodiazepines like Librium may be responsible for several physical illnesses, so it’s necessary to work with a medical professional to effectively withdraw from this drug and get your life back on track.

Librium Detox Process

When people try to detox from Librium without medical help, they may not know how long it will take or how difficult their experience will be. Some withdrawal symptoms begin fairly quickly after the user’s last dose and subside just as quickly, but other symptoms may last for more extended periods. For example, acute mental confusion can last for days or even weeks after someone has stopped using Librium regularly.

Most people need to detox from Librium under the supervision of a doctor because they can’t safely stop using the drug without medical care. If a person tries to withdraw from this drug without help, they may begin to experience extreme symptoms like seizures, hallucinations, and delirium. While these symptoms aren’t common while withdrawing from Librium, they can still occur when someone attempts to get off of this medication on their own.

Librium Withdrawal Timeline

The timeline of Librium detox won’t be the same for everyone, but the average time it takes to adjust back to life without a drug like this can last anywhere from two weeks to four months. Librium has a shorter half life than some longer-lasting benzos, so depending on how long you’ve used the drug and at what dosages, you’ll start to experience withdrawal symptoms in about 24 to 48 hours after your last dose.

Tapering

Because stopping Librium cold turkey can cause a potentially fatal grand mal seizure, tapering under close medical supervision is almost always suggested. The best way to wean yourself safely from Librium is to do so in a medical detox facility or residential treatment facility. This way, a medical professional can monitor your symptoms and be sure that you stay safe.

If you can’t stay in a facility and have a strong, capable support system at home who is willing to watch you closely, a doctor may prescribe you decreasing doses of Librium over time, but this approach is only recommended for those who have a very low risk of relapse and who have not been known to attempt to acquire Librium illegally by means such as presenting the same prescription to multiple pharmacies.

Overdose is a real possibility while people take drugs like Librium and other benzos. When a person has been off of Librium for a few days or a week but the withdrawal symptoms are too much to bear, they may take a large dose to help themselves feel better. However, this could result in an overdose as their body may not be used to doses that large. Also, a person may take another drug to combat the symptoms of Librium, but if they aren’t used to the drug or they get it off the street and it’s cut with something dangerous like fentanyl, the client could easily face a life-threatening overdose.

Librium Addiction Treatment

After the Librium has been eliminated from your body and the effects of withdrawal have subsided, you may begin the treatment phase of your recovery. Depending on the severity and duration of your drug use and your home life circumstances. you may start your treatment at an inpatient facility where you will actually live at the treatment center for between 30 and 90 days or even longer depending on your circumstances. This is beneficial because you will focus solely on your recovery by spending your days healing your body and mind.

For people who cannot commit to an inpatient stay, there are intensive outpatient or outpatient programs where you will either come to the treatment center for groups and therapy all day and return home at night, or you will do the opposite where you go to work or school all day, come to the center for groups for several hours at night, and return home to sleep.

Of course, after you have completed treatment, you will be encouraged to attend aftercare programs, such as 12-step meetings, alumni gatherings, and other gatherings where you can build a sober support network outside of your family.

Life without Librium is possible. You can get back on your feet and live a happy life, and we are happy to show you how.