Lima Memorial Health System Logo
Approximate ER WAIT TIME
5
Lima Memorial eHealth
Careers
Ways to Give

Health Library

Chlordiazepoxide overdose
     
Print-Friendly
Bookmarks

Chlordiazepoxide overdose

Librium overdose

 

Chlordiazepoxide is a prescription medicine used to treat certain anxiety disorders and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Chlordiazepoxide overdose occurs when someone takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medicine. This can be by accident or on purpose.

This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose. If you or someone you are with overdoses, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

 

Chlordiazepoxide can be poisonous in high amounts.

 

Where Found

 

Chlordiazepoxide is found in medicines with these names:

  • Librax
  • Librium

Other medicines may also contain chlordiazepoxide.

 

Symptoms

 

Below are symptoms of a chlordiazepoxide overdose in different parts of the body.

AIRWAYS AND LUNGS

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Shallow breathing

BLADDER AND KIDNEYS

  • Difficulty urinating

EYES, EARS, NOSE, MOUTH, AND THROAT

  • Double vision or blurred vision
  • Rapid side-to-side movement of the eyes (nystagmus)

HEART AND BLOOD

  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Low blood pressure
  • Rapid heartbeat

NERVOUS SYSTEM

  • Drowsiness, stupor, even coma
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Dizziness
  • Feeling lightheaded, fainting
  • Loss of balance or coordination
  • Low body temperature
  • Memory loss
  • Seizures, tremors
  • Weakness,uncoordinated movements

SKIN

  • Bluish-colored lips and fingernails
  • Rash
  • Yellow skin

STOMACH AND INTESTINES

  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea

 

Home Care

 

Seek medical help right away. DO NOT make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to.

 

Before Calling Emergency

 

Have this information ready:

  • The person's age, weight, and condition
  • The name of the medicine, and strength, if known
  • When it was swallowed
  • The amount swallowed
  • If the medicine was prescribed for the person

 

Poison Control

 

Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

 

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

Your provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated.

Tests may include:

  • Blood and urine tests
  • Chest x-ray
  • CT scan (advanced imaging) of the brain for neurologic symptoms
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Treatment that may be done may include:

  • Breathing support, including oxygen, tube through the mouth into the lungs, and breathing machine (ventilator)
  • Fluids through a vein (IV)
  • Laxative
  • Medicines to reverse the effects of the drug and treat symptoms

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

With proper care, full recovery is likely. But people with aplastic anemia (suppression of red blood cell production by the bone marrow), those who develop breathing problems or seizures and subsequent complications, or those who overdose on multiple different substances may not recover fully.

 

 

Open References

References

Aronson JK. Benzodiazepines. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:863-877.

Overbeek DL, Erickson TB. Sedative-hypnotics. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 154.

BACK TO TOPText only

 

        Self Care

         

          Tests for Chlordiazepoxide overdose

           
             

            Review Date: 7/1/2023

            Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

            The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
            © 1997- adam.comAll rights reserved.