Librium, a benzodiazepine, is used by doctors and psychiatrists to alleviate anxiety caused by alcoholism and acute alcohol withdrawal. It’s also frequently used for treating anxiety disorders outside of the context of alcoholism.
When Librium is used to treat alcohol withdrawals, it frequently includes a psychotherapy component.
After the acute symptoms of alcohol withdrawal have been appropriately treated, the recovering individual may continue using Librium to aid in their sobriety.
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Librium is classified as Class C and anabolic steroids, khat, and other substances. From a legal standpoint, Class C narcotics are the least dangerous. However, when Librium is misused, it can have severe repercussions for the addicted person.
The chemical molecule chlordiazepoxide is marketed under the name Librium, just like the benzodiazepine Alprazolam is marketed under the name Xanax. It does, however, go by other names, such as Mitran, Poxi, and Librelease, to mention a few.
The actual composition of the drug may alter slightly when sold under these various names — all of which are significantly less prevalent than Librium — but the underlying mechanism of action remains the same. Librax is the name given to Librium when it is coupled with clidinium bromide for treating irritable bowel syndrome, for example.
Street names for Librium include:
By reducing neuronal activity, benzodiazepines interact with GABA receptors in the brain to lessen anxiety. GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, is a mood-regulating neurotransmitter. GABA is your brain’s natural anti-anxiety defence. When it’s released, it instructs your central nervous system to relax.
Librium increases GABA flow across the brain. When someone is addicted to Librium, their brain has difficulty producing GABA without it.
Due to its fast euphoric and sleepy effects on the human body, Librium is commonly misused orally in tablet form. The medication’s euphoric effect is known for its intense ‘high,’ but misusing Librium comes at a cost. The drug has the potential to quickly lead to physical dependence and addiction, as well as a plethora of other health risks.
People addicted to Librium are more likely to engage in polydrug usage (the use of multiple illicit drugs to have a greater effect) and have a higher level of social and psychological problems. Librium is frequently abused by people who take numerous drugs, such as alcoholics and heroin users. Librium is, nevertheless, the primary substance of abuse in many situations.
If you become addicted to Librium and try to quit suddenly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms that range from mild to severe, making it extremely difficult to break the habit on your own.
Most people begin abusing Librium to maximise its effects. When the drug loses its effectiveness, which is unavoidable, you may decide to increase the dosage. This might work for a while, and you might get the relief you’re looking for.
Librium’s nature is that the brain and body adapt to it, and you’ll need more to attain the same level of relief. You may be tempted to combine the medication with another substance, such as alcohol or drugs, at this point.
There are, of course, additional reasons for Librium abuse. Certain people use it for its sedative properties. Some use it recreationally to attain a high, while others enjoy the fact that it allows them to forget about life and all of its troubles temporarily.
Military veterans have been demonstrated to be at a higher risk of having a major Librium addiction than the general population. In addition to the tremendous trauma of combat, both veterans and active-duty troops face the hardship of deployment and being apart from loved ones for long periods.
Although Librium can help with anxiety and PTSD, long-term usage — even for a short time — can soon become a significant substance dependence problem.
Other risk factors for Librium addiction include:
There is no doubt that alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse have a hereditary component. As a result, those prescribed Librium to help them through the early phases of recovery should be aware of the genuine risk of getting addicted to the anti-anxiety medicine.
It cannot be overstated how important it is to take Librium only as directed and for a limited time. This second warning is also critical: Librium should not be taken for more than a few weeks and never for more than a few months (with rare exceptions).
Anyone familiar with addiction and drug rehabilitation knows that environmental influences, in addition to the very real hereditary component and the consequences of trauma, play an important role.
There are far too many unscrupulous doctors and so-called pain treatment clinics prepared to profit from the suffering of others, and Librium, despite its legitimate medicinal purposes, is also overprescribed.
Librium misuse is very similar to what has happened with Xanax and opiates, even though it hasn’t been publicly reported.
If you’re addicted to Librium, there’s a good probability you’ll engage in anti-social behaviour to get more of the drug to keep your habit going. When an addict fails to take a new dose of Librium, withdrawal symptoms can be fairly severe, and they may drive them to seek more drugs to relieve their symptoms.
Because of its primary ingredient, benzodiazepine, and how it affects the chemical structure of your brain after prolonged usage, the drug is highly addictive. The longer you abuse Librium, the more severe your addiction becomes and the more difficult it is to break free. The best method to avoid becoming addicted to a drug is to use it only (and always) as directed by your doctor.
Although substance misuse and denial sometimes go hand in hand, there are several obvious symptoms that someone is addicted to Librium. To begin with, any use of Librium without a prescription is considered abuse and should be reported. As obtaining this benzo has become the main focus of their life, the Librium addict will turn to doctor shopping and even street dealers.
Then there are the severe physical consequences of a Librium addiction, which include but are not limited to the following signs and symptoms:
If you want to get your life back on track, you’ll have to go through withdrawal after a period of abuse. Withdrawal symptoms are induced by the abrupt discontinuation of medication and can range from mild to severe. Severe symptoms, as you may have guessed, can be life-threatening if not treated properly.
