Oxazepam is a benzodiazepine with a short-to-intermediate action that is used to treat insomnia and anxiety and manage symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Since the 1960s, medication has been used in clinical medicine.
Oxazepam is a metabolite or breakdown product of other benzodiazepines such as Diazepam (Valium), Prazepam, and Temazepam. The medication has anxiolytic, moderate amnesic, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, sedative, and skeletal muscle relaxant effects.
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Oxazepam is classed as a Schedule IV substance in the United States and a Class C drug in the United Kingdom due to its addictive potential. If you or a loved one abuses this medication, it is potentially illegal and carries several serious health risks.
Oxazepam exists in tablet form for oral consumption.
Oxazepam is also sold under the brand names Opamox, Noripam, Ox-Pam, Alepam, Murelax, Medopam, Serax, Purata, and Serapa in some countries (primarily English-speaking ones).
Oxazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine family of medications. Oxazepam can be used to alleviate anxiety and alcohol withdrawal in the short term.
Experts aren’t sure how oxazepam works, but they suspect it has an effect because of its propensity to bind tightly to the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex, which increases GABA affinity (a neurotransmitter that blocks impulses between nerve cells in the brain). Anxiety, mood problems, seizure disorders, and pain have all been linked to low GABA levels. GABA-boosting medications provide a calming and sedative effect.
Addiction is a brain disorder characterised by compulsive participation in specific rewarding behaviours despite any negative repercussions.
The use of oxazepam (motivated by compulsion rather than in accordance with any doctor’s orders) is the behaviour associated with oxazepam addiction in particular.
If you have an Oxazepam addiction, you are unable to operate normally without it. When you don’t take a new dose, this frequently manifests itself in the form of withdrawal symptoms.
The first symptom of addiction is usually a rise in drug tolerance, which leads to you taking higher and higher dosages of the drug only to get the desired results. Please notify your doctor right away if you find yourself taking more Oxazepam than prescribed, or contact Compare Rehab UK to schedule an intervention.
Self-medicating or combining anti-anxiety medicines like Oxazepam with other substances is common among people with co-occurring disorders. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and major depressive disorder are examples of co-occurring disorders.
Professionals with high-stress occupations are more likely to abuse Oxazepam because they frequently suffer from work-related anxiety, insomnia, or physical stress. In reality, everybody prescribed Oxazepam runs the danger of misusing it and getting addicted, which is why it is typically reserved for situations where other types of treatment are ineffective or unavailable.
Other elements that may contribute to Oxazepam addiction are:
According to experts, your genetic makeup plays a significant role in developing an addiction to drugs like benzodiazepines. If you have a family history of benzodiazepine abuse or another type of addiction, you run a substantially increased risk of developing drug dependence while taking Oxazepam.
Individuals who live in an environment where they have easier access to benzodiazepines – or who are regularly surrounded by others who have an addiction – are also more prone to engage in similar behaviours, according to experts.
Oxazepam is a highly addictive benzodiazepine.
Oxazepam is only prescribed for treating acute anxiety for a brief time, usually two to four weeks. Long-term use of the medicine can quickly increase tolerance, which can lead to physical dependency and possibly addiction.
Because Oxazepam is only prescribed for short-term usage, a patient’s supply of pills may run out sooner than expected, causing the treated condition to worsen. If the patient still needs the drug to treat chronic anxiety or insomnia, they may take it for longer than prescribed, resulting in tolerance and addiction.
Physical dependence can rapidly develop when Oxazepam is used, whether on a prescription or recreationally. This will happen as your body adjusts to the drug’s continuous use, resulting in a change in the chemical structure of your brain. GABA neurons, for example, will be impacted by Oxazepam’s active components and will begin to down-regulate. Additionally, as the rest of your body develops accustomed to the medicine’s negative effects, your liver will adapt to metabolising the drug faster. These physiological changes will eventually lead to a rise in tolerance, requiring greater Oxazepam doses to produce the desired effect of the medicine.
Oxazepam addiction develops as a result of this rise in tolerance and physical adaptation. If you try to quit after being addicted, you will experience withdrawal symptoms.
It can be difficult to spot cases of addiction because of the stigma surrounding addiction and substance abuse, the shame many addicts feel and the risks to their personal and professional lives. People with the condition often go to great lengths to conceal their circumstances.
Regular intoxication (with symptoms such as slurred speech, decreased motor control, and drowsiness), higher degrees of intoxication when ingesting alcohol or other substances of abuse, being preoccupied with obtaining and using oxazepam, “doctor shopping” (visiting multiple doctors to get prescriptions), the emergence of withdrawal symptoms following cessation of usage, and long-term symptoms such as cognitive impairment, anxiety, and insomnia are all indicators of addiction.
If oxazepam has been taken for a long time or at higher-than-recommended dosages and is abruptly withdrawn, withdrawal symptoms (tremor, stomach and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, and rarely seizures) may develop; discontinue carefully on a doctor’s advice.
Mild withdrawal effects, such as poor mood or sleeplessness, may occur even after a regular dose if oxazepam is abruptly stopped. Taper off the oxazepam gradually.
