Oxazepam Withdrawal

Oxazepam is a medication commonly prescribed for anxiety which, many people, become addicted to. Oxazepam, sometimes known under the common brand name serax, is a potentially addictive drug particularly, if it is taken regularly for more than a couple of weeks. Oxazepam has abuse potential and has overdose potential particularly if it is combined with opiates or alcohol. However, the main problem with oxazepam is a physical dependency, cognitive deficits and poor mental health with prolonged use. Tolerance and a profound physical dependence may develop with continued use beyond a couple of weeks. Withdrawing from oxazepam can be difficult due to its short half life. If oxazepam is discontinued abruptly severe withdrawal symptoms may occur and possibly life threatening seizures or psychosis. Oxazepam withdrawal symptoms can be similar to those seen during alcohol withdrawal. For this reason a gradual phased reduction regime is recommended.

Unfortunately, oxazepam is a very rapidly eliminated benzodiazepine drug. Due to the short half life of the benzodiazepine drug oxazepam, it is recommended that you ask your doctor to switch to an equivalent dose of diazepam (valium), which is a much more longer acting benzodiazepine drug. The slower metabolism and thus long acting nature of diazepam and slower elimination of the drug diazepam from the blood stream, should allow for a reduction in the intensity of the withdrawal side effects with each dosage cut. The reasons for a switch to diazepam is explained more fully in this article by Dr JG McConnell entitled The Clinicopharmacotherapeutics of Benzodiazepine and Z drug dose Tapering Using Diazepam.

Brand and Generic

Oxazepam is the generic name. However, it is available under many different brand names throughout the world. Some of the brand names that you may know oxazepam under are listed below:

Adumbran, Alepam, Alopam, Anastil, Anxiolit, Anxiolit plus, Cavodan, Durazepam, Limbial, Medopam, Mirfudorm, Murelax, Noripam, Novalona, Opamox, Ox-Pam, Oxa, Oxabenz, Oxahexal, Oxamin, Oxapax, Oxascand, Pankreoflat Sedante, Pausafren T, Praxiten, Purata, Sedioton, Serax, Serenal, Serepax, Seresta, Serpax, Sobril, Suxidina, Tazepam (Тазепам), Tranquo, Uskan; Vaben, Vuscobras.

Withdrawing from Oxazepam

As explained above, a person withdrawing from oxazepam must do it gradually; preferably utilising diazepam to minimise withdrawal symptoms. There is no definate rate for benzodiazepine withdrawal, as each person is different. People have different genetics, have been on the drug varing lengths of time and at varying doses, so the speed at which an individual can reduce their dosage is very variable. However, as a general guide, we have produced a table for withdrawal from oxazepam. You can follow the table below or adjust the speed to what your body dictates as being the most ideal speed. If you are on a different dose of oxazepam than the one shown in the below table, then simply adapt the table to your current daily dose of oxazepam.

Withdrawing from Oxazepam
Withdrawing from 60 mg of Oxazepam using 5 mg Diazepam tablets.
Follow or Adapt Table From Your Starting or Current dose
Morning	Lunch Time	Evening	Before Bed	Total Daily Dose
Oxazepam 15 mg	Oxazepam 15 mg	Oxazepam 15 mg	Oxazepam 15 mg	Oxazepam 60 mg
Stabalise for 2 - 4 weeks
Oxazepam 15 mg	Diazepam 7.5 mg	Oxazepam 15 mg	Oxazepam 15 mg	Oxazepam 45 mg + Diazepam 7.5 mg
Stabalise for 2 - 4 weeks
Oxazepam 15 mg	Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 7.5 mg	Oxazepam 15 mg	Oxazepam 30 mg + Diazepam 15 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 7.5 mg	Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 7.5 mg	Oxazepam 15 mg	Oxazepam 15 mg + Diazepam 22.5 mg
Stabalise for 2 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 30 mg
Stabalise for 2 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 5 mg	Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 27.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 5 mg	Diazepam 5 mg	Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 25 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 2.5 mg	Diazepam 5 mg	Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 22.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
Diazepam 7.5 mg	Diazepam 2.5 mg	Diazepam 2.5 mg	Diazepam 7.5 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.