As a result, it is not recommended that you attempt to quit Librium alone. The most efficient approach to withdrawing from Librium is to do it gradually, which should only be undertaken with the help of a medical professional.
It’s impossible to predict what symptoms you’ll get if you stop using Librium. The following are some of the most prevalent symptoms of Librium withdrawal:
While Librium does offer some benefits, it should be used with caution because it can have dangerous adverse effects if used incorrectly. Librium can cause serious health problems whether or not it is overused, which is why it is only recommended when absolutely required.
Physical and psychological adverse effects can occur even while using Librium as directed. Misusing Librium simply increases the chance of adverse side effects from the medication.
The following are some of the potentially hazardous effects:
Polydrug use refers to the use of numerous drugs at the same time. 80% of benzodiazepine addiction is considered part of a larger polydrug misuse cycle. Librium is frequently mixed with other substances such as alcohol, opioids, and cocaine. Once tolerance has built, and the drug’s effects are no longer as effective, users frequently start taking Librium with alcohol. When alcohol and Librium are combined, both substances’ depressing effects are amplified, resulting in profound drowsiness and lethargy. Because benzodiazepines enhance the euphoric effects of opioids like heroin, they are frequently combined with them. People who mix Librium and Cocaine occasionally use the former to counteract the latter’s effects.
If they combine Librium with other drugs, Librium users are more prone to develop negative side effects like respiratory depression, blackouts, and excessive drowsiness. Using Librium with other drugs increases the risk of overdosing, which can be fatal.
Combining Librium with other medications is risky because it raises the chance of overdosing. Overdosing on Librium can cause the following symptoms:
Librium overdose can be lethal. If you are concerned that someone else or yourself is experiencing an overdose, seek medical help straight away.
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The majority of benzodiazepine misuse is associated with polydrug use, defined as a person’s harmful dependence on many substances. Librium, in particular, is frequently used with alcohol, resulting in an enhanced state of lethargy and drowsiness.
Because it is used to treat a variety of mental health concerns, Librium is more likely than other medicines to be used in dual diagnosis (where mental disorders coexist with substance misuse disorders). The dual diagnosis makes addiction treatment more challenging, requiring specialised care.
Many individuals with severe mental diseases are also substance addicts, and some self-medicate using Librium tablets. Using Librium with a co-occurring condition might lead to suicidal ideation, emotional indifference, and worsened depressive symptoms. Long-term use alters the structure of brain cells, making Librium withdrawal cravings challenging to overcome.
Because Librium withdrawal is accompanied by seizures, delirium tremens (and other symptoms similar to those encountered during alcohol withdrawal syndrome), detox supervised by a medical professional in a specialised detox facility is the most effective and safest approach to quit the substance.
For the length of your withdrawal symptoms, you will be continuously watched by addiction specialists in such a facility. Professional treatment will significantly reduce the severity of physical symptoms while also providing mental support during the process.
Gradually reducing your Librium dosage while monitoring withdrawal symptoms is part of a medically assisted detox. This will be done in a secure and controlled setting, free of the triggers and pressures that often contribute to drug abuse. During treatment, any underlying diseases or co-occurring disorders will be addressed.
To aid your recovery, the following resources are available:
All of the above can be combined with cognitive and behavioural therapy to ensure total recovery (CBT).
It’s important to remember that detox is only the first step on the road to recovery. Following detox, you’ll need to continue therapy (either in an inpatient or outpatient setting) to develop the coping skills you’ll need to maintain abstinence after treatment.
Treatment for Librium addiction can be received through an inpatient or residential programme for more extreme cases, or through partial hospitalisation and various outpatient treatment programmes for less severe cases, depending on the severity of your addiction.
It’s one thing to stop using Librium, but it’s another to stay off it for a long time. You can benefit from the following support, therapy and aftercare to achieve long-term abstinence:
Individual counselling: During individual counselling, you will receive one-on-one treatment from an addiction specialist who will talk to you about your situation and assist you in determining the main reason for your substance dependence. You’ll also learn how to avoid the stressors and triggers that lead you to misuse Librium in the first place and healthy techniques to cope with the outside world without resorting to drug abuse.
Support groups: This is a highly effective type of drug rehabilitation that uses group therapy to provide assistance and support. Such support organisations include Narcotics Anonymous and other 12-step programmes. You’ll be in meetings with individuals who are going through the same thing as you, and you’ll be able to support and encourage one another to stay focused and dedicated to abstinence.
Family therapy: For each recovering addict, the family is a vital support system. For them to be able to help you stay clean in the long run, it’s vital that your family or loved ones receive the necessary training on how to properly support you in remaining Librium abuse-free.
After dealing with the early, primarily physical symptoms of acute withdrawal during the detox phase, and even after rehab has shown to be successful, Librium addicts must be wary of PAWS or post-acute withdrawal syndrome. The psychological component of Librium addiction, which can contribute to relapse, might take up to two years to effectively treat. After intensive therapy, rehab centres can equip patients with resources to assist them in avoiding relapse. Attending support groups might also be a valuable strategy to avoid returning to old habits.
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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