Librium Addiction And Abuse

Librium Addiction

Like other benzodiazepines, Librium is a habit-forming, psychotropic drug. Users who are prescribed Librium for medical purposes, like to treat insomnia or anxiety, can still develop Librium addiction. Some people start abusing Librium by upping their dosage because they are no longer experiencing the desired effects. Others start using Librium to purposefully get high or to enhance the effects of other drugs. Those with underlying mental conditions are also at a greater risk of becoming addicted to Librium.

When a Librium addiction is forming, a user may exhibit the following behavioral signs:

• Doctor shopping to get more Librium prescriptions.
• Misusing the drug by taking higher dosages than recommended.
• Lying to family members about Librium use.
• Resorting to illegal methods to obtain the drug, such as forging prescriptions.
• Making Librium use the focus of their day.
• Neglecting normal responsibilities or relationships.
• Wanting to quit taking Librium but being unable to do so.
• Struggling financially due to the cost of getting Librium.
• Confusion.
• Restlessness.
• Irritability.
• A need for higher doses to feel the effects of Librium (tolerance).
• Sweating, rapid heart rate, tremors, and other symptoms when trying to stop the drug.

Quitting Librium is not just difficult; without professional help, it can also be dangerous. When people abuse Librium over a long period of time, their neural pathways change as their brain adjusts to the constant presence of the drug. The user becomes physically dependent on Librium to feel normal and function properly. After a dependence has developed, abruptly ending use of Librium will cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Even taking the prescribed dosage of Librium for just six to eight weeks can result in withdrawal. The withdrawal process can be very uncomfortable and is best managed by a medical professional. Even worse, some of the withdrawal symptoms of Librium can be dangerous or even deadly.

Understanding Librium (Chlordiazepoxide)

Librium is the brand name of chlordiazepoxide. It was the first benzodiazepine to be synthesized, hitting the market in the 1950s. Librium is a schedule IV regulated drug as classified by the Controlled Substances Act. The drug is primarily used as a short-term remedy to treat anxiety disorders and is also used to treat symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal and relax patients before surgery. Like other benzos, Librium may be used to treat insomnia, muscle tension, seizures, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

The drug directly affects the brain and central nervous system, producing a sense of calm in the user. It works by enhancing the effects of GABA, a neurotransmitter in the body. Librium is a white, crystalline substance that comes in multicolored capsules. The drug comes in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 25 mg strengths. It is typically swallowed in capsule form. The contents of the capsule can also be snorted or mixed with water and injected, two methods that could be used by an individual struggling with Librium addiction and abuse.

The half-life of Librium is 5 to 30 hours, meaning it straddles the line between being an intermediate and a long-acting benzodiazepine. It can take several hours to feel the full effects of Librium.

How Long Do Benzos Stay In The Body?
Brands	Halcion	Xanax	Librium
Length Of Action	Short-acting	Intermediate	Long-acting
Time	2-4 hours	6-12 hours	5-30 hours

Street Names For Librium

Street names for Librium include:

• Downers
• Tranqs
• Bennies
• Benzos
• L
• Blue Bombs
• Normies

Librium Addiction And Abuse: Side Effects

Librium causes the user to feel very relaxed, which is the primary reason people abuse the drug. Some who suffer from anxiety disorders or insomnia abuse Librium for its calming effects.

Taking higher and more frequent doses than what’s prescribed — often multiple times the prescribed dosage — is considered abuse of Librium. Using the drug without a prescription is also substance abuse. Recreational users take Librium to achieve a high. They often procure the drug from the street, from the internet, or from doctor shopping. Recreational Librium users tend to take much higher doses than what’s commonly prescribed by doctors. Because Librium has a reputation for being less strong than most Benzos, people often take it in combination with other drugs to boost its effects. This occurs despite the high risk of blacking out and the potential of fatal respiratory failure. The drug is also used to curb the effects of harder drugs, like cocaine.

Combining Librium with other drugs is dangerous, as it increases the risk of overdose. Symptoms of Librium overdose include:

• Blacking out
• Extreme drowsiness
• Slowed reflexes
• Confusion
• Low blood pressure
• Coma

Overdosing on Librium can be fatal. If you are worried that an overdose is occurring in others or yourself, seek medical attention immediately.

Common Librium Drug Combinations

Using multiple drugs at the same time is called polydrug use. It is estimated that 80% of benzodiazepine abuse is part of a greater polydrug abuse cycle. Librium is commonly combined with alcohol, opioids, and cocaine. Users often start taking Librium with alcohol once a tolerance has developed and the drug’s effects are no longer as potent. When alcohol and Librium are mixed, the depressive effects of both drugs are intensified; this can produce deep sedation and stupor. Benzodiazepines are commonly taken with opioids, such as heroin, because they enhance their euphoric effects. Individuals who use Librium with cocaine sometimes use the former to temper the effects of the latter.

People who struggle with Librium addiction and abuse and choose to combine Librium with other drugs are more likely to experience adverse side effects, such as respiratory depression, blackouts, and extreme sedation. Mixing Librium with other drugs also increases the chance of overdose, which can be fatal.

Librium Abuse Statistics

Librium Addiction Treatment

Librium addiction and abuse can be difficult to beat, but you don’t have to do it on your own. Treatment providers are available to help all across the country. For more information on Librium addiction treatment, contact a treatment provider today.