What is Oxazepam?

Oxazepam is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peens). Oxazepam affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.
Oxazepam is used to treat anxiety disorders or alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Oxazepam may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Oxazepam?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to oxazepam or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), or lorazepam (Ativan).
This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use oxazepam if you are pregnant.
Before taking oxazepam, tell your doctor if you have any breathing problems, glaucoma, porphyria, kidney or liver disease, or a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Do not drink alcohol while taking oxazepam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol.
Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy. They can add to sleepiness caused by oxazepam.
Oxazepam may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Oxazepam should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Oxazepam?

glaucoma
asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other breathing problems
kidney or liver disease
a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior; or
a history of drug or alcohol addiction

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.
Oxazepam can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use oxazepam without your doctor’s consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication.
Oxazepam may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
The sedative effects of oxazepam may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while you are taking oxazepam.

Oxazepam Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Oxazepam?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

confusion
unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger
hyperactivity, agitation, hostility
hallucinations
feeling lightheaded, fainting
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
problems with urination

Less serious side effects may include:

drowsiness, dizziness
amnesia or forgetfulness, trouble concentrating
slurred speech
swelling
headache
skin rash
nausea, vomiting, constipation
irregular menstrual periods; or
loss of interest in sex

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Oxazepam Interactions

What other drugs affect Oxazepam?

Before taking oxazepam, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton)
an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate)
medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), mesoridazine (Serentil), pimozide (Orap), or thioridazine (Mellaril)
narcotic medications such as butorphanol (Stadol), codeine, hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph), naloxone (Narcan), oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet); or
antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Asendin), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft), or trimipramine (Surmontil)

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with oxazepam. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Oxazepam?

Do not drink alcohol while taking oxazepam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol.
Oxazepam can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures or depression). They can add to sleepiness caused by oxazepam.

Oxazepam Dosage

How should I take Oxazepam?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.
Oxazepam should be used for only a short time. Do not take this medication for longer than 4 months without your doctor’s advice.
Oxazepam may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Oxazepam should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
Contact your doctor if this medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your symptoms.
Do not stop using oxazepam suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.
Your symptoms may return when you stop using oxazepam after using it over a long period of time. You may also have seizures or withdrawal symptoms when you stop using oxazepam. Withdrawal symptoms may include tremor, sweating, trouble sleeping, muscle cramps, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior, and seizure (convulsions).
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Store oxazepam at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Benzodiazepines are drugs of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I overdose on Oxazepam?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of oxazepam can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, weakness or tired feeling, muscle weakness, loss of balance or coordination, feeling light-headed, fainting, or coma.

What happens if I miss a dose of Oxazepam?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Sourced from everydayhealth.com

Oxazepam