The generic form of Librium is still available around the world, though the brand name has been discontinued in the US. Chlordiazepoxide or Librium tapering done correctly can help you resolve lingering adverse drug effects. The benzo crisis has spiraled out of control, especially during and after the recent pandemic. The FDA recently required drug companies to add stronger warnings to benzodiazepine labels so consumers are more fully made aware of the dangers of drugs such as Librium (chlordiazepoxide).23,24,34
Still suffering? We can help.
Alternative to Meds has been delivering expert benzo tapering, weaning, and titration for over 17 years. We have published evidence regarding the wonderful success of our clients. Long-term success is much different than carelessly tapering Librium, leaving someone in a desperate state, and sending the insurance company the bill. We focus on orthomolecular medicine, full body cleansing, investigating underlying genetic and nutritional components, and providing the opportunity to sort through traumas and other life events. These may be the true culprits of anxiety, sleeplessness, and OCD. Our goals is to balance a person on all levels so that they can regain natural mental health.
15 Years Experience by Professionals Who Understand Your Journey.
Proper Lithium tapering requires specialized treatment performed strategically and compassionately by an experienced team under medical supervision and oversight — our specialty.
Do not try tapering from Librium on your own. Tapering from any benzodiazepine needs careful monitoring and oversight by your medical practitioner or team. None of the below information is intended as medical advice but covers points to open a discussion with your licensed prescriber or whoever you have chosen to assist your Librium tapering.
Guidelines for Librium tapering include:
Inpatient treatment is recommended over outpatient.
At the very least work with a prescriber who you trust and who is sympathetic to your situation.
Gradual cessation — speak to your prescriber about a 5% to 25% reduction, which may be a good starting point, adjusted for individual sensitivity.11
Your prescriber will want to allow adequate time between dose reductions to stabilize before the next cut.15,16
Strategies such as cross-tapering or bridge medications may help bridge over difficulties in some cases, so speak to your prescribing physician about these options.
Modify the diet.27
CBT, daily exercise, yoga, Qi Gong, and other relaxation therapies.28-30
Get a sound sleep.31,32
It is advised to learn in a general sense what withdrawals may be expected before you begin Librium tapering.1,11-16
Work closely with your prescriber or caregiver so that changes that occur during Librium tapering can be addressed in a timely manner if needed.
Each person is a unique individual with different circumstances of age, general health, length of time on Librium, dosage, quality of diet, symptom profile, and many other factors. While there is no single cookie-cutter approach to tapering off Librium, our best recommendation is for inpatient Librium tapering in a closely monitored setting. With guidance and careful support, the timeline is generally suggested on average to be 8 to 12 weeks inpatient. For safety and other reasons, longer timelines may be required in an outpatient setting.
Work With Trained Professionals
Working with a prescriber is recommended because the dosages will need to be adjusted to smaller increments as the taper progresses. If withdrawals become too harsh the dosage may temporarily need to be raised to allow stabilization of symptoms. Then the taper can proceed again at a slower pace. Homeopathic dose reductions (extremely diluted) may be recommended for gently finishing a Librium taper, to help make the experience much more tolerable.25
For example, your prescriber may recommend a cut of 5%, 10% or even 25% as a starting point. However, leaving adequate time to stabilize before further cuts are made is of utmost importance. Your physician may advise leaving each dose unchanged for several weeks to see how the change is tolerated, or even for several months if needed before the next adjustment is introduced.26
Cross-tapering, Bridge Medications
At Alternative to Meds, cross-tapering, bridge medications, and other strategies can be used to ease a particularly difficult point. For example, crossing over to another drug may lessen symptoms, so tapering can be comfortably continued. The temporary use of adjunctive medications can also play a role in easing symptoms where a difficult impasse is reached. Librium tapering, as with all benzodiazepines, can be more complex than is easily managed on your own. If inpatient help is not available to you, at the very least find a physician who is familiar with benzodiazepine tapering to assist you in an outpatient setting. There is a resource to find outpatient help by geographical location at a website called IMMH.org. There you will find integrative physicians who are specialists in their field and may be able to provide the careful oversight you need for getting off Librium safely.
What is Librium?
Librium is the very first benzodiazepine ever developed. Librium has been on the market in the US since 1960 and is currently classified with all other benzodiazepines as Schedule IV drugs. These are drugs that have medical uses but because of their potential for abuse and addiction, are governed by penalties under those listed for Schedule I drugs, such as heroin and methamphetamines.33
The rise in popularity of Librium was colossal as the drug was seen as something of a new miracle pill for “almost anything that ails ya.” It enjoyed unbridled success until reports began to accumulate concerning its highly addictive properties and side effects. Now it is broadly known that gradually stopping Librium is the safest method to get off Librium without suffering the now legendary harsh symptoms with which withdrawal from Librium is associated. The FDA label for Librium advised the drug should not be prescribed for more than 4 months.1
Please note that currently, benzodiazepines as a class of drugs have been recommended to be restricted to 2 to 4 weeks at most.6,7
What is Librium prescribed to treat?
