Chlordiazepoxide Withdrawal

Chloridazepoxide hydrochloride, also known under the brand name Librium and Apo-chlordiazepoxide benzodiazepine drug and is highly addictive. Chlordiazepoxide is commonly prescribed for anxiety and alcohol withdrawal. It is estimated that there are at least 1.5 million people in the UK addicted to benzodiazepine drugs such as chlordiazepoxide. Chlordiazepoxide hcl is sometimes prescribed under the brand name Librax as a combination drug of chlordiazepoxide and clidinium which is prescribed for stomach disorders for example stomach ulcers or irritable bowel syndrome. In some countries chlordiazepoxide is also prescribed as a combination of amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide under the brand name Limbitrol DS for the treatment of depression despite the fact that benzodiazepine drugs such as chlordiazepoxide are well known for causing depression and precipitating suicidal impulses and suicide acts. Although chlordiazepoxide is effective for the first few weeks of use tolerance rapidly develops with loss of effects from chloridazepoxide and the development of addiction. After the body has become tolerant to the effects of chlordiazepoxide typically withdrawal symptoms appear when trying to discontinue or reduce the dose of chloridazepoxide. Also with long term use, side effects often develop such as depression, agoraphobia, gastrointestinal problems, increased anxiety, muscular spasms and cognitive problems.

Withdrawing from chlordiazepoxide

If a person has an addiction to chlordiazepoxide, stopping chlordiazepoxide too quickly may result in severe withdrawal symptoms. To reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms it is necessary to reduce the dose of chlordiazepoxide very slowly to allow the body to slowly adjust to slowly declining blood levels of the drug. Chlordiazepoxide is a long acting benzodiazepine and is available in a 5mg capsule. Some people taper off chlordiazepoxide directly although this usually involves the need to open up the capsules towards the end of withdrawal to seperate the powder which can lead to difficulties in dose accuracies. It is recommended instead if possible to switch over to an equivalent dose of diazepam. The reasons and benefits of using the benzodiazepine drug diazepam instead of other benzodiazepines are well explained in the article by Dr JG McConnell in his article on the tapering using diazepam. People who are addicted to chlordiazepoxide and want to free themselves can use the below withdrawal guide. Readers should note that the below withdrawal chart is only a rough guide and the speed and rate of withdrawal should be determined according to severity of withdrawal symptoms. Different people will be able to reduce slower or faster than other people or switch over to diazepam slower or faster than different people.

Withdrawing from Chlordiazepoxide
Withdrawing from 3 mg of Alprazolam using 10 mg Diazepam tablets.
Follow or Adapt Table From Your Starting or Current dose
Morning	Lunch Time	Evening	Before Bed	Total Daily Dose
Chloridazepoxide 25 mg	Chloridazepoxide 25 mg	Chloridazepoxide 25 mg	Chloridazepoxide 25 mg	Chloridazepoxide 100 mg
Cross over to diazepam can be done in 4 stages instead of 2 stages or even more slowly if any difficulties are encountered during this suggested cross over to diazepam section.
Stabalise for 2 - 4 weeks
Chloridazepoxide 25 mg	Diazepam 10 mg	Diazepam 10 mg	Chloridazepoxide 25 mg	Chloridazepoxide 50 mg + Diazepam 20 mg
Stabalise for 2 - 4 weeks
At this stage you should be stabalising on the diazepam and ready to start making some small reductions in dosage.
Diazepam 10 mg	Diazepam 10 mg	Diazepam 10 mg	Diazepam 10 mg	Diazepam 40 mg
Stabalise for 2 - 4 weeks
Withdrawing from 40 mg of diazepam to 20 mg should be carried out using 5 mg sized tablets
Diazepam 16.25 mg			Diazepam 20 mg	Diazepam 36.25 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 16.25 mg			Diazepam 16.25 mg	Diazepam 32.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 12.5 mg			Diazepam 16.25 mg	Diazepam 28.75 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 12.5 mg			Diazepam 12.5 mg	Diazepam 25 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 10 mg			Diazepam 12.5 mg	Diazepam 22.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 10 mg			Diazepam 10 mg	Diazepam 20 mg
Withdrawing from 20 mg of diazepam should be carried out using 2 mg sized tablets
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
9 mg			9 mg	Diazepam 18 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 8 mg			Diazepam 8 mg	Diazepam 16 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 7 mg			Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 14.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 6.5 mg			Diazepam 6.5 mg	Diazepam 13 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 5.5 mg			Diazepam 6 mg	Diazepam 11.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 5 mg			Diazepam 5 mg	Diazepam 10 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 4.5 mg			Diazepam 4.5 mg	Diazepam 9 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 4 mg			Diazepam 4 mg	Diazepam 8 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 3.5 mg			Diazepam 3.5 mg	Diazepam 7 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 3 mg			Diazepam 3 mg	Diazepam 6 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
See also NOTE below for additional information on withdrawing from 5 mg of diazepam
Diazepam 2.5 mg			Diazepam 2.5 mg	Diazepam 5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 2 mg			Diazepam 2.5 mg	Diazepam 4.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 2 mg			Diazepam 2 mg	Diazepam 4 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 1.5 mg			Diazepam 2 mg	Diazepam 3.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 1.5 mg			Diazepam 1.5 mg	Diazepam 3 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 1 mg			Diazepam 1.5 mg	Diazepam 2.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 1 mg			Diazepam 1 mg	Diazepam 2 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 0.5 mg			Diazepam 1 mg	Diazepam 1.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 0.5 mg			Diazepam 0.5 mg	Diazepam 1 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 0.5 mg	Diazepam 0.5 mg
Drop Last 0.5 mg dose of diazepam and Never Take Another Benzodiazepine Again
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Gradual Diazepam Detox Complete

NOTE: Some people find it difficult in the final stages of withdrawal from 5 mg of diazepam to zero. If you are one of these people it may be of value asking your doctor to provide you with the 2 mg per 5 ml diazepam liquid suspension, and obtaining a 1 ml syringe from your local pharmacy/drug store/chemist. Users can then obtain smaller dose reductions than the 0.5 mg sized cuts using tablets. See this page on SLOW WITHDRAWAL FROM DIAZEPAM using liquid suspension diazepam.