Oxazepam
About
Oxazepam belongs to a class of benzodiazepines called 'anxiolytic' or 'anti-anxiety agents' used for short-term (2-4 weeks) treatment of anxiety or panic disorder. Anxiety or panic disorder is a mental health disorder associated with unnecessary fear, worry, and excessive nervousness that may interfere with daily activities. The symptoms of anxiety include feeling more stress than required for that event and a lack of ability to set aside restlessness and worry.
Oxazepam contains Oxazepam, an anti-anxiety drug that works by increasing the activity of GABA (a chemical messenger in the brain that acts as a natural nerve-calming agent) that is involved in inducing drowsiness. Thereby, Oxazepam relaxes muscles, reduces anxiety, and induces drowsiness.
Take Oxazepam as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Oxazepam for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition. Some people may experience muscle weakness, drowsiness, headache, dizziness, tiredness, double vision, or difficulty controlling movements. Most of these side effects of Oxazepam do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to Oxazepam or any other medicines, please tell your doctor before using Oxazepam. Avoid taking Oxazepam if you are pregnant as it may cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby. Oxazepam may be excreted in breast milk and cause adverse effects in the baby, so avoid taking Oxazepam if you are breastfeeding. Oxazepam should be used with caution in elderly patients (above 65 years) as there is an increased risk of adverse effects. Oxazepam should not be used in children (below 12 years) and teenagers until and unless prescribed by a doctor. Avoid consumption of alcohol with Oxazepam as it may increase the sedative effects of Oxazepam. Oxazepam may cause drowsiness or affect concentration or attention, so avoid driving or doing hazardous tasks if you feel drowsy after taking Oxazepam.
Uses of Oxazepam
Medicinal Benefits
Oxazepam contains Oxazepam, an anti-anxiety drug used in the short-term (2 to 4 weeks) treatment of anxiety disorder. Oxazepam increases the activity of GABA (a chemical messenger in the brain that acts as a natural nerve-calming agent) that is involved in inducing drowsiness. Thereby, Oxazepam relaxes muscles, reduces anxiety and induces drowsiness. Also, Oxazepam is used to relieve anxiety caused due to alcohol withdrawal.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Oxazepam
- Muscle weakness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Double vision
- Difficulty in controlling movements
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
If you are allergic to Oxazepam or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Avoid taking Oxazepam if you are pregnant as it may cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby. Oxazepam may be excreted in breast milk and cause adverse effects in the baby. Therefore, avoid taking Oxazepam if you are breastfeeding. Oxazepam should be used with caution in elderly patients as there is an increased risk of adverse effects. Oxazepam should not be used in children until and unless prescribed by a doctor. Avoid consumption of alcohol with Oxazepam as it may increase the sedative effects of Oxazepam. Oxazepam may cause drowsiness or affect concentration. It is an offense to drive if Oxazepam affects you. Therefore, avoid driving if you feel drowsy after taking Oxazepam. If you have breathing difficulties, myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness), phobia or obsession, depression, personality disorder, porphyria (an inherited condition causing stomach pain, skin blisters, and nervous system or brain disorders), history of drug abuse, sleep apnoea (sleep disorder in which breathing stops and starts repeatedly), kidney, liver or lung problems, inform your doctor before taking Oxazepam.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Oxazepam may interact with gout medicine (probenecid), muscle relaxants (tizanidine, baclofen), anticonvulsants (phenytoin), antibiotic (rifampicin), antivirals (zidovudine, ritonavir), antiparkinson drug (levodopa), antipsychotics (aripiprazole, quetiapine), a drug used to treat nausea and vomiting (nabilone), antidepressants (duloxetine, venlafaxine, escitalopram, pregabalin, desvenlafaxine, sertraline), pain reliever and fever reducer (acetaminophen), opioid pain killers (codeine).
Drug-Food Interaction: Oxazepam may interact with alcohol. Therefore, avoid intake of alcohol while taking Oxazepam as it may increase side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, or difficulty in concentrating.
Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have breathing difficulties, myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness), phobia or obsession, depression, personality disorder, porphyria (an inherited condition causing stomach pain, skin blisters, and nervous system or brain disorders), history of drug abuse, sleep apnoea (sleep disorder in which breathing stops and starts repeatedly), kidney, liver or lung problems, inform your doctor before taking Oxazepam.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol with Oxazepam as it may increase the sedative effects of Oxazepam.
Pregnancy
unsafeOxazepam is a Category D pregnancy drug and is not recommended for pregnant women as it may cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby. Please consult a doctor if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy before taking Oxazepam.
Breast Feeding
unsafeOxazepam may be excreted in human milk and cause harm to the baby. Therefore, avoid taking Oxazepam if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
unsafeOxazepam may cause drowsiness or affect concentration. It is an offence to drive if Oxazepam affects you. Therefore, avoid driving if you feel drowsy after taking Oxazepam.
Liver
cautionTake Oxazepam with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionIf you have any concerns regarding the use of Oxazepam in patients with kidney problems, please consult a doctor.
Children
cautionOxazepam should not be used in children until and unless prescribed by a doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Do regular exercise and maintain a healthy body weight.
- Maintain a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid fried foods, high-fat dairy products, pastries, and processed foods as they may worsen anxiety.
- Follow a regular sleep pattern. Do not take a nap during day time.
- Avoid watching tv, and using mobiles or laptops just before bedtime.
- Avoid consumption of alcohol as it may increase drowsiness.
Special Advise
Do not take Oxazepam for a prolonged time as it may lead to mental or physical dependence on Oxazepam.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Anxiety disorder: It is a mental health disorder associated with fear, worry, and excessive nervousness that may interfere with daily activities. The symptoms of anxiety include feeling more stress than required for that event and a lack of ability to set aside restlessness and worry. Anxiety can be treated by psychotherapy (meeting a psychologist) or medications.
FAQs
Oxazepam contains Oxazepam, an anti-anxiety drug that works by increasing the activity of GABA (a chemical messenger in the brain that acts as a natural nerve-calming agent) that is involved in inducing drowsiness. Thereby, Oxazepam relaxes muscles, reduces anxiety and induces drowsiness.
Oxazepam may cause memory loss in some patients. It is advised to have 7 to 8 hours of continuous sleep to reduce such risk.
You are not recommended to take Oxazepam with phenytoin (anticonvulsant) as co-administration of these medicines as it may increase the risk of adverse effects caused by Oxazepam. However, please consult your doctor before using Oxazepam with any other medicines, so that the dosage may be adjusted accordingly to use safely.
Yes, Oxazepam may cause drowsiness or affect concentration. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid driving or any other activities that require mental alertness after taking Oxazepam. Also, it is an offence to drive if Oxazepam affects you.
You are recommended to use Oxazepam for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. However, avoid taking Oxazepam for more than 4 weeks including time required for gradual dose reduction as prolonged use of Oxazepam may increase the risk of dependence.
Oxazepam is not recommended for patients suffering from myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness) as it may worsen the condition. Therefore, inform your doctor if you have myasthenia gravis before taking Oxazepam.
Oxazepam may cause mental or physical dependence if used for a prolonged time, and the risk of dependence increases in patients with a history of drug abuse or alcoholism. Therefore, take Oxazepam only in dose and duration as advised by your doctor.