Because of its sedative/hypnotic effects, and because the drug has anticonvulsive properties, Librium is FDA-approved for use during acute alcohol withdrawal and is considered a first-line treatment choice to avoid seizures, hallucinations, and delirium tremens that can occur if alcohol withdrawal is left untreated. When used for several days in this way, Librium tapering is then initiated over a 7-10 day period.5 Librium is also approved as a pre-surgical sedative. Although the label states that stress-related or day-to-day anxiety does not usually require treatment with Librium, it is approved to treat anxiety disorders.1
Restrictions have been placed on prescribing benzodiazepines for long-term use, and stopping Librium is generally advised after a short time frame of use. Librium tapering should be done gradually, not all at once.
Off-label use of Librium has developed for various other conditions, including catatonia and as an add-on medication in the treatment of bipolar, and psychosis, or as an adjuvant to antipsychotics, SSRIs, and SNRIs. Chlordiazepoxide should not be combined with alcohol, opioids, or other benzodiazepines or CNS depressants, due to the augmented risk of over-sedation.8
Symptoms to Expect Coming off Benzodiazepines
Research has indicated that even short-term use of benzodiazepines can cause withdrawal symptoms to emerge on cessation and that these can be particularly harsh and long-lasting after long-term use. Here are some of the reactions that may occur after abrupt withdrawal, especially after long-term use, more commonly in the elderly, and typically to a lesser extent, during controlled and gradual Librium tapering: 11-16
Suicidality
Seizures
Catatonia
Psychoses
Delirium
Intolerance to light, sound
Restlessness, agitation
Fearfulness
Increased startle response
Vertigo
Insomnia, newly emerging or rebound insomnia
Anxiety, rebound anxiety
Concentration problems
Tiredness
Impaired memory
Increased tension and irritability
Panic attacks
Tremors
Convulsions
Akathisia
Abdominal cramps
Sweating
Muscle pain
Muscle cramping
Hyperreflexia, spastic or involuntary contorted motions
Jerking motions
Stiffness
Heart palpitations
Perception changes
Dry-retching, nausea
Weight loss
Anorexia
Headache
Physical and/or psychological dependence
Does Librium Lower Blood Pressure?
Librium is used in acute alcohol withdrawal to lower a racing heart rate and can prevent cardiac damage. Librium also decreases respiration. All benzodiazepines can cause dangerously low blood pressure, hypotension, and respiratory depression, which can lead to coma or death.17
These side effects show the risks of continuing to use Librium and can be avoided by a safe, gradual Librium tapering program.
Can Librium Cause Headaches?
A nationwide study in China was published in 2017 that showed a significant link between migraine headaches and short-acting benzodiazepines, but not long-acting benzos. Librium is generally considered a long-acting benzodiazepine, but studies show that its half-life measurements can vary greatly depending on individual factors. The half-life of Librium ranges from 5 to 30 hours or longer. Other medical issues found linked with migraines were insomnia, sleep disorders, and stroke.18,19
Precursors to Anxiety
Many medical researchers have hoped to shed light on unexplainable symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety that seems unrelated to real-world trauma, threat, or other situational reasons has continued to puzzle practitioners and patients alike. An example of real-world anxiety might be living in a neighborhood where 2 shootings a week occur, which could easily cause a person to feel anxiety, even daily. This person might have also developed trouble falling or staying asleep because of fear of their safety. But there are also patients whose symptoms are not so easy to trace. A student, living in a safe university dorm where security cameras are always on, and many support systems are in place for everyone, even 24/7, is one of many such students who have been “diagnosed” after a 5-minute interview with anxiety disorders, insomnia or some other mental illness and been prescribed a sedative as “treatment.”
Unfortunately, a quick prescription of Librium will most likely not be able to fix the problem, and continuing on a benzodiazepine for more than a couple of weeks is a recipe for potential disaster. Benzodiazepines are well-documented for their harsh adverse effects and potential injuries they can give rise to, especially after long-term use.1,9 So a student in this scenario who was medicated may end up having to take time away from school at some point to get through a Librium tapering program.
Dr. William Walsh, a holistic psychiatrist and Founder of the Walsh Research Institute has said that discovering a connection between common psychiatric conditions and a patient’s nutrition as well as their toxicity levels has changed the way he practices. Now he routinely does preliminary lab tests to determine whether such factors are present, and prefers to treat patients with nutritional therapy as a first-line treatment over psychiatric drugs. Dr. Walsh says in his book, Nutrient Power: Heal Your Biochemistry, Heal Your Brain.3
“Psychiatry has made impressive advances in the past 50 years but needs a new direction. Today’s emphasis on drug medications will not stand the test of time.” ~ Dr. William Walsh, Ph.D., FACN, Founder of Walsh Research Institute
Besides nutritional deficits and unbalanced ratios of certain minerals and vitamins, another common culprit leading to anxiety is heavy metal toxicity. For example, too much copper in the body can occur from taking oral contraceptives, exposure to chemicals and plastics, or other types of exposure to toxicity in today’s world. Copper overload is a precursor leading to many unwanted conditions, such as anxiety, hyperactivity, chronic fatigue, hair loss, and many others.4 There are countless other medical researchers and practicing holistic psychiatrists who have chosen to treat their patients not with numbing drugs — which fix nothing11 and can be injurious — but with vigorous testing that can lead to holistic correction of the actual root cause of the patient’s symptoms.