If you’re between the ages of 18 and 60, don’t take any other medications, and don’t have any other medical issues, you’re more likely to suffer the following adverse effects:
Mild sleepiness is frequent during the first few days of oxazepam treatment. However, this is usually transient, and a dosage reduction may be necessary. To avoid oversedation, use the least effective dose for the shortest time possible. If someone is impacted, they should not drive, operate machinery, or perform activities that demand mental attention. Because alcohol can amplify these effects, it should be avoided.
Other typical adverse effects include dizziness, headaches, and vertigo.
Oxazepam can induce a reduction in blood pressure in certain people, especially when they go from laying down or sitting to standing. This may increase the likelihood of a person falling. This impact is more likely to occur in the elderly.
Rashes, nausea, fatigue, oedema, slurred speech, tremor, and hepatic and sexual dysfunction are rare adverse effects, and oxazepam dosage may need to be lowered. Blood testing and liver function tests may be required regularly.
Because it has been linked to an increased risk of birth abnormalities, oxycodone should not be used during pregnancy. Breastfeeding and oxazepam are incompatible.
Over-excitation, anxiety, hallucinations, insomnia, and wrath have been described as paradoxical effects, usually in patients with other mental health issues. If any of these occur, get medical help.
Some people, such as those with glaucoma, pulmonary disease, kidney or liver disease, may not be able to take it.
Oxazepam is addicting and can lead to addiction. Before prescribing, consider the person’s medical condition and other medications they’re taking, as well as the risk of abuse, overuse, and addiction. People with a history of substance misuse or addiction disorders may need extra care. Potential drug seekers should be kept away from legitimate oxazepam supplies.
Short-acting, taking it three or four times a day may be necessary.
May interact with a variety of other medications, including opioids and other drugs that cause sedation. When taking benzodiazepines alongside opioids, exercise caution.
When taken with oxazepam, medicines that interact with it may reduce its effect, modify how long it works or cause adverse effects. When two medications interact, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stop taking one of them. However, it can sometimes be the case. Consult your doctor about how to handle drug interactions.
The following are examples of drugs that may interact with oxazepam:
Alcohol should be avoided when taking oxazepam because it can aggravate adverse effects like sleepiness and dizziness
This is not an exhaustive list as it only contains common drugs that may interact with oxazepam. A complete list of interactions can be found in the oxazepam prescribing instructions.
Oxazepam, like other benzodiazepines, is commonly used to treat a variety of mental health concerns. As a result, it is regularly discovered in dual diagnosis situations (whereby substance abuse disorders and other mental disorders exist simultaneously). Addiction therapy is often more challenging when a person has a dual diagnosis and usually requires professional care.
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Oxazepam, like other benzodiazepines, is a popular drug among teenagers and young adults due to its low cost and widespread availability. If you or someone you know is misusing or addicted to oxazepam, speak with an addiction specialist right away to see what you can do to assist.
Recovering from drug addiction it’s not an easy journey. Fortunately, there are currently a variety of public and private oxazepam addiction treatment alternatives available throughout the United Kingdom. Detoxification/withdrawal (under expert supervision) and therapy are usually the two steps of addiction treatment.
Each treatment centre may have its own approach to detoxification, and what works for one patient may not work for another. For example, some patients may be required to taper down before beginning detox, while others may be unable to receive certain medications during detox.
If you’re considering going through oxazepam detox, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about exactly what to expect and what will be expected of you so that no unpleasant surprises derail your detox and recovery.
All addiction treatment is based on therapy. Although detoxification removes substances of abuse from an individual’s system and thus addresses the immediate challenge of physical dependence, therapy is the only way to address the longer-term and deeper psychological issues that led to substance abuse and addiction in the first place. Therapy can provide patients with psychological defence mechanisms against relapse and give them an understanding of what led to addiction and the behaviours that led to it. Addiction therapy is available in various styles and approaches, as well as in one-on-one and group settings.
Some examples of therapies used in Oxazepam treatments include:
CBT is highly successful because it focuses on modifying expectations, thinking, and behaviours to assist a recovering addict in coping with triggers and life stressors that commonly lead to drug misuse. This type of therapy will also address the underlying behavioural and emotional issues that led to the addict’s drug abuse in the first place. It will also teach you how to balance and maintain your recovery process.
The 12-step programme is a type of addiction treatment in which patients are given a set of 12 stages to follow to recover from their addiction. These steps are meant to make the transition from acceptance to repairing your interpersonal relationships as smooth as possible.
Relapse prevention is crucial to successful recovery (though if you relapse, don’t despair: it doesn’t imply you’ve failed and will inevitably revert to addiction). Still, it’s a lifelong process that takes constant devotion.
Attending self-help groups and counselling can also help, especially during the first year or two of your recovery from addiction. Therapy, such as that provided in rehab, will provide you with psychological defence mechanisms and avoidance tools that will be useful for the rest of your life. In the meantime, attending self-help groups and counselling can also help.
BACP accredited psychotherapist with 16 years experience working in mental health specialising in psychodynamic person-centred therapies treating those with a range of mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, OCD and Addiction.
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