oxazepam
Oxazepam is used to treat short-term anxiety, and it also works well to prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It comes as a capsule that you take 3 or 4 times a day. The most common side effects of oxazepam include drowsiness, dizziness, headache, and vertigo. The brand name version is no longer available, but there's a lower-cost generic version.
What is Oxazepam?
What is Oxazepam used for?
Anxiety
Alcohol withdrawal
How Oxazepam works
Oxazepam is a benzodiazepine. It slows down activity in your brain to help control anxiety and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
Drug Facts
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What are the risks and warnings for Oxazepam?
Oxazepam can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Extreme sleepiness, slowed breathing, coma, and death
Risk factors: Taking oxazepam with opioids
Combining oxazepam with pain medications called opioids can cause a life-threatening interaction that can cause you to be extremely sleepy or stop breathing. This can lead to coma or death. Don't combine oxazepam with opioids unless you're under close supervision of a healthcare provider. Get emergency help if you feel like you are having trouble breathing after taking oxazepam. Educate those around to keep an eye out for these side effects as well.
Potential for misuse, dependence, and withdrawal
Risk factors: History of substance misuse | Taking with alcohol or illicit drugs | Taking oxazepam for a long time | Stopping oxazepam suddenly
Oxazepam is a controlled medication because there's a high risk for addiction and misuse. In some cases, this can lead to overdose and death. Your body can also become dependent on the medication, even if you're taking it as exactly as directed. Your provider will help prevent these risks by prescribing you the lowest dose of oxazepam for the shortest time needed to treat your symptoms.
Talk to your provider before stopping this medication. Suddenly stopping the medication can lead to serious medical problems, including seizures. If you need to stop, your provider can help slowly lower your dose over time to prevent withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea and diarrhea. Though rare, some people have experienced withdrawal symptoms that lasted for weeks to more than a year.
Harm to babies during pregnancy and after delivery
Risk factors: Taking oxazepam while pregnant or breastfeeding
Let your provider know if you're pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant, or breastfeeding. According to the CDC, babies born to mothers who took oxazepam or other benzodiazepines during pregnancy are only at a slightly higher risk of developing birth defects than those born to mothers who didn't. But these babies are in danger of having a benzodiazepine withdrawal around the time of birth. Also, oxazepam can pass into breast milk, which can lead to your baby having sleepiness, feeding problems, and problems with growth.
What are the side effects of Oxazepam?
Common Side Effects
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Vertigo, feeling like the room is spinning
- Headache
Other Side Effects
- Skin rash
- Nausea
- Swelling (edema)
- Slurred speech
- Tremors, restlessness
- Change in sex drive
- Lack of energy
Serious Side Effects
- Severe sedation: overly sleepy, hard to wake up, slowed or shallow breathing
Source:Â DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Black, tarry stools
chills
clay-colored stools
dark urine
dizziness
fainting
fever with or without chills
headache
itching or rash
light-colored stools
loss of appetite
painful or difficult urination
shakiness and unsteady walk
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
slurred speech
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
stomach pain
swelling
swollen glands
trouble breathing
unpleasant breath odor
unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes or skin
Incidence not known
Being forgetful
confusion about identity, place, and time
cough or hoarseness
decreased awareness or responsiveness
false or unusual sense of well-being
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
hallucinations
loss of bladder control
loss of memory
lower back or side pain
nightmares
pale skin
problems with memory
severe sleepiness
trouble sleeping
unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Blurred vision
change in consciousness
confusion
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
drowsiness
loss of consciousness
loss of strength or energy
muscle pain or weakness
shakiness and unsteady walk
sweating
unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Rare
Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
inability to have or keep an erection
increased in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
increased interest in sexual intercourse
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin
sensation of spinning
Incidence not known
Double vision
menstrual changes
seeing double
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Oxazepam
Pros
Lower-cost generic available
One of the first-choice treatment options for alcohol withdrawal
Can be taken by children as young as 6 years old (although you need to work with your child's provider for dosing if they're younger than 12)
A possible option for people with liver problems
Cons
Can cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking oxazepam suddenly
Not known if it's safe to take long-term (e.g., more than 4 months)
Can cause low blood pressure, so might not be safe in older adults with heart problems
Usually taken multiple times a day
Pharmacist tips for Oxazepam
For anxiety, use oxazepam for the shortest amount of time possible to treat your symptoms. It's not meant for long-term use and hasn't been studied for use longer than 4 months.
If you've been taking oxazepam every day for a while, talk to your provider before stopping the medication. Your body can become dependent on the medication and your provider might want you to lower your dose slowly over time before stopping it.
Store this medication in a safe place. Get medical help or call the poison control center (1-800-222-1222) right away if you suspect an overdose or a child accidentally takes it.
Common side effects of oxazepam include sleepiness and difficulty concentrating. Don't drive or doing anything that requires a lot of focus until you know how oxazepam affects you.
Get medical help right away if you experience shallow or slowed breathing. Tell friends and family how to watch for signs of shallow breathing and over sedation (if they can't wake you up) and to seek medical help if it happens.
Frequently asked questions about Oxazepam
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Oxazepam dosage forms
Typical dosing for Oxazepam
The typical dose ranges from 10 mg to 30 mg by mouth 3 or 4 times a day, depending on your symptoms, your health conditions, and how you respond to the treatment.
Interactions between Oxazepam and other drugs
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Flumazenil
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alfentanil
- Alprazolam
- Amobarbital
- Benzhydrocodone
- Bromazepam
- Bromopride
- Buprenorphine
- Butabarbital
- Butalbital
- Butorphanol
- Calcium Oxybate
- Cannabidiol
- Carbinoxamine
- Carisoprodol
- Cetirizine
- Chloral Hydrate
- Chlorzoxazone
- Clobazam
- Codeine
- Dantrolene
- Dihydrocodeine
- Doxylamine
- Esketamine
- Ethchlorvynol
- Fentanyl
- Flibanserin
- Fospropofol
- Gabapentin
- Gabapentin Enacarbil
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Ketamine
- Lemborexant
- Levocetirizine
- Levorphanol
- Lofexidine
- Loxapine
- Magnesium Oxybate
- Meclizine
- Meperidine
- Mephenesin
- Mephobarbital
- Meprobamate
- Metaxalone
- Methadone
- Methocarbamol
- Methohexital
- Metoclopramide
- Midazolam
- Mirtazapine
- Morphine
- Morphine Sulfate Liposome
- Nalbuphine
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Pentazocine
- Pentobarbital
- Periciazine
- Phenobarbital
- Potassium Oxybate
- Pregabalin
- Primidone
- Propofol
- Remimazolam
- Scopolamine
- Secobarbital
- Sodium Oxybate
- Sufentanil
- Tapentadol
- Thiopental
- Tramadol
- Trazodone
- Zolpidem
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Rifapentine
- St John's Wort
- Theophylline
How much does Oxazepam cost?
Oxazepam contraindications
During psychosis episodes
What are alternatives to Oxazepam?
Oxazepam images
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References
Best studies we foundActavis Pharma, Inc. (2023). Oxazepam capsule, gelatin coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
Bayard, M., et al. (2004). Alcohol withdrawal syndrome. American Family Physician.
Bounds, C. G., et al. (2023). Benzodiazepines. StatPearls.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Pregnant women report taking medicines for anxiety and other mental health conditions.
Griffin, C. E., 3rd, et al. (2013). Benzodiazepine pharmacology and central nervous system-mediated effects. Ochsner Journal.
Hallare, J., et al. (2023). Half life. StatPearls.
MedlinePlus. (n.d.). Psychotic disorders.
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