To continue on with the prescription-drug-as-the-only-treatment model could almost be seen as willful negligence when we have so much superior technology and so many safer, more effective modes of treatment available in modern medicine. But we cannot always blame the doctors, for they were all trained at similar universities, where their curriculum contained very little to none of this research data nor did their largely pharmaceutical-funded universities likely hint at other approaches to treating symptoms of mental distress besides medication.2
BE AWARE: Benzodiazepine tapering SHOULD BE GRADUAL. A person who chooses Librium tapering should not abruptly stop the drug but seek guidance and oversight from a trusted medical practitioner who is familiar with tapering Librium and can offer strategies to soften the expected benzodiazepine withdrawals.1,6,26
Librium Tapering at Alternative to Meds Center
A benzodiazepine can produce many unwanted side effects, in addition to a lack of efficacy for handling a person’s original symptoms. Some of these side effects can escalate quickly, necessitating the need for not only Librium tapering but discovering and addressing the actual causes of the symptoms that the person is experiencing. Though the medical consensus is confident that withdrawal from Librium must be gradual, there is much more that can be learned about how to get off Librium safely without relapse of symptoms. Typically a person will need more than simply cutting the dosage over a week or two as mentioned in the FDA label information.1
Did your physician have your zinc and copper ratios tested, or call for other nutritional and toxicity tests done prior to your being prescribed Librium? 4 Were food allergies tested?20 Were other types of allergies or exposure to molds ever checked? 21 Were nutritional deficiencies tested for and remedied before the prescription for Librium was given? 1,22
So now, we take a step back before rushing headlong into trying to quit Librium while ignoring these potentially still active problems. Before starting the process of tapering Librium, our clients receive a battery of tests, and other assessments, to determine what the most efficient treatment plan will be. With the administration and correction of supplements and IV treatments, removal of toxicity from the body, providing a clean toxin-free and nutrient-dense diet, and other important preliminary actions, clients often respond very quickly with improvements in quality of sleep, a calmer and brighter mood, better appetite, etc. When these changes have become stable, then Librium tapering can begin, always at a gradual pace that is monitored on a daily basis and adjustments made as needed to accomplish getting off Librium without worsening insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, and other potentially harsh side effects.
There is much to understand about how Alternative to Meds Center’s drug cessation programs are administered in our beautiful, well-staffed inpatient facility. The educational components of the program are invaluable for pursuing life-long natural mental health. We very much welcome your call to discuss your situation in detail. Get all your questions answered by one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff about the many benefits of correctly administered, comfortable Librium tapering.
27. Aucoin M, LaChance L, Naidoo U, Remy D, Shekdar T, Sayar N, Cardozo V, Rawana T, Chan I, Cooley K. Diet and Anxiety: A Scoping Review. Nutrients. 2021 Dec 10;13(12):4418. doi: 10.3390/nu13124418. PMID: 34959972; PMCID: PMC8706568. [cited 2023 July 26]
This content has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician.
Dr. Samuel Lee
Dr. Samuel Lee is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in a spiritually-based mental health discipline and integrative approaches. He graduated with an MD at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and did a residency in psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He has also been an inpatient adult psychiatrist at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital and the primary attending geriatric psychiatrist at the Auerbach Inpatient Psychiatric Jewish Home Hospital. In addition, he served as the general adult outpatient psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente. He is board-certified in psychiatry and neurology and has a B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Religion from Pacific Union College. His specialty is in natural healing techniques that promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
Lyle Murphy is the founder of the Alternative to Meds Center, a licensed residential program that helps people overcome dependence on psychiatric medication and addiction issues using holistic and psychotherapeutic methods.
Medical Disclaimer: Nothing on this Website is intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided on the website is intended to encourage, not replace, direct patient-health professional relationships. Always consult with your doctor before altering your medications. Adding nutritional supplements may alter the effect of medication. Any medication changes should be done only after proper evaluation and under medical supervision.
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Inpatient treatment is recommended over outpatient.
This person might have also developed trouble falling or staying asleep because of fear of their safety. But there are also patients whose symptoms are not so easy to trace. A student, living in a safe university dorm where security cameras are always on, and many support systems are in place for everyone, even 24/7, is one of many such students who have been “diagnosed” after a 5-minute interview with anxiety disorders, insomnia or some other mental illness and been prescribed a sedative as “treatment.”
Besides nutritional deficits and unbalanced ratios of certain minerals and vitamins, another common culprit leading to anxiety is heavy metal toxicity. For example, too much copper in the body can occur from taking oral contraceptives, exposure to chemicals and plastics, or other types of exposure to toxicity in today’s world. Copper overload is a precursor leading to many unwanted conditions, such as anxiety, hyperactivity, chronic fatigue, hair loss, and many others.4 There are countless other medical researchers and practicing holistic psychiatrists who have chosen to treat their patients not with numbing drugs — which fix nothing
Typically a person will need more than simply cutting the dosage over a week or two as mentioned in the FDA label information.1
